St Moritz, Switzerland - Tina Maze of Slovenia caused a World Cup upset to win the women's alpine ski downhill in St Moritz Saturday. Maze, one of the last five starters, took advantage of changing conditions to beat Maria Holaus of Austria who had already looked assured of victory.

Tina Maze, of Slovenia, speeds down the course on her way to winning an alpine skiing, women's World Cup Downhill race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Keystone, Alessandro Della Bella)

Maze posted 1 minute 44.38 seconds to knock 0.34 seconds off the time set by Holaus who had been celebrating what would have been her second career World Cup win following a super-g two weeks ago.

It was a sixth career World Cup win for Maze, but her first in the downhill. All her previous victories were in the giant slalom with the last coming in October 2005.

Tina Maze, of Slovenia, celebrates in the finish area after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup Downhill race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

All the favourites had long finished when outsider Maze - the 47th of 51 starters - upset the podium and spoiled the best-ever downhill result by Holaus.

Not long before Maze, 16-year-old Swiss novice Lara Gut had shown that conditions were becoming more favourable by finishing third, just one-hundredth of a second behind Holaus.

The podium places had long looked secure until the flurry of late fast times turned the race on its head.

Gut would have been even faster but she crashed shortly before the finish and slid over the line to push Emily Brydon of Canada down to what eventually became fourth place.

Lara Gut, of Switzerland falls as she crosses the finish line of an alpine ski, women's World Cup Downhill race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Gut finished in third place. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

Lara Gut, of Switzerland, celebrates her third place after completing an alpine ski, women's World Cup Downhill race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

Brydon was 0.04 seconds behind Holaus, while downhill leader Lindsey Vonn of the United States rescued joint fifth place after a mistake almost sent her flying.

Vonn, who had built up a lead of more than one second before she momentarily lost control, finished 0.08 seconds behind, level with Elisabeth Goergl of Austria.

"That was like a rodeo ride," she said.

"I was very fast and the visibility was poor. I can't even say what happened there. I'm just really glad I didn't fall. If I hadn't made that mistake I probably would have won."

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup Downhill race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Vonn tied for the fifth place with Elisabeth Goergl of Austria. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Fifth place was enough to keep Vonn, who had won three of the previous five downhills this season, second in the overall standings behind Nicole Hosp of Austria, who eventually slipped to joint 14th.

Hosp has 917 points overall, with Vonn on 818 and Marlies Schild of Austria on 759.

In the downhill standings, Vonn moves to 475 points, with Renate Goetschl on 273 and Britt Janyk of Canada on 264.

It proved to be a disappointing day for the favourites. Anja Paerson of Sweden, who won a downhill in St Moritz in December, and Germany's Maria Riesch, both made mistakes which ended their runs.

Holaus, 24, starting from number eight, benefited from more favourable sunny conditions for the early starters before the upper part of the course was wrapped in a bank of fog.

Maria Holaus, of Austria, speeds down the course on her way to the second place, during an alpine ski, women's World Cup Downhill race, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

Changing conditions then began to benefit later skiers who all began posting fast times for the top part of the course, with Gut - start number 32 - almost claiming an upset victory.

Holaus was celebrating what looked to be her first downhill win only two weeks after her maiden World Cup success when she clinched the super giant slalom in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy on January 20.

She will now have the chance to make amends in a super-g in St Moritz on Sunday.

earthtimes.org
Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:13:02 GMT

Tina Maze, of Slovenia, center, winner of an alpine skiing, women's World Cup Downhill race, celebrates on the podium with second placed Maria Holaus, of Austria, left, and third placed Lara Gut, of Switzerland, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)