Vonn, the world champion and two-time World Cup champ in the event, is now a mere 5-for-6 this season. She placed fifth Saturday in St. Moritz, Switzerland after her ski hit a hole in a race won by Germany’s Maria Riesch.
The American had actually won six straight, dating to last season. Vonn’s next test in the downhill is a big one – the Vancouver Games on Feb. 17.
Elsewhere
Marcel Hirscher of Austria won a World Cup giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, while Ted Ligety finished third on a bumpy course the day after his victory in this same event. … Olympic medal contender Didier Cuche is expected to ski again next week after a successful operation on his broken right thumb. … Americans Lindsey Jacobellis and Nate Holland defended their Winter X Games titles in snowboardcross in Aspen, Colorado.
