Vonn sets the standard in Super Combined … again!
Lindsey Vonn showed the rest of the field how to attack and win in the Super Combined discipline of the World Cup. Vonn skied a tactical race to win by just over two tenths of a second from Tina Maze and Nikki Hosp in third. The rearranged race, from Val d’Isere, was rich in talent on show but also a number of unfortunate crashes, including HEAD World Cup Rebels Maria Hoefl-Riesch and Lizzi Goergl in the slalom section of the race.
After
the downhill section, led by Lindsey Vonn and with Lizzi Goergl and
Maria Hoefl-Riesch in second and third, Vonn felt that she “had to
risk a lot in the slalom,” Vonn said. “When I got done with the
downhill, with Tina so close, I knew she’d be dangerous, also Niki,
also Maria … my biggest competitors today. I was just happy I was
able to stay ahead of them. I definitely lost time to them in the
slalom, but super-combined’s aren’t always about winning both runs
but more skiing smart and making it to the finish. So I’m glad could
do that today.”
By the
time Vonn left the start gate for the slalom section her lead had
grown to 1.41 seconds over the leader in the finish from the
downhill. Vonn is an experienced and intelligent racer and used her
head as she skied strong down the steep pitch and then let her skis
run across the flats. By the time she had crossed the line the lead
had shrunk to 0.41 seconds but the light was green in the finish and
that meant the win!
“St. Moritz is a great hill for super combined and I felt like I had
a really good downhill run,” said Vonn. “I was a little bit nervous
because I didn’t think I had enough time ahead of the slalom girls
like Tina, Nikki and Maria but I put together a solid slalom run to
hang on to the lead.”
Vonn’s win, her seventh of the season so far and 48th in her illustrious career, gives her the most points that she has accumulated by this stage in the season ever: 1070.
Results:
1. Lindsey Vonn (USA)
2. Tina Maze (SLO)
3. Nikki Hosp (AUT)
6.
