Val di Fassa, Italy,
Coming off a performance that included two golds and three medals overall at the skiing world championships, Lara Gut-Behrami now has another title — overall World Cup leader.
The Swiss skier won a downhill Friday when the regular circuit resumed, moving her ahead of Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova in the standings.
Gut-Behrami finished a slim 0.02 seconds ahead of Ramona Siebenhofer on the sun-drenched Val di Fassa course.
Recently crowned world champion Corinne Suter finished third, 0.26 behind, to gain precious points in her pursuit of downhill standings leader Sofia Goggia, who is out injured.
Vlhova finished ninth and now trails Gut-Behrami by 29 points in the overall standings, which she had led since November.
Conditions on the San Pellegrino Pass, which was making its debut on the World Cup circuit, were spring-like as the temperature soared to nearly 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
It was Gut-Behrami’s 31st career World Cup victory and fourth straight speed win on the circuit. It was also her first downhill win this season, to go with her four World Cup victories in super-G.
At the worlds in nearby Cortina, Gut-Behrami — who lives in Italy — collected gold in super-G and giant slalom and bronze in downhill.
“I’m pleased that all of the work I’ve done is being reflected in my results,” said Gut-Behrami, who blew her knee out after winning the overall title in 2016.
“Times have not always been easy over the last few years but I worked together with my father and my team to re-arrange things.”
Siebenhofer, an Austrian, collected three fifth-place finishes at the worlds — in downhill, combined and GS.—APP
