Val d'Isere: Paerson sets pace in DH training

Sweden's Anja Paerson, yet to win a race so far this season, set the pace at the downhill training session in Val d'Isere, France, on Monday.

SWEDEN'S ANJA PAERSON, yet to win a race so far this season, set the pace at the downhill training session in Val d'Isere, France, on Monday.
    Paerson finished the run in 1 minute, 43.5 seconds, ahead of Austrians Renate Goetschl and Andrea Fischbacher.
    Julia Mancuso led U.S. racers in fourth place at 1:44.12. Other American finishers were Stacey Cook in 23rd (1:46.14), Kaylin Richardson in 50th (1:49.02) and Resi Stiegler in 52nd (1:49.53). Kirsten Clark and Lindsey Kildow didn't clock official times. 
    Paerson, the Olympic slalom champion who returned to competition last month after knee surgery in March, looked back to her old self after turning in disappointing races in Levi and in Reiteralm.
    With a time of 1:43.88, Goetschl confirmed she was in a flying form after clinching the 40th win of her career in Reiteralm's super-G at the weekend.
    The women have back-to-back downhills on Tuesday and Wednesday in the French alpine resort, the second replacing the St. Moritz event called off for lack of snow.
    A slalom is also on the schedule at Val d'Isere on Thursday.