American Marco Sullivan surprised a talented field on Saturday in Chamonix, France, to win his first World Cup downhill race Saturday.

Sullivan captured the gold in two minutes 00.11 seconds.

Marco Sullivan of the U.S., won his first World Cup downhill race Saturday in Chamonix, France.Marco Sullivan of the U.S., won his first World Cup downhill race Saturday in Chamonix, France.
(Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

Sullivan's best downhill finish before his World Cup win on Saturday was a silver-medal performance last season in Lake Louise, Alta.

Switzerland's Didier Cuche, who won last week's prodigious World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria, finished second in 2:00.51, while Andrej Jerman of Slovenia earned a bronze in 2:00.57.

Vancouver's Manuel Osborne-Paradis, the fastest during training, was the top Canadian after finishing fifth with a time of 2:00.73. Osborne-Paradis briefly led following his run, despite going wide on the White Rock turn.

Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., had a disappointing 17th-place finish, followed by Francois Bourque of New Richmond, B.C., (19th) and Calgary's John Kucera (20th).

Vancouver's Robbie Dixon (29th), Calgary's Gareth Sine (47th) and Jeffrey Frisch of Mont-Tremblant, Que., (48th) were the other Canadians.