KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AFP) - Swiss skier Didier Cuche won the men's World Cup downhill here on Saturday for the second time in his career and went top of the overall standings.

Switzerland's Didier Cuche speeds down the Streif course on his way to win a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The 33-year-old - who won here previously in 1998 and was recording his eighth career victory and second this season - beat home by 27 hundreths of a second Mario Scheiber of Austria, who tied for second place with American Bode Miller.

Bode Miller, of the United States, speeds down the Streif course on his way to take second place in a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Austria's Mario Scheiber speeds down the Streif course on his way to take second place in a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Didier Cuche (R) gives a thumbs up as he stands next to Bode Miller of the United States (L) and Austria's Mario Scheiber (C) after the men's World Cup downhill race in Kitzbuehel January 19, 2008. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA) REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA)

Victory for Cuche, who was third in the super-G on Friday, saw him move onto 765 points ahead of previous overall leader Benjamin Raich of Austria and he admitted that this victory ranked above the 1998 win because then it was raced over two legs owing to the poor weather conditions.

Didier Cuche of Switzerland jumps over the Streif piste to win the men's Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel January 19, 2008. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

"It's a dream come true for me," said Cuche. "Now I have a real win at Kitzbuehel.

"I had really good skis today (Saturday), I was very relaxed and I felt confident very quickly."

The race had been held up for 30 minutes when American Scott Macartney was airlifted off the course after suffering a heavy crash.

America's Scott McCartney is seen in action before he lost balance at the final jump near the finish and smashed his head on the snow on the Streif course during a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. He was taken to a hospital in nearby Innsbruck. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Macartney, 30, was second down the course and fell close to the finishing line when racers hit top speeds approaching 140 kph.

He lost his balance on the final jump of the notoriously difficult Streif run and landed heavily, losing his helmet in the process.

Unconscious, the American slid for 60 metres and suffered spasms until the arrival of paramedics.

Doctors were whisked in by helicopter and after 15 minutes, Macartney was airlifted to a hospital in Innsbruck.

Training at Kitzbuehel on Tuesday and Wednesday also produced a series of heavy falls, notably by Austrian Andreas Buder, who was fourth in the World Cup downhill standings but had to undergo an operation after his fall and is now ruled out until the end of the season.

AFP
Sat, 19 January 2008

Official announcement - injury Scott Macartney

According to the first statement made by the doctors of the Kitzbühel hospital and the clinic Innsbruck the athlete Scott Macartney suffered an isolated craniocerebral injury and was admitted to the neurological ward for surveillance. At present no surgery is necessary.

Austria's Michael Walchhofer speeds down the Streif course on his way to take fourth place in a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Austria's Michael Walchhofer skis during the men's World Cup downhill alpine skiing race in Kitzbuehel January 19, 2008. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

Austria's Hermann Maier reacts at finish line after taking fifth place in a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Hermann Maier of Austria reacts after the men's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel January 19, 2008. REUTERS/Michael Leckel (AUSTRIA)

Fans cheer during the men's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel January 19, 2008. REUTERS/Michael Leckel (AUSTRIA)

Switzerland's Didier Cuche, center, is flanked by Bode Miller, left, of the United States, and Mario Scheiber, of Austria, who tied for second place, as he celebrates after winning a men's ski World Cup downhill event in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)