Sprint disciplines were being held at the flagship International Luge Federation event for the first time and Loch led down a German clean sweep of the podium by finishing in 38.574 sec.

Three-time World Championship medallist Andi Langenhan was second in 38.794 with Ralf Palik completing the German 1-2-3 by taking bronze in 38.808.

Loch, the overall World Cup leader this season, is now strong favourite to add the men's singles title to his collection on Sunday (January 31).

The sprint title today was the tenth World Championship gold medal in all for the 26-year-old.

There was also German success in the doubles as Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt descended in 39.032 ahead of Austria's Peter Penz and Georg Fischler who managed 39.26.

Italians Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber took bronze with 39.428.

In the women's sprint, Germany were denied a monopoly on all three gold medals as double Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger was forced into second by Switzerland's Martina Kocher.

The 30-year-old Swiss won her first world title in 39.451 as Geisenberger was timed at 39.486.

Dajana Eitberger completed the German medal haul with bronze, clocking a time of 39.537.

Sprint luge sees winners decided after just one run on a shortened track, with competitors beginning their runs under "flying start rules".

This means lugers only have four seconds to react to the gates opening as opposed to normal preparation time of 30 seconds. 

The doubles and women's competition will be held tomorrow (January 30).