Jan Hudec of Canada won the men’s World Cup downhill at Chamonix on Saturday ahead of Romed Baumann of Austria and Erik Guay of Canada.

It was just the second time the 30-year-old had won a World Cup race, his last coming on home snow at Lake Louise four years ago.

The Czech-born Hudec finished second in the downhill at the 2007 World Championship but has had little success on the World Cup circuit due to a succession of injuries.

But he showed some form at Chamonix finishing sixth in Friday’s first downhill behind winner Klaus Kroell of Austria.

He clearly enjoyed the conditions on Saturday to come home in 2 minutes 03.25 seconds, 00.53 secs clear of Baumann and 00.63secs faster than compatriot Guay.

Kroell had to settle for sixth place this time more than a second behind Hudec and also behind Switzerland’s Beat Feuz and another Canadian, Benjamin Thomsen.

Didier Cuche retained the lead in the downhill World Cup standings by taking seventh place.