Cuche sharp in second run

Cuche led all competitors with a time of one minute and 57.09 seconds, with compatriot Ambrosi Hoffmann finishing second a further 0.11 seconds back and Olympic champion Antonie Deneriaz in third at 0.21 seconds behind the lead time.

The world number three through the season's first eight races, Cuche placed on his first podium in nearly three years when he finished second at Beaver Creek's downhill two weeks ago in Colorado.

The 32-year-old, who also paced Val Gardena's opening training session on Wednesday, has won two World Cup races since competing in his first World Cup contest in 1993.

World Cup downhill champion Michael Walchhofer claimed the sixth fastest run in front of compatriots Hermann Maier and Norbert Holzknecht.

The 30-year-old Holzknecht has not competed in a World Cup race since finishing 10th in Gardena's downhill last year.

"I'm skiing well but I've got to remain focused because there are (seven) guys within half a second," Cuche told the Associated Press.

American all-rounder Bode Miller, who won the Beaver Creek downhill, came up with Thursday's eighth quickest run.

"Cuche is the favourite. Not just for how he's skiing here, but how he's been skiing all season," Miller said.

British number one Finlay Mickel had the 24th fastest time, right behind World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway.