ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — Lindsey Vonn was denied a three-win weekend sweep by just 0.03 seconds as Maria Hoefl-Riesch won a super-combined event Sunday.
Hoefl-Riesch won for the first time in 11 months to kick-start her defense of the World Cup overall title she took from Vonn last season.
Vonn was last to race in the slalom leg after being fastest in the morning super-G run, and threw back her head in frustration on seeing how close she was to winning for a third straight day.
“It would have been nice to have a hat trick,” Vonn said. “I’m really happy for Maria — but I’d rather she beat me by a second.”
Still, Vonn earned 80 points and extended her lead to 387 over Tina Maze of Slovenia, who placed fifth Sunday.
Hoefl-Riesch, who is third overall, trailed Vonn by 0.23 after the super-G but just edged the Vail resident on a flat slalom course slowed by warm sunshine. The German had a combined two-run time of 2 minutes, 8.41 seconds. Nicole Hosp of Austria was third, 0.51 back, after finishing 28th fastest in super-G.
“I’m really happy to be winning again. It’s obviously the best,” said Hoefl-Riesch, who had been runner-up three times this season, including behind Vonn in Saturday’s downhill.
“In the speed events, it’s so hard to beat Lindsey, so I was hoping to take the chance at the right time. Today, it was the right time,” she said.
Hoefl-Riesch’s 21st career World Cup win was her first since a super-G at Are, Sweden, last February.
