After he was sidelined due to a sickness on the World Cup opening weekend, the great Magnus Moan was back in the game at the last competition weekend in Lillehammer. With two Top Ten ranks, he put the cards on the table in terms of what he’s capable of in this winter. For TUESDAY TALK, we checked in with the 31-year-old about what to expect from him for the next competitions and the upcoming winter as well as how the stress fracture in his heel is doing.

After sitting out the first World Cup weekend due to a sickness, you were now back competing in Lillehammer. Are you feeling on top of your game again?

Magnus Moan: Oh no, you never know where you are before the season starts. And my body still needs to come back in normal training again after almost two weeks of sickness.

With a fourth and sixth rank in Lillehammer, you immediately entered the Top Ten. Were you confident that you could perform so well so shortly after being sick?

Moan: I knew that I had done my preparations before my sickness period quite well and especially my cross-country shape was OK. I was more concerned about my jumping performance. During the season was opening in Kuusamo, I had the pleasure of getting four good jumping sessions home in Trondheim. But you never know where you stand before the first competition.

Looking back on your performance of the weekend, you were doing solidly on the jumping hill which is often not your strong suit and posted top 5 cross-country times in both races. In which area do you think you have to improve to make the last small step onto the podium?

Moan: In both areas I delivered quite good performances but to take the next step I need to come back in normal training again and feel that I can work with my body instead of fighting against it.

You have been struggling with you achilles tendon for quite a while and a stress fracture in the heel bone was discovered in autumn. How has the special therapy you are doing to cope with it been working and were you able to ski pain-free the last weekend?

Moan: During many years of hard training, I have gotten to know what my body can handle and it’s fascinating to see how it is responding. It’s almost as in a relationship! (laughs) The treatment is working well but you never know if the heel is gonna make it true the day or the season. But I was able to ski pain-free this weekend. Lovely! (laughs)

Going to Ramsau am Dachstein next, a smaller hill and a tough track are awaiting you. A perfect setup for Magnus Moan?

Moan: It’s always nice to come to Ramsau. I have several victories and podium places from there. The hill is a bit special and the track is, as you say, hard! The goal is to be as well prepared as possible and hopefully my cross-country shape will be even better than this weekend!

With this promising start into the season, what are your goals for the rest of the winter now?

Moan: To be honest I really don’t have any main goals. I just want to deliver good jumps and do my thing on the track. If I do that I know I can be one of the best!