American downhill queen Lindsey Vonn dominated overall World Cup leader Tina Maze to claim her 58th win in the series and first win of 2013 in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Saturday
Vonn, celebrating the 29th downhill win of her stunning World Cup career, clocked 1min 38.25sec with Slovenian Maze in second at 0.43sec.
American Leanne Smith finished third at 0.89sec to complete the podium, pushing France’s Marion Rolland down to fourth.
While Vonn boosts her lead in the downhill standings, Maze took another step towards her maiden overall title after main rival, German Maria Hoefl-Riesch, did not finish.
Maze, on 1414 points, now leads Hoefl-Riesch (744) by a massive 670 points with Austrian Anna Fenninger third on 630.
The day, however, belonged to Vonn, who was only too glad to get back to winning ways amid what has been a testing season for the American.
“The last couple of races I’ve been seeing different numbers other than one next to my name,” said Vonn, who finished sixth in the Austrian resort of Sankt Anton last week where compatriot Alice McKennis triumphed.
“So I was kind of half-surprised to come down in the lead. It just feels good to be back on the podium, especially with my teammate Leanne, it’s a great day for the team.”
Smith, one of several American alpine racers who have shown promise of late, set the early pace when she blitzed the 2.61 km long Olimpia delle Tofane course to finish over a second ahead of Swiss starter Fraenzi Aufdenblatten.
Her time in the provisional leader’s spot lasted until Maze, starting with bib number 12, completed her run four tenths of a second faster.
Maze’s chances of an eventual podium place were boosted when Hoefl-Riesch skied out after landing badly after a small jump.
All eyes were then on Italian Daniel Merighetti, the defending Cortina downhill champion who had dominated training on Friday.
But she produced a disastrous performance, finishing nearly three seconds off the pace.
Vonn, starting 20th, then produced a risk-taking run that saw her come close to crashing out in mid-race before the corrected herself masterfully to beat Maze at the finish.
“It’s been a slow process building my confidence, building my strength back up,” added the American, who now has 340 points in the downhill race with compatriot Stacey Cook second on 211.
“Sankt Anton was a good start, sixth place, and then today I said I wanted to be on the podium.
“I skied the best I could. I was definitely going for it. I risked a lot, though I think I still could have done better in the top section, could have been a bit more clean.”
Vonn dominates Maze to win Cortina downhill
