Domracheva's time of 35 min 37.1 sec with two penalties was 28.9 seconds slower than winner Laura Dahlmeier of Germany, while Czech Republic's Gabriela Soukalova and France's Marie Dorin Habert were second and third respectively.

Going into the race, the Belarusian held a 32-point advantage over nearest challenger Kaisa Mäkäräinen of Finland, who finished in 13th place. 

The three-time Olympic gold medallist cleaned both prone stages and held the lead over Dorin Habert and Dahlmeier, before a missed standing shot standing shot allowed Germany's Franziska Preuss and Dahlmeier, both clean through three stages, to move into first and second.

Preuss had a 10 second lead going into the last standing stage, with Dahlmeier, Soukalova, Dorin Habert and Domracheva all together, but two penalties saw her drop to sixth to the benefit of her rivals. 

Speaking after her victory, Dahlmeier said: "I never thought back in August, October or even in February that I would win this race or any other this season.

"It has been a wonderful season for our team.

"Now I am ready for some holidays and no biathlon for five or six weeks."

Slovenia's Jakov Fak came out on top in the men's 15km mass start event ©Getty Images



Meanwhile in the men's 15km version of the event, Slovenia's Jakov Fak shot cleanly on his way to posting a winning time of 38:09.80.

He was joined on the podium by local favourite Anton Shipulin, 10.3 seconds back with two penalties, and Norway's Tarjei Boe, 12.5 seconds off the pace with one penalty.

Although Shipulin and Boe gained ground on Fak in the final 3km, the Slovenian regained control with 400 metres to go and secured the win.

"I was confident today on the last loop," said Fak, who won a world title in the discipline earlier this month.

"I did not use all of my energy and pushed the last uphill.

"This is a nice way to end the season and win the final event."

France's Martin Fourcade, who had already secured a record fourth World Cup overall title, finished way down in 20th position.

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