Andrea Fischbacher and Fabienne Suter were the joint surprise winners in an incident-ridden women's super G in Sestriere.

The pair recorded their first World Cup victories with times of 1:21.06 in a race interrupted by several crashes.

Germany's Maria Riesch, winner of the super G in Cortina d'Ampezzo last month and the leader in the discipline's standings, was third, 0.24s behind.

The most serious crash of the day involved Maria Holaus, who lost her balance halfway down. The Austrian, who won the first Cortina super G the day before Riesch, was taken to hospital in Turin with concussion.

Canadian Emily Brydon, winner of last weekend's super G in St Moritz, also crashed near the finish.

Swiss teenager Lara Gut, who had her first World Cup podium place in the St Moritz downhill, fell on her back after a couple of gates while the most spectacular accident involved her team mate Fraenzi Aufdenblatten, who was unhurt.

While Fischbacher, 22, had looked bound to win a super G one day having been junior world champion in 2004 and 2005, Suter's performance was far more astonishing.

The 23-year-old Swiss, though a consistent top-15 finisher, had never made it on to a podium before. Both women have been hampered by injuries.

"I always kept motivated by telling myself that patience pays off," Fischbacher said.

"I admit that we were lucky to start early when the course was faster - but I seized my chance."

Fischbacher's older team mates Alexandra Meissnitzer, Renate Goetschl and Elisabeth Goergl had to be content with places four to six.

American Lindsey Vonn, winner of Saturday's downhill, was a distant 16th and finished behind Austria's Nicole Hosp, her main rival for the overall World Cup title.

The result allowed Hosp to move into joint first place with Vonn, better known before her marriage as Lindsey Kildow, in the overall standings.

"I can't understand what happened today," Vonn reflected. "I had the feeling I was skiing great and this is my worst result this season."

Vonn will now go home for a break before the next speed event on Whistler Mountain, British Columbia, on February 22.

The next women's World Cup race is a slalom in Zagreb on Friday.

Results:

1. Fabienne Suter (Switzerland) 1:21.06 seconds

1. Andrea Fischbacher (Austria) 1:21.06

3. Maria Riesch (Germany) 1:21.30

4. Alexandra Meissnitzer (Austria) 1:21.44

5. Renate Goetschl (Austria) 1:21.53

6. Elisabeth Goergl (Austria) 1:21.58

7. Nadia Styger (Switzerland) 1:21.65

8. Julia Mancuso (U.S.) 1:21.90

9. Anja Paerson (Sweden) 1:21.96

10. Christine Sponring (Austria) 1:21.97

11. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby (Sweden) 1:22.02

12. Britt Janyk (Canada) 1:22.08

13. Martina Schild (Switzerland) 1:22.10

14. Nicole Hosp (Austria) 1:22.15

15. Tina Maze (Slovenia) 1:22.19

16. Lindsey Vonn (U.S.) 1:22.44

Reuters