Maze extends lead as Rebensburg wins super-G

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AFP) –

(From L) Nicole Schmidhof, Viktoria Rebensburg and Tina Maze on the podium of the women’s SuperG world cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on January 20, 2013. Rebensburg defied the difficult conditions on the Olimpia delle Tofane course here Sunday to win a World Cup super-G for her second win of the season.

Germany’s giant slalom Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg defied the difficult conditions on the Olimpia delle Tofane course here Sunday to win a World Cup super-G for her second win of the season.

Nicole Schmidhofer of Austria finished second at 0.33sec to claim her maiden podium with World Cup leader Tina Maze of Slovenia finishing third at 0.34sec to boost her overall advantage for the second consecutive day.

Maze is on 1474 points with overall title German rival Maria Hoefl-Riesch, who finished in a disappointing 19th place a day after failing to finish the downhill, in second on 756.

However the Slovenian’s third place has put her top of the super-G standings on 290 points at the expense of Lindsey Vonn.

Vonn, the four-time World Cup champion, had the chance to become the first skier, of either gender, to win five consecutive World Cup Super G races at a single venue.

But a day after dominating Maze in the downhill, the American could only finish in seventh.

Maze, who won the Sankt Anton, Austria super-G last week to become only the sixth woman to triumph in all five World Cup disciplines, is now ready to end Vonn’s four-year reign as World Cup super-G champion.

“I’m really impressed with how it went for me today. I’m looking forward to continuing in the same way,” said Maze.

“If I can keep on skiing like this, I know I can be in front. Since I won at Sankt Anton last week I feel more relaxed. Now I will try to attack in every (super-G) race.”

Persistent snowfall, which began on Saturday evening, meant visibility would prove an issue and organisers were forced to lower the start gate.

Austria’s Nicole Schmidhofer celebrates in the finish area of the women’s SuperG world cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 20, 2013. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg won the event while Schmidhofer took second place and Slovenia’s Tina Maze finished third.

It appeared to give the early starters the edge.

Rebensburg, 23, started with bib number nine and came down fastest to knock Schmidhofer, with bib number two, off top spot.

“The conditions were tough but when it comes to the race, you just have to focus and do the best you can,” said Rebensburg. “Everything came together for me, I’m really happy.”

Schmidhofer, 23, admitted: “In the last races I’ve had bib numbers over 30, so when I picked three yesterday, with all the snowfall I knew it would be a great number for me.”

On Saturday Vonn had signalled her return to form having taken a month away from racing and returned to competition only last week.

But after Maze, starting 17th, had finished in provisional third place, the American, starting 20th, finished 0.83 behind Rebensburg in seventh place.

Julia Mancuso was next to start but the American got her hand stuck in the start gate as she tried to rocket out the start gate, arguably costing her a place on the podium.

“I tripped out of the start,” said Mancuso, who admitted the conditions had also proved a challenge. “I don’t know if the visibility got worse, but snow definitely accumulates.”

Asked whether it was a suprise to see no Americans on the podium, Maze added: “Today was a different race. Julia did a good job, she skied well.

“And we had a tough job today, in difficult conditions. I think those who started earlier had it easier.”

Maze, who also leads the race for the giant slalom and combined titles and is second in the slalom standings, will continue her stunning season at her native resort of Maribor next week where a slalom and giant slalom will be held.