Jarl Magnus Riiber is well clear of his competition ©Getty Images

Oberstdorf returns to the International Ski Federation (FIS) Nordic Combined World Cup schedule and hosts its first winter events since 2014.

The German venue has had extensive renovations and improvements and is operating as a pre-World Championship test event.

The ski jumping stadium and cross-country tracks in Ried have undergone construction work, with many teams now familiarising themselves with the conditions.

On the slopes, Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber is the man to watch, with the competition now returning to the large hill.

Vinzenz Geiger has extensive local knowledge of the Oberstdorf set-up ©Getty Images
Vinzenz Geiger has extensive local knowledge of the Oberstdorf set-up ©Getty Images

He's totally dominating the competition, with World Cup victories in Ruka, Finland, Lillehammer, Norway, Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria, and Val di Fiemme, Italy, two weekends ago.

He has a seemingly impregnable lead at the top of the standings, on 860 points.

The battle for second appears to be a two-horse race.

Germany's Vinzenz Geiger is a true Oberstdorf local and will be hoping to cause a major upset.

He sits on 582 points, with Norway's Joergen Graabak on 571.

His compatriot Jens Luraas Oftebro is well adrift in fourth, with 383 points.