Holmes Leads Iditarod, Eyes Second Straight Win

0:00This is Cory with the story with Anchorage News today, powered by the Daily News Now. Jesse Holmes, the defending champion, raised out of White Mountain first at 11.26 a.m. Tuesday with his team of 12 sled dogs. He's now positioned for a second straight win in the 1,000 mile I did a ride from Willow to Nome. Repeat victories like this are rare, with only five musters ever pulling it off, and the last back-to-back streak came from Dallas-CV three years. Running from 2014 to 2016, Holmes holds a nearly four-hour lead over his closest rival, veteran Travis Beals from Seward, heading into the final 77 miles to the finish line in Nome. Every team must take a mandatory eight-hour rest in White Mountain before that last push. Holmes raved about his run from the previous checkpoint, calling it one of the best of his life with great scenery and support along the way. He's racked up prizes all race, including $2,500 for arriving first in White Mountain, and his team has led much of the way.

1:04Since starting March 8th, his friend and neighbor Paige Drobney looked like a threat earlier, but she dropped back after a longer rest stop. Beals has surged strong on the coastal stretches, passing several teams, and could depart White Mountain as early as 307 p.m. Just one muster has scratched so far, though a four-year-old dog from Millie Poor South's team sadly died near LM. Meanwhile, officials expect a winner under the Burrowed Arch late Tuesday, with the final leg typically taking nine to 12 hours. Winds and Nome should stay mild at around 10 miles per hour. The daily news now is powered by our sponsor. Press play. Put your head down. The sound is already there. S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com. Made in AI.