Horchler clocked a time of 36min 11.5sec as she crossed the line in front of her compatriot and current overall World Cup leader Laura Dalhmeier.

Dahlmeier, winner of the 15km individual competition on Thursday (January 19), was 3.1sec adrift of her victorious team-mate as her three penalties proved costly.

Gabriela Koukalová of the Czech Republic came through to take third place, amassing two penalties on her way to finishing eight seconds off the winning pace.

Dahlmeier retained top spot on the standings on 669 points, 17 ahead of Koukalová.

“I enjoyed being on the podium, but I still have not realised it…it’s unbelievable to sit between Laura and Gabi,” Horchler said.

“In the race I thought I could not lose anything, I thought I could only win something.”

Horchler and Dahlmeier, along with Tatiana Akimova of Russia, were among the athletes who enjoyed a good start to the race.

Following the opening two prone stages, Dahlmeier and Italy’s Dorothea Wierer began to hunt down the Russian heading into the first standing.

Akimova struggled, recording two quick penalties, while Dahlmeier cleaned to shoot herself into a 19sec lead.

Horchler made her move at the next stage as she cut the deficit to just five seconds after Dahlmeier made two errors and the two German athletes headed for the finish locked in a three-way battle with Koukalová.

Horchler then passed the Czech biathlete to seal a superb win, while Dahlmeier also edged in front of Koukalová to take second.

There was further success for Germany as the team of Simon Schempp, Erik Lesser, Benedikt Doll, and Arnd Peiffer won the men's 4x7.5km relay event.

Schempp emerged victorious in a pulsating sprint finish as Germany clocked 1hr 13min 57.2sec to beat Norway.

Ukraine left with the bronze medal as they were third.