The 26-year-old registered a combined time of 1min 58.65sec to finish 0.04 ahead of Great Britain's Lizzy Yarnold in second, and 0.22 clear of compatriot Elena Nikitina in third.

Orlova found herself in fourth place having clocked a first run time of 59.41, but climbed to the top of the pile after recording 59.24 in her second. 

Germany's Tina Hermann led the way after the first run and despite ending in fourth place, she tops the overall standings with 584 points,

Fellow countrywoman Sophia Griebel is second with 552 points, while Austria's Janine Flock is third on 520 points. 

Although she fell just short, Olympic champion Yarnold was pleased with her performance.

The Briton missed the previous World Cup event in Calgary having experienced dizziness during her season-opening win in Lake Placid.

Britain's Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold finished second in Altenberg ©Getty Images








"I'm pretty chuffed," she said. 

"I've raced here five times and never got on the podium.

"That was the aim and I finished on the podium."

Meanwhile in the women's bobsleigh, the United States duo of Elana Meyers Taylor and Cherrelle Garrett claimed their third straight World Cup victory.  

A combined time of 1:55.38 saw the pair edge out Belgium's Elfje Willemsen and Annelies Holthof by 0.11 and Canada's Kaillie Humphries and Melissa Lotholz by 0.35. 

Meyers Taylor and Garrett head the overall rankings with 675 points, ahead of Humphries and Lotholz on 584 points and compatriots Jamie Greubel Poser and Lauren Gibbs, who finished fifth, on 576 points.

The men's skeleton and bobsleigh events take place tomorrow.

The next World Cup event is scheduled to take place in Königssee, Germany from January 12 to 18. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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