Johannes Thingnes Boe sprints to sixth win of the season, extends lead at top of World Cup standings

Johannes Thingnes Boe extended his lead at the top of the IBU World Cup standings with a ‘perfect’ victory in Pokljuka.

The Norwegian clinched gold in the men’s 10km mass start in a time of 23:55.9, the only athlete to dip below 24 minutes as his bother Tarjei Boe crossed for silver 48.1 seconds later.

Sturla Holm Laegreid took bronze to make up an all-Norwegian podium in Slovenia.

Johannes Thingnes Boe took control in an effortless standing stage to claim his fourth consecutive sprint win and sixth win of the season.

“I think it was the perfect race,” he said. “I was close to shooting clean in prone.

“During this week of training, shooting has gone very well, in standing especially, so I was quite confident coming into the standing shooting.

“But I saw Sturla shooting clean and he put the pressure on me for sure!

“Good skis and fast shooting; I’m happy with that race.”

All three athletes will go again in the men’s 12.5km pursuit on Saturday, looking to secure another clean sweep of the podium.