The Olympic gold medallist had finished 67th, 43rd and eighth in the opening three events but topped the podium today after crossing the line in 31min 05.9sec.

Eckhoff shot perfectly on her way to recording an impressive win as she led a Norwegian one-two, with Marte Olsbu Røiseland second, 21.5sec adrift.

Sweden’s Hanna Öberg earned another podium result as she took bronze, 31.6 behind the victorious Eckhoff.

Eckhoff, a member of the Norwegian mixed relay team which claimed gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, said she had struggled for motivation during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I had a really troubling start because it is special to do biathlon in a pandemic," the multiple world relay champion said.

"I do not really feel the joy, but people at home helped me get my motivation back and I need to say thanks to them because they helped me find that motivation."

There had earlier been success for Norway in the men's 7.5km relay as the formidable Bø brothers, Johannes Thingnes and Tarjei, led the team to victory in 1 hour 16min.

The Norwegian quartet, which also included Sturla Holm Laegreid and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, ended the race 39.2sec clear of Sweden.

Sweden, led by Olympic relay champion Sebastian Samuelsson, clinched silver after finishing ahead of Germany.

The World Cup season is due to resume with the third event of the campaign, starting in Hochfilzen in Austria on Friday (December 11).