Doll celebrates his unexpected victory ©IBU

It has been a two-year wait, but German Benedikt Doll is back on the winner's podium at the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup.

 Annecy-Le Grand Bornand is hosting the third leg of the 2019-20 season, with six events spread across four days of competition. 

Today saw the 10 kilometre sprint, with Doll's previous win coming with the IBU Sprint World Championship title in 2017. 

However, he was outstanding on the French terrain, finishing in a time of 23min, 22.1sec. 

Like Doll, Norway's Tarjei Boe also shot clean, but was 9.4sec back in second place.

Home favourite Quentin Fillon Maillet completed the podium. 

"It was really unexpected," Doll said after his victory. 

"Before the race I didn't feel 100 per cent, a little bit weak, so I am really surprised today to stand on first place. 

"Still, it is really beautiful, especially since it is my first World Cup victory. 

In the early stages, France's Martin Fourcade and team mate Simon Desthieux were flying high with fast clean prone stages, but Boe and Doll were soon up to speed. 

Doll then cleared all of the standing targets to pull away. 

Tomorrow sees the women’s 7.5km sprint competition.