Biathlon - IBU World Championships - Men 15 km Mass Start - Hochfilzen, Austria - 19/2/17 - Martin Fourcade of Fance in action. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

(Reuters) - France’s Martin Fourcade underlined his Olympic biathlon credentials when he won the last race before the Pyeongchang Games, the mass start in Antholz-Anterselva in Italy on Sunday.

Fourcade, the World Cup overall leader, made two mistakes at the first shooting session, before getting his composure back and taking a comfortable victory. His main rival, Norway’s Johannes Boe, finished a distant sixth.

The 29-year-old, who already has two Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles, snatched his 15th podium finish in as many World Cup races this season.

“I raced smartly, and I even spared myself for the last lap but I didn’t even need that energy,” said Fourcade.