Crossing the line with just one penalty, the three-time World Cup overall bronze medallist was far in front of everyone in a time of 33min 52sec.

Émilien Jacquelin won silver, 32.1sec behind with one penalty - but this was enough to take him top of the pursuit World Cup standings.

Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson, who has been excelling in the sprint, claimed the bronze another 6sec back, having taken two penalty laps. 

It was nearly an all-French podium, but Simon Desthieux was beaten in a photo finish, although given the same time as Samuelsson.

Belarus' Anton Smolski was followed in by Austrian Felix Leitner, the best biathlete on the day with a perfect shooting record.

Sweden won the women's 4x6km relay by 29sec in a time of 1 hour 13min 52.5sec.

Linn Persson gave the team the lead with a faultless shooting run, but four faults from Anna Magnusson put them 7sec behind leaders France, led by Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet.

Elvira Öberg put Sweden back in front and her sister Hanna made sure they stayed there on the anchor.

Russians Valeriia Vasnetcova, Svetlana Mironova, Uliana Nigmatullina and Kristina Reztsova took the silver, followed by France another 30sec back.

Tomorrow is the women's pursuit and men's relay.