Last weekend, the long-distance queen Ida Dahl stood over the competitions when she and several of her team, team Engcon, were affected by covid-19.
It was a week of fever and general malaise.
- Then I got started and trained for like three days but had a setback.
So I've been crazy again.
But I was out and rode a bit easy today and it feels good... perfectly fine, so hopefully I'll make it to the finish line tomorrow, says Ida Dahl with a laugh.
"Many important points"
The fact that it is precisely Marcialonga, the race that also happens to celebrate 50 years, is the whole reason why Ida Dahl takes a chance with her body and comes to the start.
- I think it's boring to stand on the starting line without knowing if you can give it your all.
But at the same time it's a big competition and a lot of important points, so I just have to make the best of the day.
Given the form you've shown this season, is it that you don't need to be 100 per cent to win?
- Well, I don't know that.
Right now I'm probably quite far from 100 percent so I have a hard time seeing that I could win tomorrow.
But hopefully I can pull in some valuable points.