Two-time World Champion Riiber Warns Competitors Ahead of World Cup Season Start

Two-time World Champion Riiber Warns Competitors Ahead of World Cup Season Start

Before the World Cup opener in Kuusamo, Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber has played down expectations due to his health issues, stating that the season start comes "a few weeks too early" for him. With a world record of 61 World Cup victories, Riiber is facing challenges that he disclosed, including knee problems and a recent stomach ailment affecting his training significantly.

"My jumping form isn’t quite where it should be after a summer full of knee issues," said the record-holding world champion. He then revealed that his autumn gastritis has indeed impacted his training, particularly concerning cross-country skiing.

Riiber had to undergo wisdom teeth surgery and subsequently contracted a gastrointestinal virus, which caused him to have blood in his stools for four weeks. He remarked, "We’ve worked hard to find the right balance in training, as I still suffer from these issues today."

As the season starts on Friday (jumping at 11:25, skiing at 15:00, shown on ZDF and Eurosport), Riiber has several competitors in mind, including German athlete Johannes Rydzek and Kristan Ilves, who both made impressive summer performances. Riiber commented, "It’ll be exciting to observe them. Meanwhile, athletes like Johannes Lamparter, Stefan Rettenegger, and Jens Luras Oftebro will still be hard to beat, just like in previous years. This year, the competition is incredibly strong."

The pinnacle of the season for the past dominator Riiber will be the World Championships in his home country, taking place from February 27 to March 8 in Trondheim. In recent years, a peak-performing Jarl Magnus Riiber has been nearly unbeatable, with only Olympic gold missing from his collection — so far, he has only achieved team silver in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.