VAL D’ISERE, France (Dec. 18, 2016) – Getting out of bed was the hardest part of the day for Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) on Sunday.
After winning Friday’s alpine combined downhill, Ross did not start Saturday’s World Cup downhill due to a flu bug making its way around the women’s circuit. Still not 100 percent, she mustered enough strength to finish 18th and lead three Americans into the top 30 at Sunday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup super G.
After uncharacteristically failing to finish the past three races, Switzerland’s Lara Gut returned to the top of the podium for her 21st World Cup victory Sunday. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein was second, followed by Elena Curtoni of Italy in third.
A number of starters came from outside the top 30 to score World Cup points Sunday, including Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID), who was 13th in Saturday’s downhill, finished 30th in the super G from the 47th start position. Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO), starting 54, was well on her way to a top 30 result when she lost her edge on a tough right footer and slammed into the A-net structure. After lying on the snow for a few minutes, she was able to get up and ski down on her own.
Up next, the ladies race giant slalom in Courchevel, France on Tuesday. Live streaming will be available on NBCsports.com/live. Meanwhile, the ladies on the speed circuit have some extended holiday time off, returning to action January 14 with a downhill in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Laurenne Ross finished 18th in Sunday’s World Cup super G. Stacey Cook (Mammoth, CA) was 29th and Breezy Johnson was 30th.
- Switzerland’s Lara Gut won her 21st World Cup race Sunday.
- Gut has won both super G races this season, and leads the overall super G World Cup standings with 200 points.
- Gut’s Swiss teammate Priska Nufer laid down one of the most exciting runs of the day from the 46th start position, scoring a career-best World Cup super G result in 12th place.
- Road to Aspen: Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) has a five-point lead over Lara Gut in the overall World Cup standings. Shiffrin did not compete in Sunday’s super G. She returns to action in Tuesday’s giant slalom in Courchevel
RESULTS
Women’s super G
