Crans-Montana: Paerson wins, Vonn third

Lindsey Vonn did exactly what she needed to do in the World Cup super combined at Crans-Montana, Switzerland Sunday. She put the challenge on the board by winning the downhill leg convincingly and put the pressure on the challengers to overtake her in slalom. Swede Anja Paerson, who is not a threat to Vonn's lead in the overall standings, got the win and Maria Riesch, made herself the primary threat for the overall by finishing second and taking the combined title. Vonn, however, finished third, gave up a minimal 20 points of her lead and can roll into the World Cup finals with her destiny in her own hands.
    The win was the 38th of Anja Paerson's remarkable career but just her third of the season. In classic Paerson fashion it marked three disciplines she has won in this season. She can cross another goal off her lifetime list having now scored wins in all five disciplines.
    For Riesch her third podium in three combineds held this season iced that title and kept her slim chances alive for the overall. Nicole Hosp, the defending overall champ finished eighth and will need to ski with abandon at Bormio if she hopes to overtake either of the leaders.

Lindsey Vonn did exactly what she needed to do in the World Cup super combined at Crans-Montana, Switzerland Sunday. She put the challenge on the board by winning the downhill leg convincingly and put the pressure on the challengers to overtake her in slalom. Swede Anja Paerson, who is not a threat to Vonn's lead in the overall standings, got the win and Maria Riesch, made herself the primary threat for the overall by finishing second and taking the combined title. Vonn, however, finished third, gave up a minimal 20 points of her lead and can roll into the World Cup finals with her destiny in her own hands.
    The win was the 38th of Anja Paerson's remarkable career but just her third of the season. In classic Paerson fashion it marked three disciplines she has won in this season. She can cross another goal off her lifetime list having now scored wins in all five disciplines.
    For Riesch her third podium in three combineds held this season iced that title and kept her slim chances alive for the overall. Nicole Hosp, the defending overall champ finished eighth and will need to ski with abandon at Bormio if she hopes to overtake either of the leaders.
    Vonn said after the downhill run she knew she needed more than the second (.91) lead she had over her friend Riesch.
    "I was hoping to get a little more advantage," Vonn said, "but it is not easy to get that time in downhill."
    She said she had made a number of small mistakes in the downhill. "I made a bunch of little mistakes," Vonn said of her downhill run. "I just got a little off line but the soft stuff on the outside line is not fast.”
    The downhill was run from the top start unlike yesterday’s race, and had mostly sunny skies with temperatures well above freezing, softening the course. In addition officials shaved the tunnel jump, making it easier.
    Well set-up for the slalom, Vonn's strategy was to play it safe and be certain of getting some points. "I made a big mistake going into the flats because I went too straight," she said. "It cost me a lot of time. It was a bonehead move."
    Turning to her husband Thomas she said, "We did just enough, didn't we?"
    She said the slalom inspection had been critically important. "In slalom there's always something tricky, a rhythm change or gate set. We went over everything and I tried to have a good solid run. Without the one mistake I generally skied smart. At the bottom of the course a lot of people were having trouble and I thought I skied that pretty well."
    Vonn had nothing but praise for the two women who finished ahead of her on the day.
    "Paerson has always been a great ski racer and competitor so it's no surprise to me she's now won in all disciplines. And I'm so happy Maria won the globe today. It's good to see her doing well."
    Now, after a six hour drive to Bormio, Italy for the World Cup finals, all that remains is to stay focused one more week and try to stay "in the zone."
    "This week was pretty hard," she admitted. "I've been pretty nervous the last couple of days. Thomas has been calming me down and that helps a lot. But there are a lot of expectations."

The SCOOP

By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women's Combined, Crans-Montana, Switzerland, March 9, 2008
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
3 Vonn, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
4 Georgl, Head/Head/Head
5 Jacquemod, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
6 Stechert, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
7 Aubert, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
8 Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
8 Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
 <!–[endif]–>
Women's super combined, Crans-Montana, Switzerland, March 9, 2008<!–[if !supportEmptyParas]–>. … It is the 32nd of the original 36 races of the women's 2008 World Cup schedule with two races having been canceled. … It is the third and final combined. … It is the 29th World Cup at Crans-Montana. … It is the last race before World Cup finals when fields will be reduced.
    It is the 38th career World Cup win for Anja Paerson. … She is ninth all time on the Cup win list and fourth among women. … It is her first combined win and she has now won in all five alpine disciplines, and joins Pernilla Wiberg, Petra Kronberger and Janica Kostelic as the only women to accomplish the feat. … It is her third win of the season, but first since winning back-to-back in St Moritz in December.
    It is the 18th career World Cup podium for Maria Riesch. … and her fourth in combined. … It is her third combined podium of the season. … She wins her first World Cup title (in combined) with the placing. … She is the first German since Hilde Gerg in 2002 to win a Cup title.
    It is the ninth World Cup podium of the season for Lindsey Vonn and second of the weekend having won the DH. … It is her fourth career podium in combined. … She has never completed a Cup combined lower than sixth.
    It is the third best of three combined results this season for Emily Brydon. … The fifth best result of the season in any discipline for Stacey Cook. … The placing of 25th matches the low in a completed, scoring race this season for Julia Mancuso. … It is the third career scoring result for Emily Desforges, all in combined and two from this season.
   Winning margin is .20. … Top four skiers are within the same second. … Top 13 within two seconds. .. Vonn maintains the lead of the overall standings 1263-1106 over Maria Riesch with four races remaining. … Nicole Hosp (8th in race) drops to third at 1085. …Elisabeth Goergl (4th in race) is fourth at 992. … Riesch wins the combined title 260-200 over Vonn with Paerson third at 160. … Sandrine Aubert of France is
fourth at 110. … Austria leads the women's Nations Cup 5956-2567 for the U.S. … Italy is third at 2424. … Canada ranks seventh at 1546.

Official timekeeper

Did not start 2nd run : COLETTI Alexandra (MON)
Did not finish 2nd run : PELLISSIER Marion (FRA), ROBNIK Petra (SLO), FISCHBACHER Andrea (AUT), LOLOVIC Jelena (SRB)
Disqualified 2nd run : COSTAZZA Chiara (ITA)