The World Championship in Planica was Moa Ilar's first WC in her career.
The race she had the highest expectations for was the 10 km freestyle.
But the championship started with the skiathlon, Ilar struggled with the mount and finished in 35th place.
That result saw her sent home, and poked from the favorite distance.
- It took a lot, it was perhaps the race I had been looking forward to the most.
10 km skate is like my favorite race.
Being poked from there was really tough, says Ilar when SVT Sport meets her before Sunday's five-mile race in Holmenkollen.
Not over the poke
The reason she was poked is simple, she believes.
- The skiathlon race was not good enough, it was.
- It took a long time to make a fist, and I don't know if I've really done it yet.
I needed to come home and land a bit, try to reflect on what went wrong.
I haven't figured it out yet either, but it's getting better day by day.
So you haven't quite gotten over it?
- No, it's hard inside, I'll be honest and say that.
- It is a huge disappointment.
It's tough, but that's also the sport, and the allure is perhaps when you succeed instead.
"It will be exciting"
Despite the WC disappointment still hanging over her, Ilar is looking forward to Holmenkollen's five-mile race.
- Cool, it will be exciting.
It's new for everyone and maybe no one knows how the race will turn out.
It still feels fun in some way to be part of putting this historical stamp on Holmenkollen.