The 30-year-old, part of the Norwegian relay team which claimed gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, completed the 10 kilometres course in 21min 40.6sec to add to his growing list of international honours.

Bø finished 10.6 seconds in front of silver medallist Jesper Nelin of Sweden despite recording one penalty.

Nelin edged Dmitry Malyshko of Russia for second place as both athletes put in clean shooting performances.

"There was almost no wind today so being more aggressive was the best option," said Bø. 

"I did miss once in prone but kept my composure and ski speed until standing where I shot fast and clean. 

"That was luckily good enough for me to win gold and feel good about my form a bit more two weeks before the IBU World Championships in Östersund in Sweden.

"With today's performance I wouldn’t have won at the World Cup, but the podium would not be far away."

Mona Brorsson of Sweden triumphed in the women's race, held over 7.5km, in a time of 19:37.4 with a clean-shooting display.

Ekaterina Yurlova-Percht of Russia amassed one penalty on her way to taking silver, 37.5 seconds behind, while the bronze medal was claimed by Olympic 15km individual champion and Brorsson's team-mate Hanna Öberg.

"I am feeling for some time now that my performance level is rising," said Brorsson.

"This was probably my best individual race of the season so far."

The event in Minsk concludes with the men's and women's pursuits tomorrow.