BEAVER CREEK, Colorado (REUTERS) - Switzerland's Patrick Kueng produced a blistering run to seal a surprise victory in the men's blue riband downhill on Saturday, his first ever medal at the alpine ski world championships.

The 31-year-old Kueng, whose maiden World Cup win came in the Super-G at Beaver Creek in 2013, clocked a winning time of 1min, 43.18sec down the sun-splashed Birds of Prey course, according to provisional results.

American Travis Ganong, who won his first World Cup race in downhill at Santa Caterina in Italy two months ago, took second with Swiss speed specialist Beat Feuz third.