The German team of Marlene Fichtner and Leonhard Pfund never led at any point in this afternoon’s Nove Mesto Single Mixed Relay until Pfund blew past Finland’s Tero Seppala in the final loop, and skied away to a 34:53.3 victory, using just four spare rounds. The German duo, both 22 years old are World Cup rookies with Fichtner having just 15 World Cup starts and Pfund starting in the top league for only the second time in his career today.

Finland with Seppala and Suvi Minkkinen finished second, with eight spares, 6.5 seconds back. France’s Emiline Claude teamed up with Jeanne Richard for third place, using six spares, 17.8 seconds back.

Photos: IBU/Jaroslav Svoboda, Yevchenko, Nordic Focus