Johannes Thingnes Bø made a storming return to the IBU World Cup tour today ©Getty Images

Norway's Johannes Thingnes Bø marked his return from paternity leave by winning the men's 20 kilometres individual event at the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup in Pokljuka in Slovenia. 

The 26-year-old, who did not compete at the first two IBU World Cup stops since the turn of the year while expecting his first-born child, triumphed with a time of 47min 54.3sec.

France's Martin Fourcade, the winner of all four individual events in Bø’s absence in Oberhof and Ruhpolding in Germany, finished 11.4 seconds behind as runner-up. 

Compatriot Fabien Claude was 25.6 seconds off the pace in third place.

All three medallists shot cleanly.

Bø's win is his sixth of the season - one more than Fourcade - and moves him up to fourth place in the overall men's standings on 434 points.

Fourcade remains the leader with 561 points, followed by compatriots  Quentin Fillon Maillet and Simon Desthieux on point totals of 472 and 455, respectively.

Fillon Maillet finished in seventh place today, while Desthieux was down in 21st. 

Action in Pokljuka is due to continue tomorrow.

The women's 15km event is scheduled to take place.