Aparjods recorded the second-best time on both of his runs with 51.490sec in the first and 51.391 in the second, securing a total of 1min 42.881sec.

"This is unbelievable," he said afterwards.

"This will give us a huge boost."

The Latvian added: "I dedicate this victory to all those who have accompanied me on my way.

"To my coaches, my parents and my grandfather, who died this year, he was a big fan of mine.

"He would have been very proud of me."

Johannes Ludwig of Germany won the first two men's singles events of the season but had to settle for second in Sochi with a time of 1:42.905.

Third place went to Dominik Fischnaller of Italy with 1:42.490.

Three German athletes lead the way in the overall standings - Ludwig, followed by Felix Loch and Max Langenhan.

Loch and Langenhan placed sixth and seventh respectively in Sochi.

Home favourites Andrei Bogdanov and Iurii Prokhorov won the doubles race, clocking 1:39.351 from their two runs.

Tony Eggert and Sasha Beneken of Germany were 0.134sec behind the winners, leapfrogging the previous overall World Cup leaders, Andris Sics and Juris Sics of Latvia, who completed the top three in 1:39.530.

The women's singles will be held tomorrow in Sochi.