Felix Loch continued his all-conquering 2012 season by taking FIL Luge World Championship gold on home soil in Germany.

With five Viessmann Luge World Cup wins already to his name this term and with home-track advantage in Altenberg the 22-year-old was a heavy favourite.

And the 2010 Winter Olympic champion didn’t disappoint, leading after the first run and finishing with a combined time from his two efforts of 1:47.332.

Reigning champion Armin Zoeggeler was always going to be an outsider having not won a race all year and he was forced to settle for bronze in 1:47.746.

The Italian looked set for silver after the first run but was ultimately leapfrogged by Russian veteran Albert Demchenko who finished in 1:47.660 with GB’s sole representative Adam Rosen ending 25th.

Eurosport