Lindsey Vonn’s podium streak continues.
Vonn was third in the downhill in Tarvisio, Italy, on Saturday, Jan. 17. She has made the podium in all five downhill races this season, and been in the top three in six of her first seven races. The only time she’s finished off the podium was in her first super-G, when she was fourth.
Even for Vonn, one of the greatest skiers in history, it’s a remarkable run. She is 41, and skiing with a partial knee replacement, yet is more than holding her own against the younger competition.
‘In general, that was the plan. I work hard for a reason. I don’t come here to participate, I come here to ski fast,’ Vonn said. ‘I think everyone questioned my intentions last year, I don’t think they’re questioning it now. But I knew what was coming.’
Vonn’s time of 1:46.54 was 0.26 seconds behind Italy’s Nicol Delago, who got her first career win. Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann was second, just 0.06 seconds ahead of Vonn.
Breezy Johnson joined Vonn in the top 10, tying for sixth place. Jackie Wiles (13th), Allison Mollin (19th) and Haley Cutler (23rd) also were in the top 25.
This is the first time in 15 years that the World Cup circuit has been in Tarvisio, and Vonn is one of the few skiers who was competing then. She was on the podium in each of her six races her previously, including two wins in super-G.
‘I don’t remember the track at all,’ Vonn said. ‘I don’t really think it’s an advantage because you have to know the track for it to be helpful. I think I was on the same, even playing field as everyone else.’
She’s just faster than almost everyone else.
Vonn had the top speed in the field at both the speed checks, hitting almost 85 mph at the first one. But she got a little wide of her line right after that first speed check, putting her behind the pace she needed to catch Delago.
Vonn made up ground in the last two sections of the course, skiing the fastest time at the bottom, but it wasn’t quite enough.
As she crossed the finish line and saw her time, Vonn gave a slight shrug before waving at the cheering fans.
‘Close. Close,’ Vonn said.
‘I was really riding the fence there, almost in the fence,’ Vonn said later. ‘But I carried my speed OK. I think for the conditions, I have to be really happy with that result.’
The third-place finish extended Vonn’s commanding lead in the downhill standings to 144 points over Emma Aicher. It also moved her up to third in the overall standings, just ahead of fellow American Paula Moltzan.
Most importantly, every race helps her prepare for next month’s Olympics in Milano Cortina.
‘It’s proving in different conditions, different snow, different courses I can consistently be in contention for wins,’ she said, ‘and that gives me confidence for Cortina.’