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POBJEDA MARIE RISCH U KANDASKOM LAKE LOUISU
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Germany's Maria Riesch claimed her first victory in more than two years winning the opening downhill of the season
at Lake Louise in front of American Lindsey Kildow and Italian Nadia Fanchini on Friday.
Wearing bib number ten just one week after her 22nd birthday, Riesch blazed to a winning time of one minute and 51.31 seconds.
Jessica Lindell-Vikarby followed Riesch with a spectacular crash that flipped the Swede onto her back and sent her head-over-heels down the mountain.
Lindell-Vikarby was transported off of the course by helicopter before being released into the care of a team doctor, causing a 20 minute delay which worsened the snow conditions at the Canadian resort.
Once competition finally resumed, no one was able to challenge Riesch's time with Kildow coming closest at 0.43 seconds off pace.
Riesch injured herself badly one year ago and was forced to miss the end of last season's World Cup as well as the Turin Olympics.
"It was a total surprise, unexpected," Riesch told reporters after the first of back-to-back downhills scheduled to run this weekend.
"But I had no pressure. I was lucky but I have been so often unlucky so it was my turn. It's so good to know again that you can win races and that you are not scared of the big injuries.
"That I can win the first downhill after my injuries is just amazing."
Her last World Cup victory came in Levi's slalom in February of 2004 and her last downhill win came at Haus im Ennstal one month earlier.
"It's awesome, she's been working so hard, for her to comeback and win the first downhill of the season is unbelievable," said Kildow.
"You have to give her applause for that, it's very courageous."
Follow LIVE coverage of the women's downhill from 19:30 CET on Saturday right here on www.eurosport.com and on Eurosport television.
Post je objavljen 02.12.2006. u 10:31 sati.