Watch the women’s Tour de France on TV 2 from July 24!
In idyllic surroundings in Melhus, TV 2 meets a smiling Anne Dorthe Ysland. On July 24, the Uno-X rider will embark on his greatest experience on the bike seat; Tour de France.
– It is the biggest thing you can drive on the women’s side now. You always hear it when you say that “I am a cyclist”, then comes “yes, do you ride the Tour de France?”. Now we can actually say “yes, we do”. Well, finally, we get it, we too. It is the biggest of the year. It is very time, says Ysland to TV 2.
Men:
The season has at times been very troublesome for the 20-year-old from Trøndelag. After the Women’s Tour in the UK in early June, the Trøndelag man has had more to struggle with. Now she fears for the season’s big goal.
– It has been a bit troublesome in the drive-up, and I have experienced that there is so little that should happen before you are suddenly completely out of the game. So of course, the fear that “shit, it’s starting to get pretty bad time”, it is there, of course, explains Iceland.
– OPTIMIST: Despite a season marked by much adversity, Anne Dorthe Ysland is exclusively positive. Together with the dog Aurora, she looks forward to what awaits. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
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Parasite and sores
After having been out for both a concussion and a severe cold earlier in the season, Iceland had a hope that the worst was over. However, this is not the case just under a month before the Tour de France.
With him in the suitcase from England, Iceland had with it both seat ulcers and a parasitic infection.
– It has not really gone completely smoothly this year. Then I went to England, struggled a bit with seat ulcers and got antibiotics for it. But then it did not work completely and then I thought that now I do not want to risk anything, but then I got that parasite when I was in England, and then I got a reaction to the antibiotic. I had rashes everywhere and was scratching myself to death, says Ysland.
At home in Melhus, the Trøndelag man is still waiting to return in full training.
– Now it’s mostly about getting the best possible benefit from the training I do. Just live a little in the bubble and have some tunnel vision. That is what is needed for the body to get up in the rings as quickly as possible, she says and adds with her usual smile on her face:
– I thought this spring that now I’m done with the bad luck. But now, now I bet I’m done right.
– TESTS: Anne Dorthe Ysland tests several different seats, which can make the lessons on the bike a little easier. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
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Tar grip
The injuries led to the National Championships at home, more specifically in Levanger and Steinkjer, going without Iceland.
– NM at home has been a big goal for the season. Then it is extra awkward to just stand and watch, but the season is still long and there are many goals that are more important to me this season. It makes it a little easier to make a choice, which is quite important. I could have pushed on and thought I was trying, but I think it is important that you make the decisions that are also stubborn, she explains.
Now she is taking several steps to optimize the entrance to the Tour de France. These days, the Uno-X rider is testing several seats, among other things, which will make the hours on the bike a little easier.
– I’m not quite wise yet, but this should be specially designed with a little softer cushioning, says Ysland and holds up one of many bicycle seats that can be found in the shed at home in Melhus.
Despite several unanswered questions and a season full of challenges, the 20-year-old is determined to stand on the starting line when it breaks loose in France on July 24.
– Right now I do not want to say that the form is something like that huge, but I recover a little day by day. I go “all in” for this to go well and I do everything I can to get back as soon as possible, she concludes.
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