New challenges: The Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå diary 2009

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå overjoyed to win in Madrid
Photo ©: Dave McElwaine

Norwegian cross-country mountain bike racer Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå made an impressive comeback last year after sitting out much of the previous season due to illness. In 2008, she won the Madrid, Spain, round of the UCI World Cup and the UCI Marathon World Championships and finished 12th in the World Cup final standings.

Dahle Flesjå will take on a new challenge in 2009 when she gives birth to her first child, expected in late March. With the support of her husband Kenneth Flesjå and her family, she aims to return to competition within a few months after becoming a mother.

Don't count her out for the late season World Cups and World Championships races. She was World Champion in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006, plus Olympic champion in 2004. In 2003 to 2006, she dominated the sport, winning the World Cup overall.

Follow her exploits in 2009 on Cyclingnews as she takes on a new, joint role as mother and elite racer. Or, for more Gunn-Rita, see her personal website: www.gunnrita.com

Index to all entries

Latest entry: May 27: Our new life

2009 entries

May 27: Our new life
March 18: Just about ready to pop
March 5: Grand days at home
January 17: Looking back and forward

2008 entries

October 8: Busy days at home.
September 3: No success at the Olympics
July 24: Ready for Canadian World Cups
July 10: Winning worlds
June 29: Rough day at worlds
June 18: Countdown 'til worlds
May 29: As good as gold
May 18: Going hairless
May 13: A return to the top
April 13: First off road race
April 5: Gala ball at Castle
March 25: Great race!
March 24: Testing time
March 15: Last day in Stavanger
February 16: Sunshine in Mallorca
January 16: Happy New Year from Boulder

2007 entries

December 23: Christmas present of the year
December 11: Focus on training and resting
November 15: Great to be alive
October 17: Effective training at home
September 16: Wonderful days gone fishing
August 30: Activities other than Worlds
August 15: Training in Italy
August 9: Back on my bike
July 12: Long days at home
June 20: Waiting out the virus
June 4: An interrupted cycling season
May 25: Relaxing days at Heubach
May 12: Success at the Gunn-Rita Marathon
May 4: World Cups & marathons
March 20: A satisfying start in Sardinia
March 10: Sunny days on Majorca
February 18: Press camp on Majorca
February 2: Home to deep winter
January 30: Hot sun and snakes on the road
January 10: Happy New Year from Africa

2006 entries

October 25: Home at last
September 29: Striking contrasts
September 11: Savouring a unique performance
August 28: Wild and wonderful
August 24: Ready for a new World Championship
July 28: Gold medal collection complete
June 11: Training at altitude; racing in the cold and wet
May 18: Number three in Madrid
May 11: Good racing in Nals
April 27: Time to travel again
April 6: A fantastic day in the Caribbean
March 26: Heat and thorns in Curacao
March 14: The season starts in Italy
February 26: Back on the Olympic track
February 15: First team meeting
February 8: Plenty of action at home
January 16: Training in Lanzarote

2005 entries

December 31: Happy New Year!
December 21: Merry Christmas
November 30: Gigantic wedding celebration
October 4: Exciting days in China
September 29: The season's over but things don't stop
September 15: A great winning streak
August 30: Two months of conquering the world
July 6: Doing it tough at World Cup Canada
May 30: Action-packed weeks
May 11: Fantastic victory in Madrid
May 2: World Cup opening: second place
April 26: Plenty to do after my injury
March 29: Recumbent Easter
March 10: Home to snow
March 1: Back on Mallorca
January 30: First training camp completed
January 14: Mind-blowing sports gala
January 6: New Year - New Challenges