ASPEN, Colo. — Aleksander Aamodt Kilde earned his second consecutive World Cup downhill title by winning Saturday’s race by more than a half-second.

The conditions in Aspen were the opposite of yesterday’s attempted race; today, they were fair. That situation was precisely what Kilde needed to earn his sixth downhill victory of the season. On a course with few opportunities to make significant differentiations, he found them all. Kilde’s victory also meant he secured the 2023 World Cup downhill title.

The Norwegian collected his sixth victory in nine downhills this season, allowing him to join Stephan Eberharter as the only male racers in the past 45 years with that many. Eberharter did it in 2001-02 and 2002-03; before that, the last man with at least a half-dozen downhill triumphs in one season was Franz Klammer in 1977.

“It’s been a fantastic season. … I would never expect anything like that,” said Kilde, who was supported by a group of relatives, including his parents, and friends in the crowd.

“Just got to keep on pushing,” he said with a smile, “and try to do it next year again.”

Kilde’s triumph came hours after his girlfriend, Mikaela Shiffrin, wrapped up her fifth World Cup overall title by tying for fifth place downhill at Kvitfjell, Norway.

“It’s hard to put a finger on what exactly we do, but I think just the support we give each other every day is what brings us to the results we have and to the moments like this,” Kilde said, calling himself “proud” of Shiffrin, who is one victory shy of Ingemar Stenmark’s career record of 86 World Cup wins.

“We do a lot of things together and we support each other, no matter what,” he said.

Super-G world champion Canadian James Crawford finished second to Kilde (+0.61) seconds behind. The second place represents Crawford’s fourth podium of the season. Both men skied at the very limit of their ability and with the track becoming much rougher than any of the previous days, it demanded their attention.

Overall men’s World Cup leader Marco Odermatt of Switzerland finished third (+O.63) slower than Kilde.

Odermatt’s third place is his 17th World Cup podium of the season, and he is also the 2023 downhill world champion.

Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria, who came into the day second in the downhill standings and with an outside chance of catching Kilde for the discipline title, was fourth-fastest on Saturday, (+0.70) slower than the fastest time.

Kilde and Odermatt are tied for the season victory lead with a total of eight World Cup wins apiece.

Both the silver and bronze in today’s race are only 25 years old.

Notably, Kilde finished with a considerable (-0.61) advantage over Crawford. However, only (0.43) separated the rest of the top 10.

The fastest Stifel US Alpine Team member in the Aspen downhill was 30-year-old Bryce Bennett. Today’s race was Bennett’s best 2022-23 result. Prior to today, his best was 22nd, but today he finished 10th, a great ending to a difficult season. Joining Bennett in the top 15 is Sugarloaf Maine’s 14th-place Sam Morse. This is the third outstanding downhill of Morse’s season. His season best was 10th in Gröden/Val Gardena in Italy.

Morse said, “I just had three focuses at the start. It was tuck, aerodynamics up top and be as clean as I could be down Aztec, and quick switches down here as the snow begins to break down and the speeds are a little up.”

Stifel US Alpine Team members, joining Bennett and Morse in the top 30, are retiring athlete Travis Ganong, emerging Jarod Goldberg and super-G Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle.

Notably, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Travis Ganong and Jared Goldberg have qualified for the World Cup finals in Soldue, Andorra.

Besides Crawford, Cameron Alexander and Broderick Thompson are the other Canadians to finish in the points today.

USA’s Steven Nyman made an emotional retirement run after the race. He perhaps had the favorite run of the day. Nyman has been a special contributor to alpine ski racing. he deserved the love he received.

Nyman was the last of 60 entrants to leave the starting hut Saturday — wearing a denim vest, he took a casual trip, pausing to stop for hugs with the coaches lining the course, and crossed the finish line with a U.S. flag held aloft — in what marked the end of his racing career at 41.

“I thought the crying would happen when I crossed the finish line but seeing everybody and the excitement… it’s just incredible to see the guys that changed my life was so meaningful to me,” said Nyman. “There are people from all over the world, and I think the group of downhillers have a good bond among us. So the camaraderie and the support of all these guys are so amazing. Very special.”

Five racers with bibs higher than 30 could score World Cup points. The time differential between the first and the 30th was only (+1.76), but Kilde wins by (+0.61).

The circuit’s stop in Aspen concludes with a super-G on Sunday.

Top 30 race results and analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North American

Analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North American

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.