Weather Screwed Lindsey Vonn Out Of A Chance To Win Skiing's World Cup

When Lindsey Vonn woke up this morning in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, she trailed Germany's Maria Riesch by three points in skiing's overall World Cup title race. She had a chance to take the lead on the final day of the season's giant slalom event.

But then, warm temperatures, wet snow and fog brought about a "soft crust" which led race officials to cancel the event. "It's impossible to ski on such a soft crust. The situation is not suitable for a giant slalom race," race director Atle Skaardal said on the World Cup website.

Since World Cup rules mandate no rescheduling, Riesch won the title on the spot, thus ending Vonn's shot at a fourth consecutive title.

"Win or lose I just wanted the chance," said Vonn. "I feel devastated. ... The cancellation of this race doesn't just hurt me, it hurts the fans and the sport of ski racing as a whole.

"There may never be a day where I don't look back and say 'what if.'"

Riesch Takes Title by Three Over Vonn [US Ski Team]

Rieschs Freundin Lindsey Vonn ungeschminkt [TZ-online.de]