Bansko: Fischbacher still fastest in training

For the second day straight, Austrian Andrea Fischbacher was the fastest in downhill training in Bansko, Bulgaria, where women’s World Cup downhill and super G races are scheduled Friday through Sunday.

Fischbacher was first down the icy, turny course that got the better of a few skiers Thursday, including Lindsey Vonn, who took a spill but is OK save a sore butt, U.S. coach Jim Tracy said.

Swiss racer Fabienne Suter stayed closer to Fischbacher, who beat everyone by more than a second and a half in Wednesday’s training. On Thursday, Fischbacher finished in 1 minute, 46.38 seconds and Suter was .14 seconds back. The rest of the field was still more than a second out. Tina Maze was third (1:47.50), Lara Gut fourth (1:47.62) and Maria Riesch fifth (1:48.07).

The course is likely the turniest the women have seen on the World Cup downhill tour, with four big traverses across the fall line that toss them in and out of a series of steep pitches.

Six skiers missed gates in Thursday’s training, including Kaylin Richardson and Keely Kelleher while Anja Paerson and Elisabeth Goergl joined Vonn on the DNF squad.For the second day straight, Austrian Andrea Fischbacher was the fastest in downhill training in Bansko, Bulgaria, where women’s World Cup downhill and super G races are scheduled Friday through Sunday.

Fischbacher was first down the icy, turny course that got the better of a few skiers Thursday, including Lindsey Vonn, who took a spill but is OK save a sore butt, U.S. coach Jim Tracy said.

Swiss racer Fabienne Suter stayed closer to Fischbacher, who beat everyone by more than a second and a half in Wednesday’s training. On Thursday, Fischbacher finished in 1 minute, 46.38 seconds and Suter was .14 seconds back. The rest of the field was still more than a second out. Tina Maze was third (1:47.50), Lara Gut fourth (1:47.62) and Maria Riesch fifth (1:48.07).

The course is likely the turniest the women have seen on the World Cup downhill tour, with four big traverses across the fall line that toss them in and out of a series of steep pitches.

Six skiers missed gates in Thursday’s training, including Kaylin Richardson and Keely Kelleher while Anja Paerson and Elisabeth Goergl joined Vonn on the DNF squad.

Friday’s downhill begins at 5:30 a.m. EST and will be aired live on universalsports.com.

Thursday’s training results: