Eberharter has won six of 10 World Cup downhills this season

Saturday's win in Garmisch-Partenkirchen gives the 33-year-old an unassailable lead over second-placed Daron Rahlves with just one race remaining, the World Cup finals next month in Lillehammer, Norway.

Eberharter, who became super-G world champion in St Moritz earlier this month, stormed down the treacherous Kandahar piste to clock a winning provisional time of one minute 55.68 seconds.

"This is a great day for me. It was the hardest race of the season, ten times harder than the world championships, a fight from start to finish," said Eberharter.

Switzerland's Didier Cuche was more than a second back in second place, with 1:56.75, while American Rahlves placed third in 1:56.98.

Eberharter also increased his lead in the overall standings but his battle with American Bode Miller is likely to go all the way to the finals.

Newly-crowned world champion Michael Walchhofer had the best intermediate time but crashed after skiing wide out of a tight bend. The Austrian briefly lost consciousness but appeared to escape unhurt.

Many competitors fell at the same spot on the icy course but no serious injury was reported.

Eberharter has 24 World Cup victories - 14 downhill, five super-G and five giant slalom - and six World Cup titles. He also claimed an Olympic gold in the giant slalom at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Results from World Cup downhill at Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

1. Stephan Eberharter, Austria, 1:55.68
2. Didier Cuche, Switzerland, 1:56.75
3. Daron Rahlves, United States, 1:56.98
4. Peter Rzehak, Austria, 1:57.24
5. Christoph Gruber, Austria, 1:57.28
6. Gregor Sparovec, Slovenia, 1:57.46
7. Andreas Schifferer, Austria, 1:57.51
8. Fritz Strobl, Austria, 1:57.82
9= Josef Strobl, Austria, 1:57.98
9= Bruno Kernen, Switzerland, 1:57.98