MERIBEL,FRANCE,11.FEB.23 – Jasmine Flury. Photo: GEPA pictures

MERIBEL, France — Swiss skier Jasmine Flury won gold in the women’s downhill at the world championships Saturday on a rough day for the pre-race favorites.

Meribel delivered another perfect race day. Because of the consecutive sunny days and clear nights, the racing surface has improved from good to excellent. However, it is very dry and grippy. To be fast, the women had to be committed and strong but sensitive to the highly reactive snow. The more an athlete arcs, the more force they must resist, but arcing is the only way to win.

The Roc de Fer course has a steep start, where racers accelerate to over 100 kph (62 mph) in less than eight seconds. The second part of the track has more turns and requires technical skills to stay on the race line amid many rolls and bumps.

Bib two, Switzerland’s veteran Jasmine Flury, crossed with a fast time and began her watch from the leader’s chair. As always, the overwhelming favorite, bib six, Sofia Goggia, skied aggressively, but it appeared her equipment was too aggressive for the snow conditions. Goggia struggled and eventually straddled and was disqualified. After dodging the most significant threat, Flury knew the other challengers were less likely to unseat her from the lead.

Flury has won one World Cup in her career — a super-G in her native Switzerland more than five years ago — but had no previous top-10 result from 10 starts at worlds and Olympics.

Flury edged Austrian skier Nina Ortlieb by 0.04 seconds for her first career medal at major championships.

Swiss teammate Corinne Suter finished (+0.12) behind to take bronze for her fifth world championship podium. Suter was the defending champion and won Olympic gold a year ago.

Austrians Cornelia Huetter, who bronze in Wednesday’s super-G, and Mirjam Puchner shared fourth place, 0.25 off the lead.

Austria continues to have excellent championships and in downhill, Ortlieb delivers the silver medal. Ortlieb took a time advantage in upper sectors but then relinquished the lead in sector three and missed the top step by (+0.04). Ortlieb is skiing in her first World Championship and will travel home with a medal. The Austrian team now has four medals.

American Breezy Johnson pushed hard and was only (+0.10) behind Flury at the end of the third sector, but lost her balance and fell about halfway through her run. She got up and skied down without apparent injury.

Isabella Wright, who crashed at high speeds earlier in the week, had difficulty finding her confidence at the bottom. Tricia Mangan attacked the entire course but could not find her best skiing.

Results of the women’s downhill and analysis of the fastest three and US athletes

Analysis of the fastest three and US athletes

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.