Kilde laid down a marker with the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics fast approaching as he completed a course shortened due to high winds in a time of 1min 55.92sec.

He finished 0.42sec clear of French veteran Johan Clarey, whose team-mate Blaise Giezendanner snatched a surprise third.

Victory for Kilde, who had to overcome a wobble during his run, saw him earn a sixth World Cup win of the season and strengthened his lead at the top of the overall downhill standings.

The 29-year-old is also second on the overall World Cup leaderboard but trails Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, fifth in today's downhill, by more than 300 points.

"I had such a good run, incredible feeling, standing here now just over a year after the operation on my knee, quite incredible," said Kilde.

"Today was one of the days when I had a really good feeling.

"I don't understand myself why I was so fast. 

"I've never been like that before."

A second downhill at the famed Austrian venue is due to be held on Sunday (January 23), following tomorrow's scheduled slalom.