Harder in the lead at Joutka

Sten Are Harder is the first musher to pass through the checkpoint at Joutka ensuring him to start into the final stage of the race in the leading position.

Hans Petter Dalby, who seemed to be able to catch up earlier on was not in sight. So the question will be whether Harder is able to continue without problems or whether any musher can catch up with him. Right now it looks like a good chance for Harder to win for the first time.

According to outside reporter Niels Westphal, who was positioned just 13 km outside the checkpoint at Soussjavre, Hans Petter Dalby seemed able to shorten the gap between him and the leader Harder. Westphal said it seemed like they were almost equally fast, but Dalby seemed to be able to get just a bit more out of his team, even though he left two of his dogs in the last checkpoint and is continuing with only six dogs.

However the news from Joutka tell a different story. Harder seems in controll of the situation and Dalby is not to be seen. Waiting for results will continue as we expect the winnning teams to arrive in Alta around 4 o'clock.