Defago had a nearly flawless run and clocked 2 minutes, 1.81 seconds, with fellow Swiss Patrick Kueng 0.29 seconds behind and Klaus Kroell of Austria in third, 0.42 back.

It was the fourth World Cup win of Defago's career and his third in downhill, having won the classic races in Wengen and Kitzbuehel back-to-back three years ago.

Defago appeared set for greatness after snatching one of the most prized gold medals at last year's Vancouver Olympics, but then in Sept. 2010 he ruptured knee ligaments in preseason training and spent seven months off the slopes.

Defago has picked a good time to regain his form, with the next downhills in Wengen and Kitzbuehel.

An early starter with the No. 11 bib, Defago didn't celebrate much at the finish with the top-ranked downhillers still to start, although he did hold up a finger to signal he was No. 1 - and that's where he remained as a slight wind appeared to slow the later starters.

Defago and Kueng also had loud support from a large group of red-clad Swiss fans, with the Swiss border only a short drive away.

Downhill world champion Erik Guay of Canada finished fourth and three-time Stelvio winner Bode Miller was fifth, moving the American atop the downhill standings.

After three of 11 downhills, Miller holds a nine-point lead over Kroell, with Didier Cuche 13 points back and previous leader Beat Feuz trailing by 14 points.

Cuche finished eighth, while Feuz fell and slid downhill on his back for about a 100 meters (yards) after losing control on the top section, although he got right up and appeared uninjured.

Overcast conditions made visibility better than usual - since sun and shade often provide a disarming contrast on the Stelvio - but several racers still had problems.

Christof Innerhofer of Italy, the 2008 winner here, missed a gate midway down as he struggled with the flu; and Robbie Dixon of Canada went off course on the top.

Miller nearly touched the snow with his left hip midway down as he tried to correct his line on a traverse.

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway finished sixth and reclaimed the lead in the overall World Cup standings from Marcel Hirscher of Austria, a technical specialist who does not race downhill.

Svindal leads Hirscher by 31 points, with Ted Ligety of the United States third, 71 points back.

After a break for New Year, the men's circuit resumes with a slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, Jan. 5.