Vonn crashes as Brignone wins Cortina World Cup super-G

Federica Brignone won the super-G at Cortina d'Ampezzo on Sunday

Federica Brignone won the women's super-G at Cortina d'Ampezzo on Sunday to extend her overall World Cup lead, as comeback queen Lindsey Vonn crashed out.

Veteran Brignone, already the oldest woman to win a World Cup race at the age of 34, claimed the honours with a time of one minute and 21.64 seconds, 0.58sec ahead of reigning overall and discipline champion Lara Gut-Behrami.

Vonn, making her first appearance since crashing heavily in downhill training at Garmisch-Partenkirchen on February 1, went out early but lost control on a left-hand turn and slid off the course.

The 39-year-old American, who announced her retirement at the end of the season, was able to get back on her skis and reach the finish area unaided.

Vonn's crash came a day after she had finished a distant 21st in the downhill at Cortina.

"I'm a little disappointed with my performance today, but I'm happy to be back racing and I'm feeling good," Vonn said after Saturday's race.

"I made a mistake at the top of the course and I lost a lot of time there. I tried to make it up at the bottom, but I just couldn't find the speed."

Vonn's best result in a super-G this season was fifth in St Moritz in December.

Brignone's victory was her second in a super-G this season and the 21st of her career, moving her up to third on the all-time list behind Vonn (23) and Gut-Behrami (22).

It was also Brignone's fourth podium in five races at Cortina, having won the giant slalom in 2019 and finished second in the downhill and super-G the following year.

"I'm really happy with this victory, especially after yesterday's downhill," said Brignone.

"I made a few mistakes at the top of the course, but I managed to recover and I'm really pleased with my performance overall."

Brignone now has a total of 725 points in the overall World Cup standings, 220 clear of Gut-Behrami.

Vonn is down in 28th place with 140 points.