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With a loud cheer, Arnd Peiffer crossed the finish line in Hochfilzen after an outstanding race.
The tenth World Cup success of his career and the first for the German biathletes this winter.
"I didn't necessarily believe that I could still do it in my career," he said shortly afterwards, both euphoric and incredulous.
“My first victory in a mass start race!
Everything was fine today. "
The 33-year-old prevailed after a faultless shooting performance in front of the Swede Martin Ponsiluoma (1 fault), whom he was able to shake off with an energetic performance a few hundred meters from the target.
His lead at the end: 1.3 seconds.
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The Norwegian Tarjei Bö ran in third place (1 mistake).
Benedikt Doll (1) completed the good result of the Germans in fourth.
Erik Lesser finished 17th after two mistakes.
Triumph almost twelve years after the first victory
For Peiffer, the 2018 Olympic champion from Pyeongchang, it was the tenth World Cup victory of his career.
He had been successful for the first time in March 2009 in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia) and won a sprint competition.
Flawlessly on the shooting range, strong on the trail: Arnd Peiffer won the last race before Christmas
Source: dpa / Barbara Gindl
The women's mass start race follows in the afternoon (2:25 p.m.).
"Pinch your ass cheeks again and see what else is possible," said Franziska Preuss beforehand.
The Bavarian was the best German in the sprint (4th) and pursuit (6th) and, like Denise Herrmann, is hoping for the second individual podium of the season.