TRAIL UPDATE

Another beautiful day on the Trail with sunshine and light winds for our athletes today.

ITI1000

There are 17 racers left in the race on this tough edition of ITI after early scratches. Here’s the update on the racing athletes:

BIKE RACE

The lead pack is making fast progress towards Cripple with Casey Fagerquist ahead, very closely followed by strong female athlete Jill Martindale, Illinois bike racer Petr Ineman and Finnish athlete Jussi Karjalainen. Jill Martindale is showing no sign of fatigue and will be the one to watch on the way to Nome.

Back in McGrath are Toni Lund, Troy Szczurkowski, Graham Muir, George Adams. Roberto Gazzoli and Willy Mulonia.

A real team player, Troy Szczurkowski decided not to chase the lead pack and instead stay back in McGrath to help fellow cyclist George Adams whose bike needed rebuilding. A tough decision for our competitive racer but a great display of camaraderie.

FOOT RACE

Beat Lederjehner left McGrath in the night and has now passed Takotna.

Jill Homer arrived in McGrath this morning after a strong race from Nikolai.

Next athlete expected in McGrath today is Brit Mark Hines.

Klaus Schweinberger has been steadily progressing towards McGrath.

Scotsman Donald Kane is in Nikolai where Loreen Hewitt will join him later today.

SKI

After a good rest, Asbjørn Skjøth Bruun has left McGrath and is progressing fast towards Takotna. Asbjørn is the only skier left in the race.

ITI350

FINISHERS

Tiziano Mulonia completed the race at 23:28 after a long day on the Trail.

Robert Youngren crossed the ITI350 finish line in the night at 02:18.

Skier Greg Mills arrived in McGrath at 04:02am.

Foor racer Amber Bethe finished the race at 09:21 this morning.

Norwegian foot athlete Frode Lein completed ITI350 at 10:11am.

RACERS

Skier Lars Danner is expected to finish in McGrath in the next couple of hours.

Foot racer Kari Gibbons and bike athlete Nina Stupples are on the stretch home now, with finish in sight for both athletes, who have shown great stamina along the Trail. Nina lost her race companion after Cheryl Wallace had to end her race last night but she is going strong and shows no sign of slowing down until the finish line.

Foot racers Robert Sullivan and Keith Eckert have left Nikolai and are on the last part of the race now.

Below pictured are Amber Bethe enjoying a well-earned finish meal in McGrath (thanks Champion Faye Norby for the snap); the racers waiting to go out to conquer Nome with a very happy George Adams opening a package from his Kiwi motherland (Ryan Wanless is on pap duty); Troy Szczurkowski earlier in the race; and happy ITI350 finishers Chris Moroch, Steve Hayes and ITI350 Foot Champion Gavan Hennigan with happy dog Bronwyn (thanks Claire for the pic). Last photograph is Italian athlete Tiziano Mulonia.