Germany’s Maria Riesch won the overall women’s World Cup yesterday, denying Lindsey Vonn a fourth successive title, when the final race of the season was canceled because of bad weather.
The German had been leading the standings overnight with a minimal lead of three points over Vonn ahead of yesterday’s scheduled giant slalom.
Under International Ski Federation (FIS) rules, races are not rescheduled if they are called off by the weather.
Riesch has been trying to -dethrone Vonn for several seasons and twice finished runner-up behind the American, who has dominated women’s skiing for the past few years with 41 wins in World Cup races.
It was a hugely anti-climactic end to what should have been the most dramatic finale to the season in years.
Thursday’s super-G race was also canceled, a blow to Vonn who sees that discipline as one of her strongest.
Vonn said on the eve of the race that the FIS should review its policy and allow races in the final week of the season to be rescheduled in the event of bad weather.
Riesch led the standings for most of the season until Vonn snatched it from her by beating her in Wednesday’s downhill.
Thursday’s super-G cancelation denied Vonn a chance to extend her lead, then Riesch took it back on Friday by finishing ahead of Vonn in the slalom.
An FIS spokesman said course conditions were totally unsuitable, with a thin icy crust on top of wet snow. Rain and fog added to the difficulties.
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