Skiing: Cuche blitzes rivals

Cuche: 10th career win

Didier Cuche of Switzerland showed he is no back number at the age of 35 by winning the first downhill of the season in Lake Louise, Alberta.

The veteran clocked a winning time of one minute, 50.31 seconds to notch his 10th career win and fifth in the downhill, laying down an early marker for the Olympics in Vancouver next year.

Cuche overcame light snowfall to blitz his rivals by almost half a second, ahead of Italy's Werner Heel in second in 1:50.75 and his third placed compatriot Carlo Janka in 1:50.93.

"I have been fast in downhill training runs here before but never brought it to the race," said Cuche who posted the fastest time in Wednesday's training run.

"I found the same feeling today that I had in the first training run.

"It is really nice to be first place again in the downhill," he added, after winning the season opening giant slalom in Solden, Austria last month. "I just want to enjoy this moment and not think too far ahead."

Result:
1. Didier Cuche (Switzerland) 1 min 50.31 secs
2. Werner Heel (Italy) 1:50.75
3. Carlo Janka (Switzerland) 1:50.93
4. Michael Walchhofer (Austria) 1:50.98
5. Ambrosi Hoffmann (Switzerland) 1:51.07
6. John Kucera (Canada) 1:51.12
7. Patrik Jaerbyn (Sweden) 1:51.25
8. Robbie Dixon (Canada) 1:51.30
9. Tobias Gruenenfelder (Switzerland) 1:51.33
10. Hans Olsson (Sweden) 1:51.34

Standings:
1. Didier Cuche (Switzerland) 100 Points
2. Werner Heel (Italy) 80
3. Carlo Janka (Switzerland) 60
4. Michael Walchhofer (Austria) 50
5. Ambrosi Hoffmann (Switzerland) 45

Overall:
1. Didier Cuche (Switzerland) 200 Points
2. Carlo Janka (Switzerland) 120
3. Ivica Kostelic (Croatia) 115
4. Reinfried Herbst (Austria) 100
5. Jean-Baptiste Grange (France) 96