Val d'Isere, France - John Kucera of Canada upset the favourites Saturday to win the men's downhill at the alpine ski world championships in Val d'Isere.

Kucera posted 2 minutes 07.01 seconds, to edge super-g winner Didier Cuche of Switzerland by four hundredths of a second.

Fellow Swiss Carlo Janka was 0.94 seconds back in third place.

Kucera took advantage of an early start in a fog-interrupted race to give Canada a first-ever world championship downhill gold.

The 24-year-old from Calgary had already shown good form at the championships with a sixth place in the super-g on Thursday.

"It's unbelievable. This is my first downhill podium place," Kucera said.

"To be world champion is the greatest alongside the Olympics."

The result was a boost for Canada with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver just a year away. (dpa)