Val d'Isere, France - Swiss veteran Didier Cuche claimed a first big alpine skiing title at last on Wednesday when he won world championship gold in the men's super-g.

Cuche, 34, mastered the treacherous Piste Bellevarde in 1 minute 19.41 seconds, shaking off his runner-up image to give Switzerland its first super-g world title in two decades since Martin Hangl's 1989 success.

Peter Fill of Italy was a distant second in 1:20.40 and two-time 2007 world champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway third in 1:20.43 minutes.

The standings were provisional after 40 of the 70 starters had competed.

Cuche has eight World Cup victories to his credit, including the legendary Kitzbuehel downhill, but also 21 runner-up and 15 third-place finishes. He won super-g silver at the
1998 Olympics and giant slalom bronze at the 2007 worlds.

"This is one of my biggest days," said Cuche.

Defending champion Patrick Staudacher of Italy trailed by more than two and a half seconds, and ex-champions Bode Miller of the US and Hermann Maier of Austria
(plagued by bronchitis) also finished outside the top 10. World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic was among those who failed to finish. (dpa)