Austria’s Anna Fenninger
Olympic champion Anna Fenninger added to her World Cup title challenge yesterday by winning a super-G for her second straight victory in Bansko.
The 25-year-old Austrian clocked 1 minute, 14.59 seconds, taking over first place in the race from overall leader Tina Maze by 0.16 seconds. Lindsey Vonn of the United States finished third, 0.28 seconds behind Fenninger.
Fenninger gained another 20 points on Maze to narrow the gap to 44 after winning Monday’s super-G and Sunday’s combined.
“I pushed really hard and I had good rhythm,” Fenninger said. “I couldn’t show my best skiing here because of the weather conditions but it’s been great. I’ve had a perfect two days.”
Despite gaining ground ahead of the World Cup finish in Meribel, France, on March 22, Fenninger noted that Maze is set two compete in two slalom races that she’s likely to skip.
“So you never know what will happen,” the Austrian said. “I have confidence … and I’ll try to keep going.”
Skiers raced under clear skies in the Pirin Mountains after fog forced two days of event cancellations and upset some competitors Sunday.
Despite the start-stop races, noisy fans filled the stands throughout the competition, joined by the country’s president, Rosen Plevneliev, who handed out prizes Monday with a broad grin.
Maze said she was happy to return to form after failing to finish in the three races prior to Bansko.
“I had three zeroes on my account,” the Slovene said. “It isn’t easy because Anna is skiing fast. … So I think I can be happy with my weekend.”
Fenninger’s win on the 1,730-meter course put her in first place ahead of Vonn in the super-G rankings, but the American said she was happy to make the podium after returning to competition from prolonged injury.
“I’m definitely very happy with my comeback season. It’s difficult being away from the sport for almost two seasons,” Vonn said. “I always believed I could make it back to the top. But I didn’t know it would come so quickly.”
The women’s World Cup resumes later this week in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany. Derek Gatopoulos, Bansko, AP
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