Johannes Thingnes Bø claimed his third pursuit and sprint double at the IBU World Cup in Pokljuka ©Getty Images

Johannes Thingnes Bø claimed his third pursuit and sprint double of the season at the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup in Pokljuka, Slovenia.

Following his victory yesterday in the men’s 10 kilometres sprint, Bø produced another display of aggressive skiing to take the men’s 12.5km pursuit crown by more than a minute from his nearest challenger.

Bø, who won four gold and one bronze medal at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, triumphed in 31min 43.2sec, claiming a comfortable victory despite being hit with two penalties for missing targets during the shooting phase.

There was a close finish for the silver medal with Quentin Fillon Maillet of France outsprinting Johannes brother, fellow Norwegian Tarjei Bø.

Fillon Maillet finished second in 32:48.1, with Tarjei Bø 1.6 seconds adrift in third in 32:49.8.

For Johannes’ victory was the 62nd of his career as well as the 100th time he had made the podium.

In the overall World Cup standings, Johannes Bø leads with 779 points, with compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid second with 675, and Fillon Maillet in third on 377.  

Elsewhere today at the Pokljuka Sport Center, Elvira Öberg of Sweden produced a clean display of shooting to win the women’s 10km pursuit.

The victory comes two days after the three-time Beijing 2022 medallist claimed the women’s 7.5km sprint crown at the same venue.

Öberg triumphed in 29:41.6, as she claimed a third career pursuit crown, but her first wearing the yellow bib.

"To be in the lead the entire race, shooting on lane one and shooting clean really means a lot," Öberg said after the race.

"It means more than just a victory today. I am really proud that I managed to get here."

Italy’s Dorothea Wierer, with one penalty, finished in second on 29:59.2, 17.6 seconds adrift.

The podium was completed by France’s Julia Simon, who had two penalties, as she finished third in 30:04.0, 22.4 seconds behind.

In the women’s overall World Cup standings, Simon holds the lead with 606 points, with Öberg second with 575 and Germany’s Denise Herrmann-Wick in third on 432.

Two more races are scheduled in Pokljuka tomorrow with the single mixed relay, due to be followed by the mixed relay competition.