Dahle Flesjå forced to pause racing season

Reigning World and Olympic champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå (Multivan-Merida) took a break from her racing season to return Norway Monday. For several weeks, Dahle Flesjå has been suffering from inexplicable stomach problems and will return home to undergo comprehensive medical tests in Stavanger.

The Norwegian has spent her time since Offenburg's World Cup race in Champéry, Switzerland, where the next World Cup race is scheduled to take place this weekend without her.

"This decision to pause in the middle of the season has been very hard to take for me," said 25-time World Cup winner Dahle Flesjå about her situation. "But I know from experience that my health is the most important element on the road to success." She has also won seven World Championship titles.

She hopes to return to racing with her best form in plenty of time to defend her two world championship titles.