Harald Tunheim first in Skoganvarre

Harald Tunheim from Alta arrived first tonight in Skoganvarre in icy wind and frosty cold. With that he has fought his way through to the leading position in the class of 500 km. As long as he does not know the tactics of his competitors, he steers a hard course to have as much scope as possible over the race. All he knows is that his forestarter Roger Dahl und Arne Karlstrøm are on his heels.

The musher in the 1000-km-distance and the 500-km-class share their way until the next checkpoint in Levajok, which is 90 km afar from Skoganvarre. There the musher's ways will part.

Erle is fast

While it was not surprising that Tunheim, who has to do justice to his role as a favourite, arrived as the first in Skoganvarre, it was very interesting to see, that Erle Frantzen from Pasvik, who is doing the 500 km arrived directly after. She must have driven unexpectedly fast past Jotka. She proves with this that in this years race the women seem to dominate the class of 500 km.

The institute of meteorology announces, that the wind will decrease, but that temperatures will still reach until minus 40 degrees. The trails keep up well because of that, although it costs the dogs then more energy to race. The order between the mushers can change very quickly because of that, what advantages the long-distance-experienced. But so far they all lie neck-and-neck.

According to the last update it seems that Hans Petter Dalby from Skedsmo, who takes the long distance and is also a very experienced musher, preliminary is the only one, who left Skoganvarre. So nobody can make predictions so far. The Finnmarksløpet is as unpredictable and exciting as always!