SESTRIERES, Italy (AFP) - Lindsey Vonn of the United States took command of the women's World Cup from Austrian Nicole Hosp here Saturday after claiming her fourth downhill win of the season.
Vonn finished ahead of Kelly Vanderbeek of Canada and Nadia Fanchini of Italy on the "Kandahar Banchetta" run which hosted the men's events at the 2006 Turin Olympics in 1min 38.86sec.
On-form Vanderbeek was second at 0.62sec with Fanchini a further 0.15sec adrift.
Vonn, who previously raced under her maiden name of Kildow, consolidated her lead in the downhill standings and now leads Hosp by three points in the race for the prestigious overall title.
It was the 23-year-old American's 12th World Cup victory, her fifth of the season and ninth downhill victory of her career.
It meant she equalled Picabo Street's tally of nine downhill wins on the World Cup, but Vonn is hoping the coming years will allow her to aim even higher.
"I'm still young, so I've got time to beat other records," said Vonn who said she already has her eye on Tamara McKinney's US women's record of 18 World Cup wins.
"That would be great."
Vonn said she is now primed for what could be another dramatic finale to the World Cup season.
"Now, I can't wait to get skiing on the Olympic runs at Whistler (Canada) and another men's run at Bormio (Italy)."
Austrian all-rounder Hosp, who snatched the overall title from compatriot Marlies Schild last year, finished in 23rd place at 2.03 behind the American.
In the overall standings Vonn now has a total of 968 points, Hosp 965 with Germany's Maria Riesch on 821. Austrians Elisabeth Goergl and Schild are in fourth and fifth place respectively with 787 and 759.
Vanderbeek meanwhile was delighted with her second podium place of the season having claimed her maiden World Cup podium in the St Anton downhill four days before Christmas.
"I didn't have a great start to the season but I've been getting more confident since St Anton, where I got my first podium place - where I already finished behind Vonn!" said Vanderbeek, one of several up and coming Canadian women skiers.
"I'm really happy because myself, Emily (Brydon) and Britt (Janyk) have been getting a lot of good results and haven't been too far away from the podium."
Fanchini admitted her third place came as a surprise, having only recently returned to competition after doctors ruled her out because of heart problems.
