By Nick Butler

Martins Dukurs won a sixth successive European title in La Plagne ©FIBTMartins Dukurs of Latvia secured a fifth International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (FIBT) World Cup victory of the season today in La Plagne, earning a sixth successive European title in the process. 


Dukurs, whose Olympic silver medals at both Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 have been virtually the only blemishes on a near-faultless record over recent years, held a 0.40 second first-run lead over Russia's reigning Olympic champion Alexander Tretyakov.

This would prove pivotal after the second run was cancelled due to difficult track conditions following heavy snowfall in the French Alpine resort.

Tomass Dukurs, Martins' brother, was third, 0.87 seconds back, meaning the Latvian joined his brother and Tretyakov on the corresponding European podium, as well as the World Cup one.

Christopher Grotheer of Germany and Nikita Tregybov of Russia finished fourth and fifth, with the top non-European finisher being Yun Sungbin of South Korea down in ninth place. 

In the overall World Cup standings, meanwhile, Martins Dukurs leads his brother by 161 points with two stages to go, while Axel Jungk of Germany lies third, 255 points behind.

There was a US 1-2 in the women's two-person event at the FIBT World Cup in La Plagne ©FIBTThere was a US 1-2 in the women's two-person event at the FIBT World Cup in La Plagne ©FIBT



There was a North American clean sweep in the women's two-person bobsleigh event, which also took place today in La Plagne, with Elana Meyers Taylor and Cherrelle Garrett triumphing in 2:01.93 ahead of United States team mates, Jamie Greubel Poser and Lauryn Williams.

Kaillie Humphries and Melissa Lotholz of Canada finished third, 0.51 seconds behind the winners.

There was a cleansweep for Germany in the corresponding European Championships, with Anja Schneiderheinze and Franziska Bertels winning ahead of Cathleen Martini and Stephanie Schneider, while Stefanie Szczurek and Erline Nolte placed third.

The three pairs finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively in the World Cup placings.