CORTINA d'AMPEZZO, Italy (Jan. 24) - The U.S. Ski Team's Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) came ever so close to the win before finishing second to Swiss Dominique Gisin in Cortina by only .15. It was the 18-year-old Gisin's second straight win. 

The downhill was the last before World Championships and, with her performance, Saturday, Vonn remains atop the downhill and overall standings.


Lindsey Vonn charges to the podium in Cortina, wearing yet another showcase Spyder racing suit. (Getty Images/AFP-Alberto Pizzoli)

"I didn't exactly ski the way I wanted to. I made mistakes on the top and the bottom. I wasn't clean and it was too many mistakes to win. I think if I had made only one mistake instead of two I could have won," Vonn said. "I've just got to keep working hard, clean that up and do better."

According to women's U.S. Ski Team Alpine Head Coach Jim Tracy, Vonn did make up for lost time during the race, but it was not enough.

"Parts of the course she skied well, but she made a pretty substantial mistake in what we call the super G section and she got pushed pretty wide in the line in the soft snow," Tracy said. "That's like dragging an anchor behind you. She made it up at the bottom, but obviously not enough.

"Parts of it she skied really well, but I know this one mistake she wasn't really happy with it."

For now, Vonn is happy to have her standings as well as a shot at the super G Monday.

"I'm a little disappointed. I really wanted to win in Cortina. I've had good results here, but things don't always go your way," Vonn said. "I still got good points for the overall, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow and I'm really happy they're running the super G Monday."

Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) followed Vonn for the U.S., finishing 30th.

"It's bittersweet because Lindsey did do well, but with the rest of the women I was not happy at all. We've got to step up and we've got to do better than that," Tracy said.

The race was the kick off to a weekend of racing in Cortina and now, Tracy says, they must focus on the tasks ahead,

"Today is done. She was second, that's better than third, and a podium is always a podium," Tracy said. "We get ready for tomorrow's GS and then we have a super G on Monday."

The women now move into a giant slalom on Sunday followed by a super G on Monday. Heavy snow earlier in the week forced many schedule changes, including an already rescheduled downhill being canceled.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 AUDI FIS WORLD CUP
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy - Jan. 24, 2009
Downhill

1. Dominique Gisin, Switzerland, 1:16.98
2. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:17.13
3. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:17.15
4. Tina Maze, Slovenia, 1:17.26
5. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1:17.29
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30. Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA, 1:18.40
34. Stacey Cook, Mammoth, CA, 1:18.64
39. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:19.26
43. Caroline Lalive, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1:19.66
52. Keely Kelleher, Big Sky, MT, 1:20.13
53. Kaylin Richardson, Edina, MN, 1:20.16
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DNF: Leanne Smith (Conway, NH)
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For complete results click here.