The battle for the overall World Cup has turned into another riveting fight to the finish between Rolex Testimonee Lindsey Vonn and her German rival Maria Riesch.

In December, Riesch had taken the overall lead and she held onto it until being knocked off the top by Lindsey Vonn in the final downhill of the season at the FIS Ski World Cup finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

While her German rival had to contend with difficulties on the course and a bout of her own nervousness, Vonn again delivered a tactically mature performance.

Lindsey Vonn wins downhill crystal clobe, Photo credit: Rolex /  Kurt Arrigo

Aware that failing to cross the finish line at the bottom of the difficult course could possibly have knocked her out of the overall World Cup title hunt, Vonn opted not to go all out to try to win the downhill. "Right after the start I got a bit off my racing line and knew I wasn't going to be able to win this race," Vonn said, explaining her quick strategy adjustment. "So after that I just concentrated on a safe but fast run." It was still fast enough for fourth place.

That was also good enough for Vonn to turn a 23-point deficit on the overall World Cup table going into the race into a 27-point lead afterwards. "This is a completely new situation for me, switching from being the hunter for so many weeks to suddenly being the hunted. It seemed like I was hopelessly out of contention after the World Championships so the only strategy was to attack. Now everything's different. I don't have to hunt anymore but instead I have to do what it takes to stay in front."

The next race on the schedule is the Super-G. Rolex Testimonee Lindsey Vonn has already clinched the World Cup in that discipline, as well as in the downhill. Her chances of successfully defending her overall World Cup title are looking bright indeed.

Rolex and skiing - a story of passion dating back to 1968, when French skier Jean-Claude Killy became a Rolex Testimonee after his triple medal win at the Olympic Games. The association that developed between the brand and this exceptional athlete has gone from strength to strength.

For a long time, the Olympic medallist was the only - but so emblematic - link between the brand and skiing, embodying, through his enthusiastic hard work and ceaseless quest for perfection, cardinal values that are also those of Rolex. Now, another legend in alpine skiing, Austrian Hermann Maier, has taken up the torch. A Testimonee since 2007 with an impressive number of victories to his name, he is also a champion who perfectly exemplifies the spirit of Rolex.

Determination, precision and perseverance - qualities that, for Rolex, constitute fundamental principles and which are essential for a top skier. The links between the brand and skiing are not due to chance. By its association with this elite sport, whose ideals it shares, Rolex asserts its attachment to a philosophy in which performance means excellence. It is not surprising, therefore, that the brand supports the most widely known leg of the Alpine Skiing World Cup: the Hahnenkamm Races in Kitzbühel, Austria. Captivated by this event marking the high point of the ski season, Rolex became its Official Timekeeper in 2007. More than a sponsor, Rolex is a true partner, contributing year after year to the prestige of the competition.

Since 2010, three new rising stars in alpine skiing - Switzerland's Lara Gut and Carlo Janka together with American Lindsey Vonn - perpetuate in turn the relationship that began in 1968 between Rolex and skiing. The brand, which has chosen them as Testimonees, is with them at every turn as they collect honours in races around the world. More than ever, Rolex celebrates skiing and the sport's greatest talents.

KPMS
March 16, 2011