The FIS Speed Skiing World Championships in Idre Fjäll in Sweden took place today ©FIS

France's Bastien Montens was crowned the men's winner at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Speed Skiing World Championships in Idre Fjäll in Sweden.

Montens set a benchmark of 176.93 kilometres per hour, which proved to be too quick for the rest of the field at the Choken slope.

Austria's Manuel Kramer finished narrowly behind in second place with a speed of 176.66 km/h.

Another Austrian, Klaus Schrottshammer, completed the podium with his best run of 176.03 km/h.

Ivan Origone, who won gold at the 2015 edition of the event, was highly-fancied for further success in the Swedish resort today.

The Italian currently holds the men's world record at 254.958 km/h but could only manage a seventh place finish with a speed of 174.23 km/h.

Bastien Montens was crowned the men's world champion after producing a speed of 176.93 kilometres per hour ©FIS
Bastien Montens was crowned the men's world champion after producing a speed of 176.93 kilometres per hour ©FIS

In the women's competition, Italy's Valentina Greggio retained her World Championships title.

Greggio holds the women's world record with a speed of 247.083 km/h but could only manage 171.50 km/h today, which was still good enough to secure gold.

France's Karine Dubouchet Revol clinched second place with a speed of 170.76 km/h while Lisa Hovland-Uden completed the podium with a measurement of 169.18 km/h.

Speed skiing, a non-Olympic discipline which was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, sees athletes either try and clock the fastest time or be the first to cross the line at the bottom of the hill.