The Norwegian was on the crest of a wave with three successive individual victories before misfiring in an uncharacteristic performance in German town Oberhof last weekend.

Eckhoff finished in eighth position in the 12.5-kilometre mass start after missing all four targets as she ended a run of six straight podium finishes.

Her rival and fellow Norwegian Marte Olsbu Røiseland also struggled in the race but crucially finished a place higher than Eckhoff to remain as the overall World Cup leader.

Røiseland leads the way on 579 points ahead of Eckhoff on 560 and Hanna Öberg of Sweden on 550.

Julia Simon of France will arrive in Antholz-Anterselva in buoyant mood after claiming her first World Cup win of the season.

Norway's Tarjei Bø also comes in off the back of a win as he secured his first non-sprint race victory in nearly eight years.

Bø saw off Austria's Felix Leitner to clinch gold in the 15km mass start in Oberhof.

His younger brother Johannes Thingnes Bø will be the man to beat though having already notched two wins this month to maintain his position at the top of the overall standings.

The 27-year-old holds a 54-point advantage at the summit on 618 with Sturla Holm Lægreid second on 564 and Tarjei Bø third on 511.

This weekend’s World Cup stages will also be the last before the Biathlon World Championships, scheduled to take place in Pokljuka in Slovenia from February 9 to 21.

Qualification in Antholz-Anterselva is due to be held tomorrow before the two individual races on January 21 and 22.

While the men’s relay takes place, the women will be in action in the mass start race on January 23.

Competition is set to conclude on January 24 with a men’s mass start event and a women’s relay.