CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Federica Brignone from Italy secured victory in the super-G race at Cortina on Sunday, marking her first World Cup win on this Italian slope and enhancing her lead in the overall standings. Lindsey Vonn startled the audience when she fell during the third sector but fortunately came away unscathed.

Vonn, a four-time World Cup champion with a total of 82 victories, had retired in 2019 following multiple injuries but announced her return in November.

At 40, she achieved her best result since returning last weekend, finishing fourth in a Super-G race in St Anton. However, during the event at Cortina, fans and fellow athletes held their breath as Vonn crashed after leaning into a curve.

She quickly regained her composure, but it was a disappointing turn of events as she had been on track for a strong finish, clocking the fourth-fastest time in the second sector after placing 20th in Saturday’s downhill event.

“I’m not feeling great. I know I can ski well and be quick,” Vonn shared with Italian broadcaster Rai Sport.

“My expectations for this weekend were higher.”

Brignone’s 31st World Cup victory seemed assured, as she, the seventh skier to leave the gate, finished with a time of one minute 21.64 seconds. She joyfully celebrated at the end, despite many competitors still to tackle the course.

“Today I really went for it; I felt speedy. There was a moment when I felt a bit off, but I maintained a good feeling and knew I had raced well,” Brignone stated.

“Let’s hope this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.”

The time had indeed come for the 34-year-old to shine at Cortina, with Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami finishing 0.58 seconds after in second place, followed by fellow Swiss skier Corinne Suter in third on the Olympia delle Tofane course.

Brignone has been performing exceptionally well this season. After achieving her first podium finish at Cortina on Saturday with a third-place finish in the downhill, she took the lead in the overall standings.

Now, Brignone ranks second in the super-G standings, trailing only Gut-Behrami, renewing their rivalry from last season, where Gut-Behrami clinched the overall title along with the super-G and giant slalom globes, with Brignone as runner-up in each.