. world ski news : Vonn defends the World Cup Crystal Globe - 11 March 2009 - 14:24
Lindsey Vonn triumphed in the downhill final in Are, Sweden, with a time of 1:42.49, to claim her 20th World Cup victory of the season. The American demolished the course, and earned a lead of 1.26 seconds over previous leader Renate Goetschl, to claim not only the day, but the discipline and overall standings.
Maria Riesch was the only participant who managed to put pressure on World Cup champion, as she led over the first two intersections, but fell away in the end and finished second with a time of 1:42.89, 0.40 seconds behind the American.
Renate Goetschl finished third with a time of 1:43.75. The veteran Austrian had not been in the best of form this season, but the podium finish will boost her confidence, and renew her passion ahead of next year’s season, and then the Winter Olympic Games.
The start of the race was delayed as heavy fog blanketed the top of the course, and to limit visibility even further the clouds provided a sporadic barrage of snow. However the problematic weather conditions were not enough to rain on Vonn’s parade.
Nadia Fanchini finished fourth with a time of 1:44.27, off the podium by just 7/100. The Italian earned 276 points in the discipline throughout the season.
Andrea Fischbacher finished fifth with a time of 1:44.27, the Austrian entered the race third in the standings, but with the absence of second place Dominique Gisin, Fischbacher claimed the runner-up spot in the World Cup downhill discipline.
Daniela Merighetti finished sixth with a time of 1:44.30.
Lara Gut finished seventh, in 1:44.37, and showed more of that talent which has seen her claim a share of the glory this season, despite her young age.
Elisabeth Goergl finished eighth with a time of 1:44.39, whilst Canadian Kelly Vanderbeek finished ninth in 1:44.51.
Andrea Dettling completed the top ten with a time of 1:44.56, more than two seconds behind the winner.
The discipline standings had already been determined before the start of the race, with Vonn boasting a lead of 111 points in the discipline standings. The 24-year-old American is the first to win back to back World Cup Crystal Globes since Anja Paerson did, between 2003 and 2005.
However behind Vonn in the standings it was all still to play for, with less than 100 points separating competitors from second-placed Dominique Gisin to eighth-placed Fabienne Suter.
To make matters even more interesting, Gisin picked up an injury in training and therefore forfeited the race.
Fischbacher moved up to second in the standings on 326 points, whilst Riesch finished third with 292 points. Despite not competing in the final Gisin finished fourth in the overall standings missing out on a podium finish by just one point.
The next race in the Finals is the men’s downhill scheduled to start at 12:30 (CET). The ladies will compete in the super G at 12:30 (CET) on Thursday.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009 09:54
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