​The classic men's World Cup downhill on the Streif in Kitzbuehel, Austria, was called off because of poor visibility after three serious crashes among only 30 starters, with Peter Fill of Italy awarded the victory on Saturday.

Pre-race favourites Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and Hannes Reichelt of Austria were thrown off the bumpy Hausbergkante and landed in the safety netting, but appeared to have escaped serious injuries.

Another Austrian, Georg Streitberger, tore ligaments in his right knee after also going out on the same spot.

Fill was leading from Swiss pair Beat Feuz and Carlo Janko when the race was cancelled. The result counted as at least 30 skiers started their run.

The top Canadian skier was Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., who finished 1.51 seconds behind Fill for 11th place. Manuel Osbourne Paradis of North Vancouver, B.C., finished in 15th place with a time of 1:54.30, and Benjamin Thomsen of Invermere, B.C., was 19th in a time of 1:54.61 .

With files from CBC Sports