Schempp guided the German team, which also included Vanessa Hinz, women’s overall World Cup leader Laura Dahlmeier and Arnd Peiffer, to the first gold medal of the event in the Austrian resort.

The German quartet finished the race in a time of 1hr 09min 6.4sec as they beat the French team of Martin Fourcade, Anais Chevalier, Marie Dorin Habert and Quentin Fillon Maillet.

The defending champions were forced to settle for the silver medal as Fourcade, the double Olympic gold medallist and current leader in the men’s World Cup standings, crossed the line 2.2sec behind Schempp.

Russia, whose team featured Olga Podchufarova, Tatiana Akimova, Alexander Loginov and Anton Shipulin, took home the bronze.

The medal ceremony proved controversial as Fourcade initially left the podium after Shipulin and Loginov refused to shake hands with the Russian pair following an incident earlier in the race.

The Frenchman was alleged to have stepped on the skis of Loginov, who he has publicly criticised in the past after the Russian served a two-year doping ban, when he was about to be given the baton by Shipulin.

Growing tension resurfaced after the race and Fourcade allegedly only returned to the podium in order to avoid disqualification.

"We are all one team and one family, therefore if we see an improper behaviour in regard to one of us, to Loginov in this case, I believe it was indecent behaviour in regard to the whole Russian team," Shipulin told Russian news agency TASS.

"I do respect him as an athlete, but it seems to me that as a human being he is getting worse and worse in his behaviour."

Also: we'd like to offer you another perspective and angle of the events of the third exchange in today's #hochfilzen2017 mixed relay: pic.twitter.com/4nrBVvkN3P

— IBU World Champs (@IBU_WC) February 9, 2017

The incident overshadowed a superb German performance.

“It is an amazing day for all of us,” Dahlmeier said following her country’s victory.

“It’s great to win on the first day and have the pressure off.”

Schempp conceded he must improve if he is to secure the first individual World Championships medal of his career.

“The first part of the last loop was tough, I gave all I had,” the 28-year-old said.

“I have to ski faster the next races.”

A total of 25 nations competed in the race, including Kazakhstan, whose team was rocked by a doping raid conducted by Austrian police on the eve of the World Championships.

Clean prone shooting from Hinz gave Germany an early lead before she was overtaken by Italian Lisa Vittozzi.

Hinz then handed the reins to Dahlmeier, who struggled early on but fast skiing allowed her to tag Peiffer with the German team in pole position.

Peiffer opened up an 11sec advantage over the chasing pack, led by France in second and Italy in third, and the gap was extended by a further six seconds by Schempp.

Fourcade entered the fray and began chasing down his German rival but he ran out of course in his attempt to reduce the deficit, allowing Schempp to take victory for his nation.

“It was really good competition, I honestly thought I had no chance to beat Simon,” Fourcade said.

“When you look at the start list, I think might have gone for the first and have some regret, but I am happy to start the World Championships with silver.”

The World Championships continue with the women’s 7.5 kilometres sprint race tomorrow.