The victory came a day after their success in the women’s 4x6 kilometres relay, with their quartet of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Filip Fjeld Andersen, Sturla Holm Laegreid and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen victorious in 1hr 12min 06.1sec.

In second place 10.6 seconds adrift were Sweden’s team of Peppe Femling, Jesper Nelin, Martin Ponsiluoma and Sebastian Samuelsson.

In third 12.4 seconds behind the winners were France’s line-up of Antonin Guigonnat, Emilien Jacquelin, Simon Desthieux and Quentin Fillon Maillet.

Germany, who finished fourth had a significant lead after the first exchange thanks to Erik Lesser, although a powerful second leg from Jacquelin gave France the halfway advantage.

The chasers closed on leg three, with Desthieux handing over to Fillon Maillet with three countries just a few seconds behind.

Two clean rounds of shooting, in the standing and prone positions, helped Christiansen guide Norway to victory as he pulled away from his chasers on the run to the finish.

Today was a fourth win in five relay competitions for the Norwegians, giving them the World Cup Relay Score Crystal Globe.

Individual events are scheduled to take centre stage in Kontiolahti tomorrow, with the women’s 7.5km and men’s 10km sprint races both due to take place.

The World Cups are taking place without Russian and Belarusian athletes after the International Biathlon Union banned the countries athletes from its events, following Russia and Belarus' invasion of Ukraine.