Rest-time important for end results

All mushers and teams have mandatory rest time in Finnmarksløpet.

The teams in the 1000 km class must take 16 hours of rest at a self-chosen checkpoint between Jotka and Karasjok. In addition they must rest 8 hours in Karasjok.

For the teams in the 500 km class there are 20 total hours of rest. Of these 20 hours 6 hours must be taken at Jergul. The remaining rest time must be used at either one or several of the following checkpoints: Jotka during the first pass, Skoganvarre, Levajok or Karasjok.

In addition to these mandatory rests every musher must self account for the starting time differences. The mushers in the 1000 km class make sure they do this during their 16 hours rest. At the arrival in Karasjok the mushers in the 500 class recieve a timepoint for when they can leave there towards the finish. This timepoint makes sure that all of the rest time has been used up, and the start time differences are lined up. The first team of the finish line wins!

This means that the team in the front of the line and first in to a checkpoint is not necessarily the leader of the race. The race strategy is at the disposal of the rest times. Towards the end of the race the rest times have control over who will be the first over the finish line!