Skrevet av: Dag B. Urdal / Britta Pohl (trans.)
Dato: 05.03.2006 07:40
After Harald Tunheim and Erle Frantzen arriving surprisingly early at the checkpoint, some other mushers also reached Levajok in the early morning hours. At first it were the mushers Katy Meier and Mikael Jultia, both participants in the short distance, as well as Arne Karlstrøm, May Conny Johansen and Thomas Rosencrantz in the 1000 km distance.
The Swedish Katy Meier (born in Germany) got registrated ca. 45 minutes after Frantzen, followed by the Finnish Mikael Jutila 20 minutes later. Both mushers are now watching to not let Frantzen "escape" alone from Levajok.
This mornings weather is steadily cold, with clear blue sky and light wind in the mountain plateau of the Vidda. Levajok announces temperatures of minus 24 degrees.
The 3 teams in the open class arrived at the checkpoint in a 30 minutes tact from 06:00 in the morning on. Although Tunheim has managed to obtain a good lead, is this no indication for the further course of the race.
However, the ways of the two different races will now part in Levajok. Whereas the short distance is heading towards the southwest, firstly following the Tanaelva towards Karasjok, the long distance will now make their way towards the northeast, which will lead them over the mountains towards Skipagurra.