In early 2018, Stefan Schmeckenbecher was selected by the German BIKE Magazin out of a pool of 200 riders as the one to compete in the Crocodile Trophy 2018. The former beach volley ball athlete had started mountain biking a little while ago – very socially – we might add and was now to prepare for one of the toughest MTB stage races on earth!

Says Björn Kafka, editor from the Bike Magazin in Germany:

„We wanted someone who’s right in the middle of everything in life, who has a challenging job, who has children … someone who really has to add the training regime into his family life and Stefan was the right one for us.“

Stefan has been documenting  his journey via the BIKE Magazine’s blog – in German – and we met him at the Croc’s sister event, the Alpentour Trophy in Austria in June. He had just crossed the finish line after a 14km and 1300vm time trial and more than 12,000vm of climbing in total over the four days and 200km of riding.

Chatting to him are our Communications Manager, Juliane Wisata – originally from Austria, she has been living in Oz for 15 years – as well as one of our photographers, Gil Romane, a Canadian who has been living in Australia for a couple decades as well.

Stefan is a real inspiration and we can’t wait to see him at the start line in Cairns!

Photos: Sportograf

Video: Crocodile Trophy