Action was due to begin at the Vogtland Arena with the ski jumping element of the discipline, but the training, provisional competition round and competition round were all cancelled due to high winds.

Instead competition was changed to a cross-country skiing element, a mass start race, over 10 kilometres.

All competitors started together following a traditional opening shot, with the bunched nature of the field leading to constant changes of the lead.

A group of around 20 athletes were together for the majority of the race, with Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro and Austria’s Johannes Lamparter attacking off the front as the race approached its climax.

Geiger and fellow German Eric Frenzel caught the back of the breakaway pair, with the four entering the closing section of the course in the stadium together.

A sprint finish from Geiger on the last corner saw him claim the win in 28min 41.5sec, followed by Oftebro, 1.2 seconds adrift at 28:42.7.

Frenzel finished third in 28:42.8, with Lamparter in fourth place in 28:44.7.

The competition is due to conclude with the ski jumping HS140 discipline tomorrow.

The World Cups in Klingenthal were due to take place between January 13 and 15 but were delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions, caused by a lack of snow.