It was the second gold in as many days for the athlete, who was looking to ebb the flow of Russian and Ukrainian dominance that has been all too common in this season's World Cup series.

The current world number one looked unstoppable against Ukrainian 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championship sprint classic silver medallist Olena Iurkovska in second, while Norway's Mariann Marthinsen picked up another podium in third to add to her ever growing 2013-2014 collection.

Normality was restored in the men's sitting race as Ukraine's Maksim Yarovyi piped five-time Russian world champion Roman Petushkov to the gold whilst Petushkov's teammate and short distance biathlon world champion Grigory Murygin completed the podium in third.

Russian World Championship bronze medallist Oleg Ponomarev, alongside guide Andrei Romanov, was pushed to his limits in the men's visually impaired race by France's Thomas Clarion and guide Julien Bourla.

The Frenchman was hot on the heels of the Russian throughout the race but had to settle for silver as Ponomarev's experience shone through at a vital time.

Last year's World Championships sprint classic silver medallist Zebastian Modin, guided by Albin Ackerot, completed the podium.

Yoshihiro Nitta won the first of two bronze medals for Japan in the standing races ©Getty Images


Japan's 10km and sprint classic Paralympic champion Yoshihiro Nitta earned a hard fought bronze in the men's standing race, joining Russian sprint classic world champion Vladislav Lekomtcev and teammate Aleksandr Pronkov on the podium

Nitta's effort was matched by compatriot Oto Shoko who earned picked up bronze in the women's event to top off a great day for the Japanese contingent.

Ukraine's World Championships sprint bronze medallist Oleksandr Kononova placed first in the race, ahead of Russian Natalia Bratiuk, who currently sits at third in the cross-country World Cup standings.

The women's visually impaired race was once again headed by five-time biathlon and cross-country world champion Mikhalina Lysova and guide Andrey Ivanov as Russia began to gain a foothold on the day's action.

Ukraine's 10km biathlon World Championships silver medallist Oksana Shyshkova split the podium finishing second ahead of Russia's long distance world champion Elena Remizova.

Races conclude in Oberstdorf tomorrow, with the middle distance classic events, before skiers head to Oberried for the final biathlon World Cup races ahead of Sochi 2014.

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