Mohsen Beheshti Rad of Iran clocked 6.90sec to win the men's speed final at the Ice Climbing World Championships, with the RMF's Natalia Savitskaia winning the women's speed event in 9.81 ©YouTube/UIAA

A sensational third attempt from Iran's Mohsen Beheshti Rad in the men's speed final at the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation's Ice Climbing World Championships in Saas-Fee earned him gold, while the Russian Mountaineering Federation's (RMF) Natalia Savitskaia took the women's title.

Beheshti Rad was only the seventh-best qualifier earlier in the day, and after a first effort of 8.65sec in the final, he built on that with a 7.17 in the second and then a winning 6.90 on the third attempt at the Ice Dome in the Swiss resort.

The RMF's Nikita Glazyrin also delivered on his final attempt, clocking 7.24 to leapfrog compatriot Danila Bikulov, who posted a 7.27 on his second try.

Another RMF athlete in Pavel Shubin missed out on the podium by 0.09, despite being the top performer in qualifying.

On the women's side, a stellar second effort from Savitskaia helped her to lead an RMF podium sweep.

She dipped below the 10-second mark with her 9.81, beating the 10.55 of Iuliia Filateva.

Maria Tolokonina topped yesterday's qualification standings, but had to settle for a bronze with a best time of 11.30.

After two falls, Irina Dubovtseva - also of the RMF - recovered with a time of 12.26 to place fourth.

Women's lead qualification was also staged today in the Swiss resort, with six climbers tied on a top score of 28.0.

They included three home favourites in Franziska Schönbächler, Laura Von Allmen and Petra Klingler.

Two RMF athletes - Ekaterina Vlasova and Maria Tolokonina - also notched 28.0, as well as The Netherlands' Marianne van der Steen.

The World Championships are set to conclude tomorrow with lead semi-finals and finals.