Cuche, 35, becomes oldest DH winner

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (Reuters) -- Swiss Didier Cuche blitzed to victory in the season-opening men's World Cup downhill on Saturday, laying down his marker as an Olympic medal threat.

The 35-year-old Cuche, who clocked a time of one minute 50.31 seconds in lightly-falling snow to notch up his 11th career victory, become the oldest ever winner of a World Cup downhill.

Italy's Werner Heel, who closed last season with a super-G victory at the World Cup finals, was back on the podium, taking second in 1:50.75 just ahead of Swiss Carlo Janka, runner-up in Lake Louise a year ago.

Led by Cuche, it was a superb day in the Canadian Rockies for the Swiss who had five skiers in the top 11. Ambrosi Hoffmann came home fifth, Tobias Gruenenfelder was ninth and Patrick Kueng 11th.

"I've been frustrated here at Lake Louise, particularly in the downhill," said Cuche, who also won the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden. "But never give up and it happened today.

"The Swiss team was so strong today; we have seven guys in the top 20. I'm confident now so we will see what will happen in the next days and weeks. Tomorrow is another day and I will do my best."

A multi-talented skier who never quite realized his potential, Cuche began his World Cup career in 1993 in Bormio but needed five years to claim his maiden victory in 1998 at the world's most famous downhill in Kitzbuehel.

Sixteen years on the World Cup circuit have produced just 11 victories but Cuche has also been the circuit's ultimate runner-up, posting 23 second places.

Over the last two seasons Cuche has enjoyed more regular wins, triumphing on the Hahnenkamm in 2008, a decade after his first success at Kitzbuehel, and capturing his first world championship gold medal with a super-G victory in Val d'Isere.

Now with a fourth Olympics looming on the horizon, Cuche will have one more opportunity to plug another hole in his resume with a gold medal in Vancouver.

"I don't want to think too much, too far ahead," said Cuche. "I know everyone is thinking about the Olympic Games but today is today and the Olympic Games are in two months.

"Maybe I won't even be there in two months, maybe something could happen in the next hour. That is the spirit I have had in the last few years; enjoy the moment."

Austrian Michael Walchhofer, who had been quickest in final training, opened the defense of his World Cup downhill crown by placing fourth, while Norway's overall World Cup champion Aksel Lund Svindal finished outside the points in 33rd on his return to action after being sidelined with a leg injury.

It was a bad day for the United States. Andrew Weibrecht was the team's highest finish in 12th while twice overall World Cup champion Bode Miller was 29th.

T.J. Lanning was airlifted off the course when he crashed midway through his run, injuring his knee and suffering back pain.