The opening leg of the event saw Dorin Habert and Sweden’s Ingela Andersson leading the pack at the conclusion of the 1,500 metres circuit, but the two nations had differing fortunes for the remainder of the event.

While the Swedish team would drop out of contention, Fourcade, who was participating in the format for the first time at a World Cup, proved key to France emerging as the clear winners of the competition in Canada.

He successful hit all 10 targets in his first time round the course and Dorin Habert pressed home the advantage by also shooting clean, with the lead rising to 50 seconds over challengers Norway and Germany.

It allowed Fourcade, the winner of the men’s 10 kilometres sprint race on Thursday (February 4), to shoot conservatively in the final lap of the circuit and he eventually crossed the line in a winning time of 37min 59sec.

"This is my first time in the single mixed in the World Cup,” Fourcade said afterwards.

“I have only done it in shows like Schalke, but it is good.

“After the bad weather today, it was nice to wake up to such a good day for biathlon."

The French pairing were followed over the line by Austria’s Lia Thersea Hauser and Simon Eder, with the duo ending 45 seconds behind the winners.

They had been able to overtake both the Norwegian and German teams in the closing stages of the event, although the former claimed bronze as Norway’s Hilde Fenne and Lars Helge Birkeland crossed the line in 38:54.