FL500: - Has Jotka become my destiny?

Wolfgang Simon Nilsen (50), Norge måtte som første spann bryte før Jotka, bare noen mil etter starten.

Wolfgang Simon Nilsen (50) from Norway had to quit the race before Jotka, only a few kilometers from the start.

When Finnmarksløpet's journalist asks him what has happened Wolfgang answers:
- I have had a fantastic practice period leading up to this years race. The dogs have been motivated and in great shape all season. I was really looking forward to the start today. I noticed that the dogs were a bit down during the overnight stay in Alta before the race, but thought that they were stressed. After clilmbing the valley Detsika I noticed that something was wrong. The dogs coughed a lot and lost all energy. The decision to quit the race was not difficult to make. The dogs are the most important to me. Also in 2008 I had to quit at Jotka because I had problems with the lead-dog. Before this year's race I had worked very well with the dogs and had excellent leaders. Right now I am sad that I will not succeed this year either. But I am ready to come back in 2011 with a good and strong team of dogs, Wolfgang says on the phone.

- The mushers who participate in Finnmarksløpet are always focusing on the dogs and are respected for the way they treat the dogs and the decisions they make during the race to secure that the dogs are well. This case with Wolfgang Simon-Nilsen, shows this says press officer and musher Hans Petter Dalby when he comments on the situation where the first team of this year's race had to quit.