Loch secures luge World Cup singles title with record-equalling win

Germany's Felix Loch secured the luge World Cup men's singles title with a record-equalling 57th win on Sunday on home soil in Altenberg.

Loch is now level with Italian Armin Zöggeler for most luge World Cup wins in history.

After Austrian Jonas Müller withdrew from the race, Loch only had to complete his run to secure the title. But that wasn't enough for the ambitious luger.

He set a track record in the first run, a track record in the second, and even broke the sound barrier with a time of 52.998 seconds.

"I really wanted to achieve a time of 52 seconds here. It was an awesome race on an awesome track," Loch said.

There was more celebration for Germany as Olympic champion Julian Taubitz crowned her season with the women's singles title.

Taubitz was second in the race in Altenberg behind compatriot Merle Fräbel, but the result was enough to secure her fifth consecutive overall title and sixth in her career.

At the Milan/Cortina Winter Games last month, Taubitz won gold in the women's singles and the team relay.