Winter Sports Roundup: Vonn narrowly misses weekend sweep
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Lindsey Vonn was denied a three-win weekend sweep by just 0.03 seconds as Maria Hoefl-Riesch won a super-combined event in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
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 day in a row.
"It would have been nice to have a hat trick," Vonn acknowledged. "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 against Tina Maze of Slovenia, who placed fifth.
"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," Hoefl-Riesch said.
Vonn was aiming to reach 50 career World Cup victories after also winning another super-combined event on Friday.
She leads the super-combined standings after two of the scheduled three races, and can clinch the crystal globe trophy for a third consecutive year on Feb. 19 at Sochi, Russia.
Vonn will be strongly favored to reach her landmark 50th win this coming weekend when her specialist speed events, downhill and super-G, are scheduled at Garmisch-Partenkirchen -- Hoefl-Riesch's home town.
First Published January 30, 2012 12:00 am
