World champion Erik Guay of Canada had the fastest time in Friday's training run for a World Cup downhill race on the slope in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, where he won the gold medal last year.

The Kandahar course has been modified slightly to return to its original design but the skier from Mont-Tremblant, Que., still had the fastest time of one minute 57.08 seconds.

Adrian Theaux was second to lead three Frenchmen in the top 10 by covering the 3,300-metre course in 1:57.15.

Swiss ace Didier Cuche was third in 1:57.45 as he attempts to follow up his win in Kitzbuehel with a victory on another classic course in his final season.

The top Austrian was Hannes Reichelt in a tie for fourth with Andrej Sporn of Slovenia.