Menu
2021 Iditarod Begins Shortened Course in Alaska Without Defending Champ
March 8, 2021
3 min read
The 2021 Iditarod sled dog race began this weekend in Alaska with 46 mushers navigating a special 860-mile course called the Gold Trail Loop that adheres to safety and health protocols, including no spectators, to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in small towns without proper medical facilities.
The 2021 Iditarod began on Sunday in Alaska with a start at Deshka Landing. (Image: KTUU)
Welcome to the pandemic-version of the Iditarod. Last year’s Iditarod started before a coronavirus outbreak in the lower 48 states shuttered the NBA, NHL, and March Madness. By the time the 2020 Iditarod ended, it was the only professional sport running on the entire planet after the pandemic shut down sports all over the world.