Skrevet av: Erlend Strand/Anne-Mette Bjøru (transl)
Dato: 11.03.2007 23:18
Tore Bergby was unlucky as he got closer to Tana Bru and missed the track. Noone knows why, how far he has gone in the wrong direction and how much time he has lost.
- This is tough to face, says Trond Ørslien, expert commentator. - Many in his shoes would have quit the race. Bergby was fast out from Levajok and his team of dogs is very experienced. - Sad for him and those in charge of the race as a strong competitive musher has lost time, thus the competition is weakened.
If Bergby does not turn around and goes back along the same track he might be disqualified. - This would be very sad for both him and Finnmarksløpet's staff if one of the favourites loose so much time this early in the race, Ørslien says. Bergby has a very experienced team of dogs and has a 4th and 5th place in Finnmarksløpet from previous years.
-the beginning of the 1000 km is quite hard in hilly terrain, bad weather conditions and usually very little sleep for most of the mushers. So far it is impossible to blame anyone for the mistake. It could be the musher's mistake or that the trail has not been marked well enough.
We have not been able to get a comment from the trail maintenance crew.