Experienced Italian duo Werner Heel and Peter Fill topped training for the men's World Cup downhill at Wengen on Wednesday.
Italy's Peter Fill takes the start of the FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill training session on January 15, 2014 in Wengen
Organisers had to cancel Tuesday's training because of heavy snow and opted for a late start to Wednesday's session in order to best prepare the famed Lauberhorn piste.
Heel timed 2min 39:04sec down the strength-sapping 4,422-metre-long course, the longest on the World Cup circuit, 0.30sec ahead of Fill, with Swiss racer Patrick Kueng in third at 0.45sec
"I didn't think I was this fast but knowing I can be definitely gives me confidence for the races," said Heel.
"We will see how the slope develops, some sections were still a bit soft due to the heavy snowfall from yesterday but they have done a great job and some sections are already icy. I am confident that by Saturday the course will be in great shape."
After a second training session on Thursday, the men compete in the super-combined on Friday, kicking off with the slalom followed by an afternoon downhill in expectation of more snow in the morning.
Saturday sees the downhill proper with the slalom scheduled for Sunday.