Hoefl-Riesch robs Vonn of hat trick with first season win in St. Moritz Combined

German Maria-Hoefl Riesch just edged American Lindsey Vonn for the win in a World Cup super combined in St. Moritz, Switzerland today (Jan. 29).

With just a three-hundredths of a second advantage, Hoefl-Riesch spoiled Vonn’s chance at completing a three-win hat trick here this weekend, forcing Vonn to wait for her 50th career World Cup win.

“It would have been nice to have a hat trick. I’m really happy for Maria — but I’d rather she beat me by a second,” said Vonn.

Vonn, winner of both a super combined here Friday and a downhill Saturday, led the way in the morning super G leg,  0.23 seconds ahead of Hoefl-Riesch and held a diminishing lead in the afternoon slalom through both of the mid-course split timers but fell a hair behind at the finish line.

“My skiing was good, my concentration was good, but a series of small mistakes cost me much time. I caught my edges funny a couple of times,” said Vonn. “I tried as hard as I could. I would have loved to celebrate my 50th World Cup win here in St Moritz. But victory is not as easy as it seems. I had to ski five hard-fought runs in three days and it’s exhausting.”

Today’s result marks the first win of the season for Hoefl-Riesh, the defending overall World Cup champion. After Vonn shook off the initial disappointment of missing the win by such a small margin, the two longtime friends hugged in the finish area.

“I’m really happy to be winning again. It’s obviously the best,” Hoefl-Riesch, who finished second in yesterday’s downhill, told the Associated Press “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.”

Austrian Nicole Hosp was another half second behind Vonn in third, repeating her performance in Friday’s super combined. Standing 28th after the super G run, Hosp put down a slalom run that was the fastest of the day by 1.30 seconds and held the lead through the following 25 slalom skiers before being bumped by Hoefl-Riesch.

Canadian Marie-Michele Gagnon, 30th after the first run, ripped to the second-fastest slalom time to finish seventh overall and tie her second best finish ever in a World Cup race.

Vonn led a group of five American women into the second run. Laurenne Ross was the only other U.S. racer to earn points in 28th position after standing 23rd in the super G leg. Julia Mancuso, 10th after the super G run, straddled a gate in the middle of the slalom course and Leanne Smith, who notched a new career best finish in eighth in yesterday’s downhill, also skied off line. Julia Ford, 41st in the first run, held on to finish 39th. Stacey Cook was one of five women to not finish the morning super G run.

Despite missing the chance at the third three-win weekend of her career, with her 90th World Cup podium Vonn hoisted her lead in the overall standings to 387 points. She now has 1250 points to second standing Tina Maze’s 863. Hoefl-Riesch moved into third position with her win today, bringing her total to 696 points.

Today’s race replaced a race canceled at Val d’Isere in early December due to lack of snow.

MORE TO COME

Images by Gepa

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee

Women’s World Cup combined, St Moritz, Switzerland, Jan. 29, 2012
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Hoefl-Riech, Head/Lange/Head
2 Vonn, Head/Head/Head
3 Hosp, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
4 Goergl, Head/Head/Head
5 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
6 Sejersted, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Gagnon, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Schnarf, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
9 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Paerson, Head/Head/Head

Women’s World Cup combined, St Moritz, Switzerland, Jan. 29, 2012. … It is the 21st race of the women’s 40 race (39 now) 2012 World Cup schedule. … The second of three combineds on the schedule. … It is the third of three races at St Moritz this season.

It is the 21st career World Cup win for Maria Hoefl-Riesch. … her third in combined. … It is her first win of the season and second at St Moritz having won the downhill Jan. 30, 2010.

It is the 90th career World Cup podium for Lindsey Vonn. … her 12th in 16 completed combineds. … It is her fourth career combined podium scored at St Moritz and second in three days. … It is her 10th podium of the season, eight of those wins and two second place finishes.

It is the 50th career World Cup podium for Nicole Hosp. … her fifth in combined and her third in combined at St Moritz. … It is her second podium of the season, both in combined and both at St Moritz. … She was also third Jan. 27.

North Americans: Seventh matches Marie-Michele Gagnon’s second best career Cup result. … Her only better finish a fifth at St Moritz Dec. 12, 2010 in GS. … It is the fourth career Cup combined scoring result for Laurenne Ross. … and her seventh score of the season.

Standings: Vonn continues to lead the World Cup overall standings 1250-863 over Tina Maze (fifth in race). … Hoefl-Riesch is third with 696pts. … Julia Mancuso (DNF 2nd) is seventh with 487pts. … Gagnon leads the Canadians in 32nd with 136pts. … Vonn leads the combined standings 180-125 over Maze. … Hosp is third with 120pts. … Gagnon leads Canada in 12th with 135pts. … Austria leads the womens’ Nations Cup 3469-2253 over the US. … Italy is third with 1633pts. … Canada ranks 11th with 254pts.