Switzerland's Didier Cuche won the coveted men's World Cup downhill race on Saturday in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Cuche raced to a gold medal in one minute, 52.75 seconds. American Bode Miller and Austrian Mario Scheiber shared second with a time of 1:53.02, while Austrian Michael Walchhofer took the bronze in 1:53.89.

Didier Cuche, of Switzerland, celebrates his victory during the men's downhill World Cup race Saturday in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
(Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press)

The race was the eighth World Cup victory for Cuche, who won his first event 10 years ago in Kitzbuehel.

Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was the top Canadian with a ninth-place finish, followed by Calgary's John Kucera (13th). Vancouver's Manuel Osbourne-Paradis (20th), François Bourque of New Richmond, Que. (46th), Paul Stutz of Banff, Alta. (50th), and Calgary's Gareth Sine (53th) rounded out the other Canucks.

The race was halted after a scary accident suffered by American Scott Macartney. Starting second and competing on his 30th birthday, Macartney lost his balance on the final jump before the finish line, while going 141 kilometres an hour. Macartney fell on his back and smacked his head to the ground while losing his helmet.

He was airlifted to hospital with a severe concussion.