Training downhill ladies Val d‘ Isère
The winner of first two downhill of the season and overall World Cup champion, Lindsey Vonn already set the tone this morning in the first training run for the ladies' Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Val d'Isère (FRA). The blonde American set the fastest time on the Oreiller-Killy course, despite falling before the finish line. The rocket from the U.S. was 0.27 seconds ahead of Austrian Elisabeth Goergl, and 0.37 ahead of American Julia Mancuso. Vonn won 2009 FIS World Championship gold in the downhill and super-G in Val d'Isère but then the races were held on the Rhônes-Alpes course on the Solaise Mountain. This time around the ladies are racing on the La Daille course.
Maria Riesch of Germany who posted the 13th fastest time of today's training, captured the overall lead from Vonn last week in Are, Sweden. Before heading into the races in Val d' Isère, Riesch has 441 points and Vonn 421.
Unfortunately, the 21-year-old Canadian Larisa Yurkiw crashed during training and had to be evacuated on a stretcher suspected of having picked up a serious knee injury.
With another training run Thursday, the FIS Audi World Cup continues Friday with a super-combined scheduled for Friday ahead of Saturday's downhill. A super-G will be held on Sunday.
