Laura Deas bagged her best result for 18 months as he launched her BMW IBSF World Cup skeleton season in fine style in Latvia.

Wales’ Olympic bronze medalist finished sixth – just missing out on a top three spot by 0.27secs after the two runs in Sigulda.

And the 32-year-old believes the result would have been even better but for a slight mistake just after starting her second run.

It’s a wider podium place for Laura Deas as she finishes 6th in 🇱🇻, but the 🇬🇧 Olympian hits her sled in frustration as she knows there was a World Cup medal chance today.

After a best result of 10th last season though it shows she’s back on track heading towards Beijing 2022. pic.twitter.com/bcbO86SDzM

— Nick Hope – the athlete’s journalist (@NickHopeTV) November 20, 2020

“Really pleased with a top six in the opening World Cup but I know there’s more in the tank,” said Deas on twitter.

“A mistake at the top of the second run cost me some time. Still, a positive way to open the season.”

Deas clocked a combined time of 1 minute 45.52 seconds as Austria’s Janine Flock took gold in 1:43.85.

The 32-year-old from Wrexham’s result was her best since winning World cup bronze in Calgary, Canada, in February 2019.

Deas, whose last race was in March, was lying fourth at halfway, just two-hundredths of a second off the bronze medal slot.

But a slightly slower second run saw her miss out on what would have been a sixth World Cup medal of her career.

Flock, who Deas pipped to Olympic bronze in South Korea in 2018, claimed gold ahead of Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands with local favourite Endija Terauda third.

Terauda’s time was just 0.27secs faster than Deas.

Britain’s women race again at the same venue on 27 November before there is a week’s break ahead of the round in Igls, Austraia.