Kucera's strong run earned him a first downhill success

Canadian John Kucera claimed the biggest win of his career with victory in the men's downhill, the blue-riband event of the World Ski Championships.

The 24-year-old, never on a downhill podium before, was second out at Val d'Isere and clocked an impressive two minutes 7.01 seconds.

Switzerland's Didier Cuche took silver, 0.04 seconds behind with compatriot Carlo Janka another 0.13 seconds back.

Austrian Michael Walchhofer, the 2003 winner, finished ninth after a re-run.

Walchhofer earned a second chance because officials let him start his first run too early with poor visibility down the course, but he was unable to get a podium place.

It was Kucera's second career victory after winning a super-G at Lake Louise in November 2006 - the venue where he also had his previous best downhill finish when he was seventh in 2007.

"It was a long wait." Kucera said. "I was definitely nervous when Walchhofer came down the second time.

"It was the race of my life. To get my first downhill podium in a World Championship is unbelievable."

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Kucera's victory

Kucera enjoyed the best of the conditions and later competitors were hampered by fog.

American Bode Miller, who went out 19th, and fellow former world champions Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and Walchhofer were among those affected.

But although Walchhofer protested and was allowed to race again, Miller, who races independently of the official US ski team, did not submit a protest.

"I don't really care," he said afterwards. "I wouldn't want to run this thing again. It's just too demanding."

Britons Dougie Crawford and Ed Drake, in their first World Championships, finished 21st and 28th respectively.

Overall World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic has been ruled out of Monday's super combined event and has returned home to Croatia for further treatment on his injured back.

Kostelic prononced himself only 70% fit following a training run on Thursday.

But Croatian ski federation manager Vedran Pavlek said: "In case his health improves in the coming days, he may come back to participate in the slalom next Sunday."

Kostelic won the slalom gold at the 2003 World Championships.

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