Canadian wins dog 250-mile dog sled race by mere 35 seconds

 A Canadian musher crossed finish line 35 seconds ahead of his closest competitor Monday to win Can-Am Crown, a 250-mile dog sled race across wilderness of rrn Maine.

Denis Tremblay, of Saint Michel des Saints, Quebec, was Can-Am Crown runner-up four times before tching his dramatic victory.

Second-place finisher Karine Langlais, of Glenwood, New Brunswick, was 12 minutes behind at start of final 43-mile sprint, but she closed gap to 35 seconds for closest finish in race history, said Can-Am President Dennis Cyr.

Andre Longchamps, of Point Route, Quebec, came in third.

Neir Tremblay r Langlais knew how close y were because hilly course prevented m from seeing each or.

Tremblay was surprised after crossing finish line when he turned to see Langlais coming down hill behind him, Cyr said. She was equally surprised to see that Tremblay was still at finish line, he said.

250-mile Can-Am Crown kicked off Saturday in Fort Kent with mushers from Maine, Minnesota, Iowa and several Canadian provinces. grueling course took mushers to Port Lake and n to town of Allagash before looping back to Fort Kent.

Ten-time winner Martin Massicotte, of St. Tite, Quebec, wasn't in race. He is participating in 1,000-mile Iditarod across Alaska.