Today is the start of the junior 600 km class in Finnmarksløpet. The start is at 13.00 and the broadcast starts at 12.30. Although the distance is shorter than the 1200 km class, it is by no means easy. The dog handlers are much more vulnerable when you drive with 8 dogs, rather than 14, as you do in the 1200 km class. – The competition is much more intense. There is less room to make mistakes and have accidents, says news’s expert Hans Petter Dalby. A total of 68 dog walkers are participating this year. – This must be the field of the ages in relation to the battle for victory, says Dalby. Ahead of the race, Dalby and Finnmarksløpet press manager Trond Anton Andersen agreed that last year’s winner of the class, Harald Tunheim, was the big favorite for the distance. On Thursday, the news came that the veteran with seven victories will not start this year, due to health reasons. Harald Tunheim was considered the big candidate to win the 600 km class in 2024, but due to health reasons he had to withdraw from this year’s race. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news This makes this distance even more open than it was before the start. – There has probably never been a year where there have been more potential winning candidates than there are this year. Here it is just a matter of starting to come up with names, says Andersen. Hanne Wilhelms / news Jan Kåre HeibergJan Kåre Heiberg drove to a 3rd place in 2023, and received an award for best dog care. – He has only become a better and better dog driver. He “one to watch”, says Andersen. He describes Dalby as a skilled dog handler. – It will be exciting to follow him. Hanne Wilhelms / news Elisabeth Edland She has won the 600 class four times, most recently in 2017. In the last four years she has broken. Andersen says it will be exciting this year. – She has been superb in the eight-team in Norway this year. It looks like she’s got a super team. Dalby agrees that she’s had a great season so far. Hanne Wilhelms / news Ronny Wingren – Of course he is one of the favourites, says Andersen. Ronny Wingren has previously won the Finnmark Race twice, most recently in 2022. – His father did very well last year, and now Ronny picks the best dogs. We have to watch out for Ronny, says Dalby. Hanne Wilhelms / news Brage Nilsen Jæger – Next to Harald Tunheim, he is perhaps the biggest hope from the north, says Andersen. Brage Nilsen Jæger was one of the early favorites last year, then he broke. In 2022 he got 5th place. – It’s always fun to follow young drivers who are hungry. He is on home ground, says Dalby. Hanne Wilhelms Per Morten BrennoddenA familiar name to many, and a Dalby stands out. He drove to a 2nd place in the 600 class in 2022. – He picks the best dogs from the kennel, and will probably have a very good team, says Dalby. – We have to watch out for him. Cold Nose Huskies’ Malin StridIn 2022, she drove to a 3rd place in FL600. Last year she broke due to illness. This year she got 2nd place at Femund 450. – She has shown that she can be dangerous, says Dalby. Hanne Wilhelms / news Ivar Sørli – He is hungry and will kick as long as it takes, says Dalby. Sørli drove to a 5th place in Femund 650 this year. In the Finnmarksløpet he has a 13th place. – He has not been particularly successful in the Finnmark race, but he is a very good dog handler that we will look out for. The experts’ favorite Hans Petter Dalby and Trond Anton Andersen have selected their favorites ahead of this year’s race. Both experts agree that veteran Bjørnar Andersen is in a strong position. – He is a meritorious and very experienced dog handler. If he gets it right, then he has the talent to do really well this year, says the news expert. Bjørnar Andersen has been named as the experts’ favorite to win the 600 km class in the Finnmarksløpet this year. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Andersen agrees that the team is very good. – The dogs he drives won the Femundløpet 650 together with Robert Sørli. There are sparkling dogs. In 2004, the dog handler won the longest distance. Andersen took part in the Iditarod, the world’s longest dog race, in 2005 and 2006. Then he came in 4th and 6th place. The first miles of the Finnmark race will be a wet affair for the juniors and the 600 km runners on Saturday. The picture is from Sorrisniva on Friday. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Challengers to victory Finnmarksløpet’s press manager singles out Nina Wivesoll Vollen, who is driving the 600 class for the first time. – Her team won the 450 class during the Femund race last year. They are very strong. Dalby also believes that Wivesoll Vollen will be exciting, but rather singles out Ulrikke Kristensen, from Team Jotka, as one of his top favourites. – She is capable of fighting at the very top, if she doesn’t have any accidents, says Dalby. In the debut year 2022, Ulrikke Kristensen drove to 11th place. Ulrikke Kristensen is one of the wildcards to win the 600 km class in 2024. Photo: Erlend Hykkerud / news The juniors first from the center Six teams with six dogs each will run a total of 200 kilometers in this year’s junior class, which is also an NM. Last year’s winner and world champion, Elisabeth Kristensen, is highlighted as a favourite. – She will be difficult to beat. She will drive fast, says Trond Anton Andersen, who states that Elisabeth is the daughter of Steinar Kristensen who was number 2 in the 1200 km class in 2023. She has thus been able to choose dogs from what is one of the country’s best kennels. Another to keep an eye on is Linus Wingren, son of Ronny Wingren. He will be the 3rd generation Wingren to start during the Finnmarksløpet. – He comes from a family of dog handlers who have done very well, says the news expert. Team Jotka driver Elisabeth Kristensen won the junior class in 2023. She has been awarded the favorite stamp in the junior class this year. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Hi! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue
ttn-69