Comments on: Yukon Quest 2017 – Day 7

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 00:53:34 +0000

At the Tour de France it is called La Lanterne Rouge, but it is the same object. It is a pretty universal symbol for the last person finishing a long distance event. Hank DeBruin only has 8 Siberians left, so he isn't apt to move out of last place. He won't be leaving Dawson until Noon local/2PM CST tomorrow. The teams coming into Dawson have loved the trail this year.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:52:36 +0000

Good info to know. I guess it’s the old “it ain’t over until it’s over” business. The Super Bowl this year should have taught me that. 🙂

Of course, it doesn’t really matter who wins really, as long as all the teams make it in safely, it’s a win.

Thinking of this, does the last person to come in get an award in the Quest like they do in the Iditarod? I’ll have to look that up.

Okay, I answered that for myself. LOL. So, they also get a Red Lantern award? I thought they might use something else to differentiate from the Iditarod, but I guess the Red Lantern is such an historic ritual that it’s appropriate for any races.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 21:44:24 +0000

Brent, Hugh, and Allen are all going according to their own individual game plans for resting and running. Allen moves at a more measured pace to preserve his team for the end and the climbs, while Brent & Hugh prefer a fast start to build up a lead before hitting Eagle/Rosebud. Brent has been first into Dawson for four years in a row, but he didn’t win all four years.

By: JuanitaM

JuanitaM — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 17:50:13 +0000

Except for Sass and Neff, the remainder of the teams seem to be pretty tight with no major stragglers at this point. Interesting. Unlike the Iditarod which always has a broad spread between the bulk of the teams in the middle with one or two waaaay behind. Everyone looks to be handling things about evenly on this run.

Sass is about 30 miles ahead of Neff. Does that seem to you like an insurmountable distance at this point in the race? There’s obviously still a long way to go, but I haven’t been keeping up with their required stopovers, etc. so I’m not sure how to factor any of that in.