BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM, Austria — Elisabeth Goergl of Austria ended Lindsey Vonn’s four-race unbeaten streak in speed events by winning a World Cup downhill Saturday.
Goergl, who also beat Vonn to take the world downhill title last year, covered the course in 1 minute, 48.40 seconds. Julia Mancuso of the U.S. was second, 0.16 back, and Fabienne Suter of Switzerland was third.
Vonn, who was bothered by a stomach ailment last week, finished fourth and maintained the lead in the World Cup downhill and overall standings. She almost skied out at the second gate and finished 0.55 behind Goergl. Vonn had won both previous downhills and both super-G races this season.
It was only the third time in 20 World Cup downhills since March 2009 that Vonn finished outside the top three.
“It was a rough start. I didn’t have the balance,” said Vonn, who spent most of the day before the race in bed. “I have been sick since Zagreb (last Tuesday) and I have not been able to eat anything, so I don’t have energy and I don’t have strength.”
Mancuso was in the lead until Goergl went down the hill, the last starter from the top group.
“I fought like crazy. I am happy that it worked out so well,” Goergl said after her fourth World Cup victory but first in downhill.
Mancuso earned her third podium finish of the season with her best downhill result since winning the final race of last season in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
“It was really fun, especially the first half,” Mancuso said. “I like it when it’s difficult and when you just have to go fast and go with your instinct. Sometimes it’s not the perfect run, but you can still win.”
Mancuso skipped recent slaloms in Austria and Croatia to prepare for the speed events.
Mancuso said the first steep section of the course with two sharp turns, where Vonn skied off course, were decisive.
“Out of the start is very difficult because it’s hard to get enough direction for that second gate,” Mancuso said. “It really makes up the difference what speed you can carry.”
Austrian Hirscher wins GS
ADELBODEN, Switzerland —Marcel Hirscher of Austria extended his breakout season by winning a World Cup giant slalom to increase his lead in the overall standings.
Two days after he won a night slalom in Croatia, Hirscher won a close race by just 0.08 seconds over runner-up veteran teammate Benjamin Raich.
Massimiliano Blardone of Italy finished third. Ted Ligety of the U.S. was fourth but maintained his lead in the GS standings.
