Last week, Team Engcon presented its roster for the Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XVII, and one of the most notable absences was long-distance star Ida Dahl.

After a season away from racing due to severe fatigue, Dahl has chosen to remain off the team roster as she continues her recovery. According to both the athlete and the Pro Team, the decision was mutual.

Ida Dahl, who dominated the Ski Classics Season XIV (2022/2023) and claimed the overall Ski Classics title, missed all races last winter. In an interview with SVT Sport earlier this year, she opened up about hitting the wall physically and mentally, describing the past season as “the worst experience of my entire life.”

“We agreed that it’s the best thing for me, so I don’t rush back too quickly and end up in the same situation again,” Dahl told SVT Sport.

Prioritizing recovery over results

While Dahl is not officially on the team, she has remained connected. She recently joined a light training session with Team Engcon during their camp in Östersund, her hometown, and shared that things have been slowly improving.

“It’s much better! It’s really nice, and things have been moving in the right direction in recent weeks. But it doesn’t get better in a day,” she said and added:

“I’m trying to focus on feeling good and then take it week by week and see how it goes.”

Dahl emphasized that while she is stepping aside for now, a return to racing with Team Engcon remains a possibility down the line.

“If it feels right and I want to try again, it’ll be with Engcon.”

A strong roster moves forward without one of its stars

Despite the absence of one of its most celebrated names, Team Engcon continues into Season XVII with a powerhouse squad aiming for top results in both men’s and women’s competitions. Yellow bib holders Anikken Gjerde Alnæs and Ole Jørgen Bruvoll return, alongside several key athletes from last season.

Read More – Team Engcon presents team lineup: long-distance star missing

The most eye-catching addition is World Champion Ebba Andersson, who made a late-season appearance for Team Engcon in Season XVI, winning both Reistadløpet and the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja. With the Olympic Games scheduled in February, Andersson is likely to rejoin the team toward the end of the Pro Tour season.

With Alnæs and Hanna Lodin leading the women’s group early on and Andersson expected later, Team Engcon remains a major contender on the women’s side.

As Dahl takes time to recover on her own terms, the long-distance skiing world watches with the hope that one of its brightest stars may eventually return — stronger, wiser, and ready for a new chapter.

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