Austrian skier Huetter wins World Cup downhill, world champion Johnson finishes 3rd

Cornelia Huetter won the first women's World Cup downhill since the alpine skiing world championships on Friday in Kvitfjell, Norway, to give new life to the battle for the discipline title.

The Austrian got her second downhill win of the season after beating Emma Aicher of Germany by 0.15 seconds. The 21-year-old Aicher secured her first career podium finish.

Downhill world champion Breezy Johnson finished 0.40 seconds behind in third as the American continued the wait for her maiden World Cup victory.

Lindsey Vonn was 1.15 seconds off the lead in 13th while Canadians Val Grenier and Cassidy Gray finished 45th and 46th, respectively.

WATCH | Grenier struggles at Kvitfjell World Cup downhill race:

Canada's Grenier struggles at Kvitfjell World Cup downhill race

Huetter bounced back from missing a medal at the worlds in Austria, where she placed fourth in downhill and 10th in the super-G.

"It was really tough two weeks ago. It was a lot of finding my mindset again, finding my feeling again," Huetter said. "It's nice to have that feeling back, and also be on the start and have the real mindset in my head what I need to go fast."

Huetter also won the season opener in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December and closed the gap on discipline leader Federica Brignone to 26 points with three races left this campaign.

A two-time downhill winner this season, Brignone placed fifth, shortly behind Italian teammate Sofia Goggia, a week after she got back-to-back wins in two giant slalom races in Italy.

Huetter won the downhill title last season.

WATCH | Huetter captures her 2nd World Cup downhill win of the season:

Austria's Huetter captures her 2nd World Cup downhill win of the season

Johnson had the fastest time in training