Norway edge home favourites Germany for first win of the season

It was Norway's first World Cup win of the season – having finished second to Sweden in Hochfilzen before Christmas and missing out on a podium place in Oberhof last week.

Lars Helge Birkeland got the Norwegians off to a strong start before Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen missed only one target on the range and built up a healthy 5.7-second advantage over France and led the Germans by a full 29.3s.

However, Arnd Peiffer shot clean for the home quartet on the third leg and skied strongly, while Tarjei Boe missed twice, to narrow the deficit to just 0.9 seconds with Austria in between the countries at 0.6s back.

That set up a nervy finale as this season's dominant force Johannes Thingnes Boe missed three targets, while Germany's anchor skier Benedikt Doll only incurred two penalties, but the Norwegian was stronger over the snow to cross the line for a time of 1:09:54.3.

That was 13.5s ahead of home favourites Germany, with France taking third – a mere 0.6 seconds ahead of the Austrian quartet, who faded as Julian Eberhard missed six times on the range.