Runs of 57.019sec and 56.148 earned Taubitz a total time of 1min 53.167sec, which clinched her fourth World Cup win from eight events this season.

Her compatriot Natalie Geisenberger was on course for a first win of the season after clocking the quickest first run of 56.936, but she finished second in 1:53.408, following a second run of 56.472.

Austria's Madeleine Egle, second for the season, rounded off the podium in 1:53.423.

Egle's disappointing first run of 57.318 left her with too much to do to overhaul Taubitz, but her time of 56.105 was the quickest of the second runs which propelled her into third place.

Anna Berreiter of Germany is third for the season, and came fourth in Winterberg with 1:53.442.

Taubitz now has a lead of more than 100 points on 694, with Egle on 592 and Berreiter on 535.

Geisenberger is fourth on 467.

In the fourth team relay World Cup of the season, Elīza Tīruma, Kristers Aparjods, Mārtiņš Bots and Roberts Plūme helped Latvia to a surprise victory, beating the Austrian team by 0.027 seconds and the United States by 0.508 seconds.

Germany still lead the season's standings despite finishing fourth, although Austria are now only a point behind on 290, with the US third on 257.

The Luge World Cup is scheduled to continue in Sigulda in Latvia next Saturday (January 8) and Sunday (January 9), the last planned stop with rankings points on offer for qualification for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.