Swiss Marco Odermatt on his way to victory in the World Cup downhill at Val Gardena, Italy

Val Gardena (Italy) (AFP) - Marco Odermatt soared to victory in the World Cup downhill race at Val Gardena on Saturday, one of the few classics missing from the Swiss skier’s collection.

The 27-year-old, who finished third in Friday’s super-G in the Italian Dolomites, finished 0.45 seconds ahead of compatriot Franjo von Allmen who pipped American Ryan Cochran-Siegle who was just behind 0.46 off the pace.

It was a 40th World Cup victory and the third of the winter for Odermatt after his successes in the super-G at Beaver Creek, Colorado and the giant slalom at Val d’Isere, France.

Odermatt moves to the top of the overall World Cup standings with 440 points – 50 points ahead of Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen.

He leads fellow Swiss racers Justin Murisier and Von Allmen after the second downhill race of the season.

Kristoffersen, a specialist in technical disciplines, will be competing in the giant slalom and slalom races on Sunday and Monday respectively in Alta Badia, also in Italy.