Riiber has been in sensational form since the turn of the year, winning five out of the past six stages, including the last three.

The 23-year-old had the chance to extend his lead at the top of the overall World Cup standings in Klingenthal which is set to host competition on Saturday and Sunday (February 6 and 7).

But Riiber has opted to stay in Lillehammer to gear up for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships - scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 7 in Oberstdorf in Germany.

"Jarl has shown a brilliant effort this season so far, and is currently the world's best combined athlete," said Ivan Stuan, sports director for the Norwegian Ski Association, in a report by Nettavisen.

"Now it's about doing the right things towards the World Championships and we support his priorities."

The Norwegian team will also be without Magnus Krog who has pulled out due to stomach problems.

The country’s hopes will now rest on the shoulders of Jens Lurås Oftebro who won in Ruka in Finland at the start of the season.

Riiber, a two-time world champion, leads the overall World Cup standings on 940 points ahead of Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger on 554 and Japan’s Akito Watabe on 528.

With Riiber no longer in the field, Geiger and Watabo will hope to seize the opportunity to close the gap on the leader.

Watabe is the only athlete to defeat Riiber in 2021, having won in Lahti in Finland last month, while Geiger has not tasted victory since winning back-to-back competitions in Ramsau in Austria almost two months ago.

Competition is due to start tomorrow with the provisional round ahead of the two FIS Nordic Combined World Cup stages.