Media
release from Multivan Merida Biking Team - for immediate release
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is on her way back to
the world elite
After having suffered from an intractable viral infection this summer, mountain
biking’s multiple world champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is on her way back to
the world elite. At the moment, the Norwegian is working on her return to
top-class sport, going through a tough work-out schedule at home in Stavanger
before she is going to travel to Boulder (Colorado, USA) for a couple of weeks
in January. «I have fully recovered and therefore am fully motivated. Alltough I
cannot really train as much and at the same level of intensity as in previous
years yet, I am still convinced that I will be competing for the podium within
the world elite next season», Dahle analyzes her situation.
After a viral disease struck her in May this year, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is
going to compete in her first mountain bike race for a while in March 2008.
Being the reigning Olympic champion, the Norwegian is considered as one of the
serious contenders at Beijing’s Olympic games, but she is still reluctant to put
herself under pressure: «Thinking about medals does not make any sense yet at
the moment. I guess I will be able to give a more precise estimate on my chances
for the Olympic games by the month of May.»
As Multivan Merida Biking Team’s manager, Andreas Rottler is looking forward to
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå’s return. «We are convinced that an athlete of
Gunn-Rita’s calibre will be able to catch up with the world elite quickly.»
Rottler knows Dahle for many years and to him, one thing is for sure: «She still
is the big favourite for Beijing’s Olympic games.»
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is considered to be the world’s best mountain bike racer
and will be competing in March 2008 for the first time after a lengthy break
caused by illness. The start of the worldcup season in April is scheduled as a
first highlight, followed by the world championships at the end of June and then
the Olympic games at the end of August.