Habert, winner of two titles at last year’s World Championships in Kontiolahti in Finland, finished in a time of 44min 02.8sec after amassing one penalty on the course.

Compatriot Anaïs Bescond, part of the French team alongside Dorin Habert which won the mixed relay race earlier in the Championships, took home the silver medal as she was 12.2 seconds adrift.

Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier managed to secure the final spot on the podium, winning the bronze medal, despite receiving two penalties.

Dahlmeier completed the 15km course nearly 78 seconds slower than the victorious Frenchwoman.

The result gives France their fourth winner of the event in the Norwegian capital following their mixed relay triumph and Martin Fourcade’s successes in the men’s 10km sprint and 12.5km pursuit races.

"I was so happy after the sprint and pursuit that I relaxed,” Dorin Habert said.

“I got calm and my head was empty.

“Even when I missed that shot in the last stage, I really did not care.

“I was not worried.”

The race began two-and-a-half hours ahead of schedule due to poor weather forecasts, though that had little bearing on the athletes as Sweden's Lin Persson emerged the early leader.

Bescond then surged to the front after she posted two clean stages, with Habert hot on her heels, just four seconds behind.

The field gradually began to thin out at the second prone, with defending champion Ekaterina Yurlova of Russia coming through to challenge the top two places, occupied by Habert and Bescond.

The Russian was unable to build on that advantage, however, as she incurred a penalty early on before Habert seized control and never looked back, crossing the line in first to earn the third World Championships title of her career.

The Championships are due to continue tomorrow with the men's 20km individual event.