Fourcade continues fine start to IBU World Cup season with victory in Hochfilzen

Martin Fourcade en-route to success in Austria ©Getty Images

Double Olympic champion Martin Fourcade continued his fine start to the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup season with a third victory of the campaign in Hochfilzen, Austria, today.

The 27-year-old won the men's 12.5 kilometre pursuit in 31 mins 19.9 sec with two penalties after an intriguing battle with Germany's Simon Schempp, who triumphed in the men's 10km sprint yesterday.

Fourcade finished with two penalties while Schempp only had one but was 8.9 seconds adrift.

Russia's Anton Shipulin was third with two penalties, and was 19.1 behind Fourcade.

The Frenchman was sixth after the first prone shooting stage thanks to his two penalties, but he brought himself back into contention after a perfect showing at the first standing stage.

At the second prone stage, Fourcade demonstated superb shooting speed and was faster on the skis to put himself in pole position for the victory.

The last loop then proved decisive as Schempp was unable to get in front.

Laura Dahlmeier celebrates her victory today ©Getty Images

"Simon showed me on the last lap that it was necessary to do my best," said Fourcade.

"This week I had to give to races 100 per cent.

"It was a great fight between us."

The win for Fourcade sees him lead the overall standings with 254 points, ahead of Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen who has collected 201.

Meanwhile, Laura Dahlmeier of Germany won the women's 10km pursuit with a time of 28:23.3 and one penalty.

Her team-mate Maren Hammerschmidt, with two penalties, finished 13.3 seconds back in second while Gabriela Soukalova of the Czech Republic received one penalty and finished third 18.5 seconds behind.

Dahlmeier collected a penalty during the decisive final round but it didn't matter as she was able to stay ahead of her rivals.

"I knew it was important to have a clean last shooting, and from the very start I made a mistake," she said.

"It was okay, as others made one mistake as well."

Soukalova holds the overall lead with 222 points, with Franziska Hildebrand of Germany second on 206.

Marie Dorin Habert is third with 195, with the action in Hochfilzen now set to continue tomorrow with men's and women's relays.