Harald first to Karasjok

I can't ever remember using so much time from Karasjok to Levajok, as I did today. It's been very heavy, with "agressive" snow and an incredibly bad trail, said Harald Tunheim after he arrived at the next checkpoint outside Karasjok centrum. See Harald's arrival to Karasjok on our page of videoarticles (on the norwegian page).

The 80 km from Levajok to Karasjok is basically only on the river. Harald says that it was a long and tiring stage for the dogs and himself. Bad glide and trails that had snowed in made the stage very long and exhausting. Still he has kept a much higher speed than Roger Dahl, and has secured a 50 minutes lead.

The question is whether it is enough to keep Roger Dahl behind. Tunheim does not feel safe.

- Everything can happen. It is still 130 km left of the race so even though I am in the lead now, it is no guarantee that it will last to the finish-line. It is no longer about tactics, but simply to go the fastest you can. It is going to be 130 km at top speed, running and kicking up all the hills, Harald says.

There is an obligatory 8 hour rest in Karasjok for all mushers, meaning Harald can not start toward the goal until 23:52 tonight. It will be a long night towards the finish-line which probably will be crossed at 10 - 11 o'clock Friday morning.