ALTENMARKT-ZAUCHENSEE, Austria (AP) — Lindsey Vonn built a commanding lead in the first run of a women’s World Cup downhill on Saturday, while overall leader Lara Gut failed to finish.
Vonn timed 1 minute, 4.94 seconds on the shortened Kaelberloch course to lead Larisa Yurkiw of Canada by 0.91, and Tina Weirather of Liechentenstein by 0.92.
“I just tried (to) ski a solid run. I wasn’t trying to do anything special,” Vonn said. By winning the race, the American would match Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell’s record of 36 downhill victories.
Cornelia Huetter of Austria came 0.98 back in fourth. The rest of the field had to make up at least 1.23 seconds on Vonn in the final run.
“It was pretty bumpy, it was a lot more bumpy than yesterday,” Vonn said. “I was caught off guard in a couple of turns but the main thing is I was still on the same line that I inspected. I didn’t get pushed around too badly.”
“I think it was pretty solid. I don’t think I’ll analyze too much,” Vonn said about preparing for the final run.
It’s the first women’s downhill in 14 years to be contested over two runs. Organizers had to lower the start because of insufficient snow conditions in the upper part, shortening the course from its usual 3 kilometers to 1,875 meters.
Gut lost balance halfway down her run and just avoided falling but missed the next gate.
“It took me too long to react. But physically I am OK,” said the Swiss skier, who leads Vonn by 158 points in the overall standings and will remain on top before Sunday’s super-G.
“It’s become rougher, there are some bumps in it,” Gut said about the slope. “It’s dark so you don’t see the bumps.”
The run was interrupted for 15 minutes when Lotte Smiseth Sejersted crashed and had to be airlifted off the course with unknown injuries. The Norwegian skier fell and both her skis came off before she slid into the safety netting.
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