Emil Hegle Svendsen (men) and Kathrin Hitzer (women) earned victories in the biathlon pursuit races in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Norwegian youngster Svendsen continued his sensational breakout season by picking up his fifth success of the year and his first in pursuit.

Svenden started the race in second, 10 seconds behind his mentor Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, and secured victory despite two shooting mistakes.

That was because Bjoerndalen had a tough day with the rifle, clocking five misses, but his seventh place finish still extended his lead at the top of the pursuit standings and he can clinch it with a 10th place or better in Holmenkollen next week.

Bjoerndalen can also take the overall title with an eight place or better in tomorrow's mass start event.

Poland's Tomasz Sikora finished second in the pursuit race, 16.8 seconds behind Svendsen, after perfect shooting saw him jump up from 19th.

Local favourite Andrei Makoveev finished third.

In the women's race, Hitzer earned the first World Cup race of her career by finishing just 1.5 seconds ahead of Sandrine Bailly with Andrea Henkel coming in third.

Magdalena Neuner, the winner of the sprint, led the race until the final shooting session but then missed four of five targets.

The result means it is still all to play for in the overall standings with Bailly 23 poionts ahead of Henkel and 35 in front of Neuner.

However, with three results scratched at the end of the season, that could change further.

Seán Fay / Eurosport