The 22-year-old shot clean on his way to a winning time of 24 min 38.8 sec which was 27.9 quicker than Anton Shipulin of Russia.

Shipulin also shot clean with France's Martin Fourcade, the overall World Cup leader, coming third, 28.9 adrift and with one penalty.

There was also a career best finish of fifth for Switzerland's Serafin Wiestner, who accrued one penalty.

Bø quickly took the lead after the prone stage, which saw him clear all of the targets in his usual rapid fire style.

Fourcade had to undertake his penalty loop after the standing, which Bø left with an unassailable 29 second lead to his name.

"I was relaxed and it went just like in training," said Bø, who topped an IBU World Cup podium for the second time this season after also winning the Ruhpolding 10km sprint in Germany in January.

"I was excited today, I felt like I had a lot of energy; maybe I could have been fighting for the win last week in Canmore but I stayed home to train for the World Championships."

Fourcade added to his overall lead with his performance, and now has 802 points ahead of Shipulin's 592.

Meanwhile, Gabriela Soukalova's clean shooting and strong ski gave her the victory ahead of American Susan Dunklee in the women's 7.5km sprint.

Both shot clean, with the Czech clocking 20:02.2 in her victory.

Third place went to Krystyna Guzik of Poland,

After Presque Isle, the biathletes will prepare for the World Championships in Holmenkollen, Norway, between March 3 and 13.