Johannes Ludwig started this season's Luge World Cup with back-to-back victories ©Getty Images

Johannes Ludwig will be looking to make it three wins from three when the International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup returns to Sochi in Russia.

The German has started the season in sensational form, winning the opening race at the Beijing 2022 test event in Yanqing before coming up on top in Sochi.

A superb second run saw Ludwig climb from 20th position to take the title on the Russian track.

Reigning World Cup champion Felix Loch, who has finished second behind Ludwig in the past two events, will hope to get the better of his team-mate.

Max Langenhan of Germany and Russia’s Roman Repilov are also expected to be contenders having medalled this season.

Germany’s Anna Berreiter holds a slender lead over Austria’s Madeleine Egle in the women’s overall World Cup standings.

Anna Berreiter will return to the Sochi track where she triumphed last week ©Getty Images
Anna Berreiter will return to the Sochi track where she triumphed last week ©Getty Images

Egle emerged victorious in Yanqing before Berreiter won in Sochi after seeing off the challenge of Latvia’s Kendija Aparjode and Russia’s Victoria Demchenko.

The overall doubles World Cup leaderboard is headed by Andris Šics and Juris Šics following the Latvian duo’s victory in Sochi last week.

They hold a 10-point advantage over Germans Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken who opened the season with victory in Yanqing.

Competition is due to start tomorrow with the doubles and men’s singles events.

The women’s singles is set to be held on Sunday (December 5) following by the sprint contests in men’s, doubles and women’s.