ST. MORITZ, Switzerland – Lindsey Vonn began the defence of her World Cup super-combined title Friday by capturing the downhill portion on the Engiadina course and leading three Americans in the top five.
The American raced down the sun-soaked track in 1 minute, 43.53 seconds, 0.61 seconds faster than Elisabeth Goergl of Austria.
Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany completed the top three. The Olympic champion in super-combined has 0.91 to make up on Vonn in the afternoon slalom run.
U.S. skiers Leanne Smith and Olympic silver medallist Julia Mancuso placed fourth and fifth.
Tina Maze of Slovenia, Vonn’s closest challenger in the overall standings, was 1.41 back in sixth.
Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., was 41st and Larisa Yurkiw of Owen Sound, Ont., was 47th out of 49 skiers who finished the downhill.
