Val Gardena (Italy) (AFP) - Marco Odermatt secured his 50th World Cup win when he took a fog-hit men’s downhill at Val Gardena, Italy on Thursday.

The Swiss skier equals Italian Alberto Tomba’s World Cup tally. The pair are level fourth in the all-time men’s list behind Ingemar Stenmark (86), Marcel Hirscher (67) and Hermann Maier (54).

Mikaela Shiffrin holds the overall record with 105 World Cup wins.

“It’s amazing to be on the same number as Alberto now,” Odermatt said.

“And doing it here in Italy makes it even more special,” he added.

The start of the competition was delayed for an hour and half and there was a further fog interruption after just 22 of the 67 competitors had completed their runs.

It took nearly four hours to complete the marathon event.

By that stage the 28-year-old, who won here last year, had already set the quickest time on a Saslong course that had been shortened to the super-G start gate due to tricky, warm conditions and was waiting for confirmation that he had equalled Tomba’s tally.

Odermatt’s victory comes less than two months from the start of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 6.

“It was a long day, and a tough one too,” said Odermatt.

“We had to be patient and keep our nerves in check.

“Everything was different to the training… (which) was pretty cold and aggressive. Now it’s wet and different conditions.

“But my plan stayed the same, from all the lines. I could adapt very good and I’m super happy with the victory today.”

Fellow Swiss Franjo von Allmen, the reigning world champion in the discipline, who suffered a heavy crash in Beaver Creek last month, set the early pace.

Odermatt, wearing bib 14, swept down the course to clock 1min 24.48sec to edge his compatriot by 0.15sec.

It meant another 1-2 for Switzerland, following their sweep in the giant slalom at Val d’Isere on Saturday.

“It’s really cool when we have Marco and all the other guys in the team, when they do a great performance,” said Von Allmen.

“It’s pretty much like last year. Marco is in front of me, at the start of a great season, so I’ll take it. A day like this, I’m pretty happy.”

Dominik Paris completed the podium, 0.19sec behind Odermatt. The Italian will have a chance to repeat his 2023 success in the Dolomites when he goes in Saturday’s longer downhill.

Norway’s Fredrik Moeller suffered a nasty crash and was evacuated by helicopter to hospital.

World Cup downhill champion for the past two season, Odermatt retains the lead in the discipline standings having won both races this season.

He also leads the overall standings, with more than twice as many points as Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, as he bids for a fifth successive globe.

Val Gardena hosts a super-G on Friday before the full-length downhill on Saturday.