Observations from the starts

Niels Westphal is out at Skoganvarre and watching the teams prepare for and leave onto the last stage of the Finnmarkslopet 2004. He timed the leading teams and saw that at least in the beginning there was hardly any difference between Bjørnar Andersen and Ralph Johannessen. The more interesting observation was about Roger Dahl. He was slower than the other two. Bjørnar and Ralph both needed a little more than 15 minuites to cross the lake outside the checkpoint. Dahl needed almost 19. But Niels made it clear that Rogers start was a lot better than at the last checkpoints. The dogs seem to realize now that it is going towards home. This could encourage them to run just a little bit faster and might secure the second place for Roger.