Andrea Fischbacher leads World Cup super-combi; Lindsey Vonn 2nd, Maria Riesch skis out

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Fischbacher leads World Cup super-combi; Vonn 2nd

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — Andrea Fischbacher of Austria led after the opening super-G portion of a World Cup super-combined event Friday, with Lindsey Vonn of the United States in second place.

Fischbacher finished in 1 minute, 16.28 seconds on the Corviglia piste, 0.33 seconds ahead of Vonn.

“It’s just a really great feeling,” the 24-year-old Fischbacher said. “It was a really good run.”

Julia Mancuso of the United States, who started wearing bib No. 50, was third and had 0.87 to make up in the afternoon slalom leg.

Vonn was given an unexpected chance to extend her lead in the overall standings when Maria Riesch of Germany skied out near the end of her run. Riesch misjudged her line and skied wide left of a gate approaching a tight left hand turn. She stood beside the course with her head bowed over her skis reflecting on her mistake.

“It’s unfortunate for Maria but it happens in racing,” said Vonn, who leads her best friend by 56 points in the standings. “I just have to concentrate on the second run.”

Riesch’s error also means Vonn could take the season’s title in super-combi by claiming the 100 points on offer for victory Friday.

Fischbacher is a super-G specialist who won bronze behind Vonn at the world championships last year, but skis slalom only in the super-combi event.

Mancuso’s fast time continued her revival in form at the final races before the Vancouver Olympics open on Feb. 12. She was quickest in a downhill training run at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, last week and was second in training in St. Moritz on Wednesday.

“Everything is finally coming together,” said the 25-year-old American, who last had a podium finish in February 2008 when she finished third in a World Cup downhill on the Olympic piste in Whistler.

“I just went for it,” Mancuso said. “For me it is all about charging and not worrying about line because sometimes if I’m too focused on being precise it’s slow.”

Mancuso, who will defend her Olympic title in giant slalom next month, said she was looking forward to the second leg.

“Slalom’s going really well for me so it’s a matter of believing in myself again,” she said.

Friday’s opening run on a bright, still day was interrupted when late starter Georgia Simmerling crashed. The 20-year-old Canadian was airlifted to a hospital. No details of her injuries were available.