Huefner wins first World Cup race in two years

Germany had already secured all three spots on the podium in the men’s event before their female athletes achieved the same feat in their competition.

Huefner, the 2010 Olympic champion, led the way with a new track-record time of 41.355 seconds and was followed by second-placed Natalie Geisenberger on 41.414 seconds, with Dajana Eitberger third.

It means Geisenberger now leads the overall World Cup standings on 580 points, with the USA’s Summer Britcher dropping to second on 571 and her compatriot Erin Hamlin third on 536.

Four-time World Champion Huefner is joint fifth on 467 points, alongside Tatiana Ivanova, and she said: "I am overjoyed to be back on top of the podium after two years. It is even more beautiful that it is in Oberhof and in front of this crowd.

“For me to win despite an error shows that I'm on the right track.”