Dave Ryding wins Britain's first gold in alpine skiing World Cup

Last updated on .From the section Winter Sports

Ryding success was Britain's first in 55 years of the alpine skiing World Cup

Dave Ryding has won Britain's first alpine skiing World Cup gold medal with victory in the Kitzbuhel Slalom.

Ryding, 35, was on Friday named in Great Britain's squad for the Beijing Winter Olympics - his fourth Games.

His two runs clocked in at one minute and 41.26 seconds, 0.38 seconds ahead of Lucas Braathen, with fellow Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen third.

Ryding sat sixth after his first run of 51.40 seconds but claimed gold with a brilliant second effort of 49.86.

"You know, I'm 35 now, but I never stopped believing, I never stopped trying, and to bring the first victory for Great Britain in a World Cup, in Kitzbuhel... I mean, I don't know if dreams are made better," he said.

The Winter Olympics start on 4 February.

Ryding finished second on the same course in 2017, matching the previous best alpine skiing result by a Briton - Konrad Bartelski's runner-up place in the 1981 Val Gardena downhill.