In the evening's mixed relay in the Finnish resort, Italy’s Lukas Hofer powered past his rivals and up Kontiolahti’s infamous steep climb, "The Wall" to bring his country victory in 1 hour 15min 08.3sec.

The Italian squad of Dorothea Wierer, Lisa Vittozzi, Dominik Windisch and Hofer had a penalty and 13 spare rounds to finish 1.5 seconds ahead of Ukraine, with just three spares.

Norway, with nine spares finished third, 9.1 seconds back.

This mixed relay win was the first for the Italian team that won the bronze medal at Pyeongchang 2018. 

The win also gave them enough points to capture the season mixed relay crystal globe, the first-ever relay Globe for the Italian team.

They also won the Olympic bronze medal at Sochi 2014. 

Hofer added that he had employed some self-motivation as he left for the final loop and eventual victory.

"When I left the standing I told myself, ‘You cannot lose it today,’ and I tried to close the gap as soon as possible," he said.

"I started my sprint at the top of the hill.

"It was tough but I am happy we finished first."

Earlier in the day, France had claimed the single mixed relay win with six spare rounds in 33min 29.1sec.

Austrian anchor Julian Eberhard pulled away from Norway's tiring Johannes Thingnes Boe in the last loop to take second place with seven spares, 2.5 seconds behind France.

Norway finished third, with a single penalty and 11 spare rounds.

Ukraine, with five spares, finished fourth, 10.8 seconds back.

Russia, with eight spares, finished fifth, 16.1 seconds back while Italy, with nine spares finished sixth, 21.5 seconds back.

Fine shooting allowed Ukraine to lead the top five teams after the first leg.

But Norway’s Boe tagged his partner Marte Olsbu with a four second lead at the end of the second leg, four seconds ahead of Japan and eight seconds clear of Canada.

Olsbu faltered in the prone stage, picking up a penalty as Chevalier and Lisa Theresa Hauser moved into the top two positions, separated by two seconds.

Chevalier tagged Guigonnat with a 4.5 second lead over Ukraine at the exchange, with Japan in third.

Boe was over 29 seconds back in eighth position.

Ukraine’s Tyshchenko cleaned the final prone in five shots to take the lead, but six teams, all within 17 seconds, were still in podium contention.

In standing, Guigonnat quickly went 5-for-5 to lead in the lead, while Boe, with a single spare, left the stadium 10 seconds behind.

The French leader held his spot for the win, however.

The event in Kontiolahti is due to conclude tomorrow with the men's 15 kilometres mass start and women's 12.5km mass start.