Mäkäräinen leapfrogged Slovakian Anastasia Kuzmina into top spot as she clinched her first triumph of the season by completing the 12.5 kilometres race in 34min 05.6sec.

Defending World Cup champion Laura Dahlmeier, who guided hosts to relay victory yesterday, was narrowly beaten in a sprint finish by Mäkäräinen as the German crossed the line 0.8 seconds behind.

Veronika Vítková of the Czech Republic came through to take third, 4.6 seconds adrift of the victorious Finnish athlete.

The result saw Mäkäräinen move into the overall lead with a total of 489 points.

Kuzmina, who finished a disappointing 23rd today, remains second on 470 points.

Italy's Dorothea Wierer is third having amassed 399.

In the men's event, held over 15km, Bø reduced the deficit in his battle for the overall crown with World Cup holder Fourcade by sealing victory in 37:11.2.

Frenchman Fourcade, who came into the race having won the previous four, was languishing in 15th at one point before he staged a comeback to finish second.

Third place went to Antonin Guigonnat of France, who was 8.4 seconds slower than the Norwegian.

Fourcade still has a healthy 44-point advantage on the leaderboard on 666 points, with Bø still in contention in second.

"This is special, since Martin has been ahead of me in the last races which was the opposite of before Christmas," said Bø. 

"Now I am back on top and that is good."

The IBU World Cup season continues in Antholz-Anterselva in Italy on Thursday (January 18) until Sunday (January 21).