The 23-year-old, who claimed a haul of five medals at this year's World Championships in Oslo, including gold in the 10km pursuit, powered home in 46min 14.0sec with two penalties.

Anais Bescond of France was forced to settle for the silver medal as she finished 15.8 seconds adrift of the German in what proved to be a straight battle between the two.

Belarusian Darya Yurkevich, who managed to shoot clean, did enough for third, crossing the line 1:17.3 after the victorious Dahlmeier.

Dahlmeier is set to be one of the athletes to watch out for during the 2016 to 2017 IBU World Cup campaign as she was sixth in the race for the overall crown last season, despite missing seven stops on the calendar due to injury.

She was one of three Germans to end the race inside the top 10 as Franziska Preuss, part of the team which won the gold medal in the 4x6km relay at last year's World Championships in Kontiolahti, was fourth and Vanessa Hinz, a former cross country skier, was 10th.

Dahlmeier becomes the first German woman to hold the yellow jersey, worn by the current overall World Cup leader, since two-time Olympic champion and 12-time World Championships gold medallist Magdalena Neuner.

"This is a very big moment for me," she said.

"The yellow jersey is something, I dream of it since childhood. 

"This really is madness."

Dahlmeier admitted it was a tough race, with the wind proving a constant issue, and insists she was not expecting to secure victory in the season opener.

"I did not feel very fast, it was a difficult race," she added.

"I never expected it."

The IBU World Cup in Östersund continues tomorrow as the men compete in the 20km individual event.