Lochner lands first-ever World Cup win

The 26-year-old, with his crew of Sebastian Mrowka, Joshua Bluhm und Christian Rasp, were fastest in both runs for a combined time of 1:48.73 minutes.

That was enough to Alexander Kasjanov and the Russians by 0.41 seconds, while there was plenty more for the passionate home support to get excited about as Francesco Friedrich, Candy Bauer, Martin Grothkopp and Thorsten Margis were third, 0.67 behind their compatriots.

Despite coming home fifth in Altenberg, Switzerland's Rico Peter still leads the World Cup standings after three races with 619 points.

However his lead has been cut with Kasjanov now on 595 and Steven Holcomb on 554 after the American, pushed by Carlo Valdes, James Reed and Samuel McGuffie, was ninth in Altenberg.

Lamin Deen, Mark Lewis-Francis, Tremayne Gilling and Andrew Matthews were the highest-placed British sled in 12th – coming home in 1:50.47,

And four places further back were pilot Oliver Biddulph and his crew of Samuel Blanchet, Ben Simons and Joel Fearon.

Sportsbeat 2017