Skrevet av: Kjartan Mæstad/Anne-Mette Bjøru
Dato: 05.03.2005 20:10
Trond Ørslien, the expert commentator of Finnmarksløpet, believes that Petter Jahnsen from Tufsingdal will win this years' race.
- Petter Jahnsen won Femundløpet last year, finished fourth this year and he starts Finnmarksløpet with a very good pack of dogs, Ørslien says.
The expert bases his prediction on the results at Femundløpet, former results in Finnmarksløpet, as well as information about his preparation and the dogs' and musher's condition.
Ørslien became stronger at the end of Finnmarksløpet last year and was competing for first place, but ended fourth. Injured dogs prevents him from revenging it this year. Instead he works as an expert commentator.
-Roger Dahl did well in Femunden and has good dogs. He is very experienced and is participating for the 19th time this year, Ørslien says.
He ended third last year, but the man from Alta will be on the winner's stand this year, the expert commentator claims. He thinks that Ralph Johannessen from Bergen will finish third. Johannessen did not participate in Femunden this year, but he is very well-organized and has got many good dogs. Ørslien thinks that Johannessen will be stronger at the end of the race, but that he won't win. Johannessen ended second in last years' Finnmarksløp.
The expert believes that Harald Tunheim will get the fourth place. He has much experience from Iditarod, and has won Finnmarksløpet three times.
It will be a very close race, Ørslien says.
This is Ørslien's list of who he believes will be top ten in the 1000 km: starting number in paranthesis:
1. Petter Jahnsen (13)
2. Roger Dahl (22)
3. Ralph Johannessen (6)
4. Harald Tunheim (12)
5. May-Conny Johansen (27)
6. Hans Petter Dalby (7)
7. Frode Holten (8)
8. Kjell Brennodden (15)
9. Tore Bergby (3)
10. Arne Karlstrøm (11)