Photos and captions by Aaron Kennedy
In a winter that has finally seen normal temperatures, it seems cruel that once again, XC racers are praying for snow. With minimal snow near the Canadian border, the I500 will now consist of two legs around Thief River Falls, MN before completing a final leg to Bemidji. While this takes away some of the charm of a true point-to-point race, the change in format made the Seven Clans 250 this past weekend even more important. It would offer riders a first glimpse at the conditions for the I500, and a chance to dial-in sleds one last time.
With a one week gap for the SOO 500, racers return in two weeks for the I500, and you can’t ask for a better storyline. Will Zach Herfindahl overcome bad mechanical luck he has had the last two weeks and repeat as champion? Will Aaron Christensen who has podiumed several times in the I500 finally take the checkered flag? Or will another rider step up and win the fabled race? Stay tuned.