Skrevet av: Fredrik Ljone Holst
Dato: 08.03.2015 20:36
The first three mushers to arrive in Tana received a huge round of cheering and greeting when getting there. They also had to go on stage - to receive a check from the town's Mayor. The audience had been coached to cheer loud and wild just before the teams crossed the ring road, so that they could hear that all of Tana received them. - Varangerbotn has nothing to this, the speaker said when what he said must be half the town's inhabitants cheered loud enough to win approval.
Ralph Johannessen interviewed by NRK i Tana bru. Photo: Dmitry Sharomov
Ralph Johannessen first
The next teams arrived so closely after Ralph that one would think that they Mayor and the speaker had made arrangements with them beforehand. Ralph had barely left the stage and moved on to the staging area before Ronny Frydenlund arrived as # 2. - I got wind of him and my dogs started chasing, he said - and then Yngve Fagervik's team arrived literally almost on his sled.
Ronny Frydelund also spoke to the press. Photo: Dmitry Sharomov
Teams # 2 and 3 received money checks of NOK 3,000 and 2,000 respectively from the inhabitants of Tana when arriving at Tana Bru Sunday night.
Where to take the long rest?
Even though Ralph arrived first at the check point, Ronny has raced faster across the past 100 km. And after about a third of the race is done, the tactical play appears to be starting. Somewhere in the eastern parts of the county the mushers have to take their 16-hour mandatory rest. Different philosophies and tactics decide what each musher chooses, and there is a lot of secrecy involved. No one want to reveal more than necessary to their surroundings and competitors. It remains to be seen whether anyone will take their mandatory rest in Tana. Most teams are still on-trail, and most of them will rest at least for a while after mushing two long legs to get here.
One thing is clear; the dice are cast and the game is ON!
Yngve Fagerli arrived immediately after Ronny Frydenlund, and had to take his turn with the press. Photo:Dmitry Sharomov