Calgary's Jan Hudec made history Saturday, becoming the first Canadian to win the men's World Cup downhill at Lake Louise, Alta.

Hudec, who also had the fastest run in Friday's training session, clocked a time of one minute, 42.79 seconds Saturday to earn his first career World Cup victory.

Jan Hudec, right, celebrates his victory in Saturday's Lake Louise downhill with seventh-place finisher and fellow Canadian John Kucera.
(Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

"I'm humbled and honoured to be racing against guys like [former overall champions] Hermann Maier and Bode Miller," Hudec told CBC Sports. "I remember looking up to those guys, and the last couple years getting closer and closer [to them].

"Now to get a chance to beat those guys is really humbling. I feel blessed to do that.

American Marco Sullivan finished second in 1:43.03, while Austria's Andreas Buder was third in 1:43.13.

Austria's Maier was 16th, while American Miller came in 20th.

Calgary's John Kucera was seventh in 1:43.33, while Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., finished in a three-way tie for 17th with defending World Cup downhill champion Didier Cuche of Switzerland and defending overall champ Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway. Each man posted a time of 1:43.68.

Francois Bourque of New Richmond, Que., finished tied for 34th, Vancouver's  Manuel Osborne-Paradis was 40th, Calgary's Gareth Sine was 56th, and Robbie Dixon of North Vancouver, B.C., was 58th.

Hudec, the downhill silver medallist at last year's alpine world championships in Sweden, had never before reached a World Cup podium in any event.

His previous best finish on the circuit was a fifth in the Garmisch downhill last February. He came in seventh in the Lake Louise downhill in 2004.

The Lake Louise course was shorter this year because a lack of snow at the top of the mountain forced the starting gate to be lowered.

Competition continues at Lake Louise with Sunday's men's super-G.

With files from the Associated Press