An important 3rd place for Lindsey Vonn in Super-combined

Manuèle Lang 10.03.2008 08:29 Uhr

A day after becoming the most successful US downhill specialist thanks to her tenth victory in the specialty, Lindsey Vonn strongly reinforced her chances to clinch the Overall World Cup title in finishing an impressive 3rd in the Super-combined event held by sunny weather on the “Piste Nationale” at Crans-Montana.

Vonn was again clearly the fastest in the downhill portion raced in the morning and only a mistake in the middle of her slalom run prevented the skier from Minnesota to capture her second Super-combined event of the season – and her second discipline Cup after the one conquered in downhill two weeks ago.

She only lost 26/100 of a second on winner Anja Paerson, the reigning Super-combined World Champion, yet this new podium finish helped her to increase her lead on Austria’s Nicole Hosp in the Overall World Cup standings. The defending World Cup champion is nearly two hundred points back – yet it’s for sure not over yet with Maria Riesch sitting now in 2nd place, only 157 points behind her.

“I think the downhill portion went pretty well this morning,” the confident American explained afterwards. “I made a few mistakes, but I still had a pretty good vantage going into the slalom,” she added.

“The slalom was really tough because it was warm and the snow turned to slush. I went a little too straight going into the flat section and I lost all of my speed. But, I'm really happy with 3rd place."

“It was a good day after an excellent day on Saturday and I'm really happy for my friend Maria who got the Super-combined globe. She worked really hard to get it.”

“This weekend was a big step in the right direction, but it's not over until it's over,” Vonn also said. “I have to keep working hard, especially in the next two speed events, and try to maintain that advantage.”

“"Nikki and Maria are both skiing really well right now and they're both within striking distance. I just have to do what I'm doing and hopefully that will get me on top.”

"I guess the weather's not good at Bormio, so that's unfortunate,” Vonn said. “But I'm feeling good, I still feel like I have a lot of energy left. Maybe not a lot, but enough to attack the way I like.”

“The coming week will certainly be nerve wrecking for us. I was even more nervous today than yesterday. I now have to go and fight for it in Bormio, where I won't be more nervous than today because it's impossible for me to be more nervous than I was today. I don't think about points. I just need to think of my races. I think I'll only feel better next week after the speed events.”

Since ever, Lindsey Vonn also dreamed to catch the big Crystal globe which represents in her eyes the greatest single achievement in alpine ski racing. By doing it, she would definitely jump out of the shadow of her role model Picabo Street, the 1996 World Champion in downhill and Super-G Olympic Champion in 1998.

The last US Overall World Cup champion was Rossignol’s Tamara McKinney in 1983.