LAKE LOUISE, Alberta — Lindsey Vonn was the second-fastest in training Thursday for the season-opening women’s World Cup downhill.
An 18-time winner at Lake Louise, Vonn is back at the resort west of Calgary after missing the stop last season because of a broken arm. The 33-year-old American star had a run of 1 minute, 48.29 seconds to finish 0.15 seconds behind Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic.
Downhills are set for Friday and Saturday, followed by a super-G race Sunday.
Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein was third at 1:48.68. Weirather topped training Tuesday, and scheduled runs Wednesday were wiped out because of soft course conditions.
Canada’s Marie-Michele Gagnon, was just off Ledecka’s pace coming into the final turn, but fell and crashed into the safety nets. She injured a shoulder and was removed from the course on a sled.
Vonn has a record 77 career women’s World Cup victories. She is a four-time overall World Cup champion and won the 2010 Olympic women’s downhill.
