Laura Dahlmeier back in form with first win of the season

Health problems have meant that before this weekend, Dahlmeier – who won two golds and a bronze at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics last year – had achieved just one podium finish this campaign.

But a silver medal in the 10km pursuit on Saturday suggested she was rounding into form and she backed that up by taking gold in the 12.5km mass start 24 hours later.

The 25-year-old German missed one target on the opening prone in Antholz and was 23rd following the second prone stage but skied strongly and hit all five targets on the first standing range to take the lead.

After that she never looked back, shooting clean on the final range and eventually crossing the line in 35:32.8 minutes, 13.1 seconds clear of Marketa Davidova – the Czech youngster who took won her first World Cup race in the 7.5km sprint on Thursday.

Dahlmeier's compatriot Vanessa Hinz took bronze, 16.4 seconds behind the winner, while Dorothea Wierer still leads the overall rankings on 632 points with fellow Italian Lisa Vittozzi 34 points behind.