Riesch wins opening women’s World Cup downhill in Lake Louise to end Vonn’s streak

After winning five consecutive World Cup downhills in Lake Louise, Canada, American Lindsey Vonn was dethroned today (Dec. 3) by her good friend, German racer Maria Riesch.

The women’s World Cup speed season kicked off today at the Winterstart in Alberta, Canada as Vonn, a seven-time Lake Louise World Cup downhill winner and defending Olympic champion in the discipline, was forced to settle for second place, 0.12-seconds behind.

“I thought I skied really well and unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the win today, but I’m really happy with second place,” said a sniffling Vonn who is fighting a head cold. “It’s just a cold. I’ve raced through a lot worse things than a cold so I didn’t even consider not racing today.”

Riesch, who was both the overall and downhill runner-up last season behind Vonn, was the last woman not named Vonn (or Kildow) to win a Lake Louise downhill in 2006. Today, the six-foot-tall current overall points leader got back on top of the podium by managing bumps and the tough upper section of the course to secure the win with a time of 1:28.96. It was her 15th career World Cup victory, and her fourth downhill win. She told media at the beginning of the season that she altered her regular summer training schedule to focus more on the speed disciplines in order to close the gap with Vonn in the overall points race, a race she is currently winning with 334 points. Vonn has 165 in sixth place.     

“Somebody said [Vonn] has seven downhill wins here, which is really unbelievable. I think in at least half of them her advantage was more than a second, so it is a big challenge to beat her in Lake Louise,” added Riesch. “There are also other downhills where she is hard to beat. Beating Lindsey in downhill, no matter where, is really special.”

A very pleased Elizabeth Goergl of Austria pumped her fist in the finish area as she grabbed the final podium spot in third, .21 seconds off the winning pace. It is the double Olympic bronze medalist’s (downhill, GS) 24th World Cup podium.

American Julia Mancuso (1:29.95), who had a pair of top-two results during the three training days leading up to today, just missed the podium in fourth place. She was almost a full second behind Riesch after losing time at the top of the course. The Tahoe, Cali., native hasn’t made a World Cup downhill podium since 2008, when she finished third in Whistler, B.C.
  
Overcast skies and temperatures in the teens fahrenheit, allowed the racers to reach top speeds down the The 2441-meter-long (641 vertical drop) course.

Despite the disappointment of Vonn’s winning streak coming to an end, the American squad had a great day. Alice McKennis, in bib number one, got some camera time in the leaders spot through the following five racers until being bumped by Austrian Anna Fenninger (sixth), she landed 11th. It was the Glenwood Springs, Colo. native’s second best career World Cup finish, she finished ninth in a downhill last season in St. Morits, Switzerland. The U.S. put seven of eight starters in the top 30 to score World Cup points as Leanne Smith (20th), Laurenne Ross (22st), Stacey Cook (25th) and Chelsea Marshall (27th) showed promise.

“Conditions were awesome, hard, icy and very challenging for the girls – It was a very good race,” said U.S. coach Alex Hoedlmoser. “Pretty much the whole downhill team is producing results and that’s good to see. Everyone is really fired up for tomorrow to have a better result than today. The girls aren’t even satisfied with their rankings, so it’s good for them all.”

The German women’s team is also off to a great start this season (23 World Cup scoring results and seven podiums) ahead of the 2011 World Championships on their home turf in Garmisch, Germany.  

The weekend was marred yesterday when British skier and one of the tour’s most popular and colorful racers Chemmy Alcott broke her leg during the last training run. She has undergone surgery and is reportedly doing well in recovery.  

World Cup racing continues in Lake Louise tomorrow with the second half of a downhill doubleheader. There will be a super G on Sunday, Dec. 5.  

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Women’s downhill, Lake Louise, Alberta, Dec. 3, 2010. … It is the fifth race of the women’s 37 race World Cup schedule. … and the first of nine DH’s. … It is the first of three women’s races on tap for Lake Louise this weekend, including a second DH tomorrow. … Lindsey Vonn holds the victory record on the track with seven. … It is the 77th Cup race to be conducted at Lake Louise. … the 47th DH. … And the third race (2nd DH) to be held this season.

It is the 15th career World Cup win for Maria Riesch. … her fifth in downhill and second at Lake Louise having also won the DH Dec. 1, 2006.

It is the 65th career World Cup podium for Lindsey Vonn. … her 32nd in DH. … It is her ninth podium at Lake Louise in DH. … two of them second places and the remainder wins. … Riesch also won the 2006 DH the last time Vonn was second at the site. … I tis the sixth time Riesch has won a Cup race Vonn placed second in.

It is the 24th career World Cup podium for Elisabeth Goergl. … her fourth in DH. … It is her second podium at Lake Louise, the previous a win in SG last season.

It is the 12th career top four in a World Cup DH for Julia Mancuso. … and the second time she has placed fourth in DH at Lake Louise, her best result in the event at the site. … The previous was Dec. 2, 2005. … It is the third best career result for Alice McKennis and her second best at Lake Louise having finished 10th Dec. 5, 2009. … Leanne Smith matches her seventh best career World Cup result. … and her third best at Lake Louise. … She was 17th in SG Dec. 7, 2008 and 19th in SG Dec. 2, 2007. … It is the second best of three total World Cup scoring results for Laurenne Ross all coming in the current calendar year. … It is the eighth career World Cup scoring result at Lake Louise for Stacey Cook. … It is the 16th career scoring result for Chelsea Marshall. … her fourth at Lake Louise. … US women last had seven scorers in a World Cup DH last season at St Moritz.

Germany holds the lead in the women’s Nations Cup 871-671 over Austria. … The U.S. jumped to third with 354. … Canada is 11th with 71. … Riesch leads the overall standings 334-196 over Tanja Poutiainen (did not race). … Viktoria Rebensburg sits third overall with 180pts. … Mancuso leads all North Americans in 11th place with 104pts.