Iron Dog 2023: Top teams are into McGrath, where most will take 14 hour layover

MCGRATH, Alaska (KTUU) – Day one and over 300 miles of path are behind Iron Canine rivals as the highest groups reached the McGrath checkpoint Friday night, led by Workforce 10′s Mike Morgan and Chris Olds.

“What a day. We simply saved pushing, saved grinding, it’s tough on the market … actually tough,” Morgan mentioned. “Simply staying centered and preserve grinding, even while you’re hurting, you’re drained and also you’re getting your ass kicked, simply preserve grinding man. I advised Chris, ‘we now have 15 miles till Nikolai after which it’s river to McGrath, let’s go, let’s do that.’ That’s probably the most technical a part of the entire path, so from right here it will get simpler.”

However the two-time champions — taking the title in each 2018 and 2019 — know that there are groups proper on their tail all through the path. As Workforce 14 pulled in simply quarter-hour behind Workforce 10, Morgan complimented his fellow rivals.

“These guys are doing rather well too,” Morgan mentioned of Workforce 14 who pulled in simply quarter-hour behind Workforce 10.

Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie of Workforce 14 rode into McGrath second, a place they’re a bit too conversant in. The tandem was main the 2021 race down the stretch earlier than a mechanical problem bumped them again to second place, and the duo needed to scratch in Nome final yr after reaching the checkpoint in second place, attributable to accidents suffered by Leslie.

“It’s the primary day — these sleds are all model new, we simply need to take it simple, you don’t need to wreck it within the first 75 miles so that you simply take it simple, generally a bit too simple, however hey, we made it right here in a single piece,” Boylan mentioned after arriving in McGrath. “It was fairly dang tough entering into Nikolai, it was simply nasty, huge bumps, onerous bumps, you possibly can see different guys attempting to overlook the bumps…everybody goes gradual although, attempting to preserve their tools.”

There are nonetheless many miles of Alaska’s backcountry remaining, however the veterans know the way essential this portion of the race is.

“You possibly can’t win the race within the first day, however you possibly can undoubtedly lose it,” mentioned Klinton Vanwingerden, who’s driving with Todd Palin on Workforce 49. “Undoubtedly take your time and preserve your self clear and wholesome.”

Most groups have arrived in McGrath as of publishing, with every arriving workforce required to depart the checkpoint by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday. McGrath is a well-liked checkpoint for groups to take their required 14-hour layover because of the lodging and high quality of meals, which is the one factor that appears to be on racer’s minds as they attain the necessary milestone alongside the two,503 mile journey.

“Eat and drink as a lot water as we are able to, just about that’s it,” Boylan mentioned of his workforce’s plans in McGrath.

McGrath can also be the place the time differentials are made up from the interval begin at Massive Lake, as each workforce leaving will now be on the identical ‘race time’. With a 14-hour layover and the highest groups arriving round 6 p.m., anticipate sleds to be again on the Iron Canine path by 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Present Iron Canine standings may be discovered right here whereas there might be continued Iron Canine protection at alaskasnewsource.com.

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