Over The Hump-Day 4
by Jake Robinson
The Pedigree Stage Stop Race is over halfway completed, both in days of racing and miles run. With teams now literally and figuratively over the hump, we are getting some insight into how this race might shake out. Although it is still dog racing, and anything can happen (especially in Wyoming), it is beginning to look like Anny Malo will once again bring the trophy home.
Anny Malo powering through stage 4.
Year after year, Malo has shown that her dog team can charge up, down, or through anything at 15 mph, and the steep climbs, warm weather, and softer trails of todays lap proved no different. Running just a hair off the pace she set yesterday on the 30 mile trail, Malo once again thundered home and widened the gap she has on the rest of the field.
Bruce ‘The Moose’ Magnusson fired another shot across Coste’s bow with a 2nd place day finish and eating nearly 3 minutes into the banked time that Coste has banked on him. Team Magnusson seems to be firing on all cylinders and has put the ‘Coste Comet’ on notice that he cannot afford to keep giving time up at the rate of today’s lap. As stage stops longest participant, Bruce knows this race inside and out and is well aware that it’s far from over, but is building momentum nicely and nicely positioned for the days to come.
Remy Coste lost time on stage 4, but still holds a solid 2nd place.
Coste has had a challenging training season and his typical race execution strategy hasn’t panned out as of yet. While he still made time early in the race, the rate at which he’s building time in the early miles is slowing and it has yet to be enough to stave off the strong home bound performances of Malo and Magnusson, having been beat by Bruce on 2/4 stages so far. Considering the down time related to both weather and travel issues that he has faced this year, his team is performing well, but is off the pace that many of his competitors have come to expect from his outfit. Shorter trails may benefit him in the stages to come, but it also means that there is less opportunity to make (or maintain) ground.
With a 4th place day finish, Crittenden seems to be finding the ground beneath her feet and getting her program tuned in. While the gap to the podium is still widening, her performance within the field is improving. Alix is the prime example of “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over” and fans all around the world are supporting #alixstrong and hoping to see her defy the odds and make serious gains in the 3 remaining stages.
Ryan Beaber’s team looked strong after 29 miles.
Ryan ‘The Builder’ Beaber is hammering away and framing up an excellent race! His performance thus far has been exciting to follow and on the trail footage showed a well-moving, locked in team both inbound and outbound. Ryan and Tristen Rivest had some of the faster times coming home, indicating that these are teams on the rise and eager to advance in the rankings.
With the steep climbs of Big Piney now done, teams will break camp and travel to Kemmerer, WY for the next heat. After trail changes a couple of years ago, Kemmerer is the only stage of the race that could be considered even remotely ‘flat’ and even so, has more elevation change than most other dog races. While it can be a hellacious day of racing if the winds are high, the forecast looks promising, albeit warm. Adding to the strategic considerations is that while it is lap 5/7, it’s the final day of racing before a one day break for both dogs and mushers. Some of the field who are struggling to gain or maintain their place might have to go for broke and try to make time, while better positioned mushers may be considering banking the their rest and saving their efforts for the closing laps after the break period. This race is heating up and getting exciting for race fans across the country. Stay tuned!
