Skrevet av: Niels Westphal
Dato: 13.03.2015 08:23
Ralph Johannessen and Kjell Brennodden left Karasjok side by side early in Friday morning. Sigrid Ekran is two hours ahead of them, mushing toward Jotka and Alta. It seems like only an accident can prevent the woman from Sparbu from taking home her second consecutive victory in the Finnmark Race.
Fighting for silver
The fight for second and third place in this race not over. Brennodden and Johannessen have had decreasing speed in their race, and Brennodden thinks it was slow going up to Karasjok. - It has been good, but the dogs are probably still feeling yesterday a bit, Brennodden said when he arrived in Karasjok last night.
Ralph Johannesen was pleased with his dogs, but not with his own ability to help the dogs out along the way. - The dogs are fine, but I can’h help help them. I am quite reduced and am unable to kick, he said.
Kjell Brennodden has a fast team – can he bring home the silver medal? Photo: Steinar Vik
Brennodden fastest
For most of the race, Kjell Brennodden's dog team has been among the fastest. He has let his dogs rest a lot, and rested over an hour more than required at Levajok and Karasjok. Brennodden should thus have a well-rested team.
Johannessen, on the other hand, has had considerably less resting time than Brennodden. Perhaps will this decide who wins the silver? However, everyone who has followed the Finnmark Race more than once, knows that Johannessen tends to come stronger towards the end of the races, particulary when he can smell a medal.
Nothing is decided yet, and the battle might get fierce along the trail.
Follow the race at our GPS-tracking.