Will Maria Riesch win the 2011 World Cup?
The battle for the women’s overall World Cup is becoming ever more exciting as the season draws to a close. American Lindsey Vonn made up ground on Maria Riesch of Garmisch, who leads the overall standings, at the World Cup in Tarvisio. As a result, the German athlete’s lead has shrunk considerably.
With the season nearly over, Lindsey Vonn—both friend and rival of Maria Riesch—is increasingly hot on the heels of the likeable Upper Bavarian. Just six races remain in the Alpine Ski World Cup. In Tarvisio, Italy, the once seemingly huge lead of the two-time 2010 Olympic champion over her rival narrowed. Before the World Cup in Tarvisio, Riesch had a 196-point lead; now she has just 96 more points than Vonn.
Will Maria Riesch win the 2011 World Cup?
Date: 30/09/2026
At last weekend’s World Cup in Tarvisio, Maria Riesch placed third, sixth and third in the Super-G, super-combined and downhill events. Riesch is now pinning her hopes on the remaining competitions: She believes she has an excellent chance of winning the women’s Alpine Ski World Cup, with two speed events and four technical events still to come. But Riesch will need to watch out for her competitor and friend Vonn, as the American is hitting peak form just in time for the 2011 World Cup final.
With two second-place finishes and a win last weekend, Lindsey Vonn made significant gains in the overall Ski World Cup standings and claimed the discipline titles in the super-combined, Super-G and downhill events. Vonn, the defending overall World Cup champion, has a chance of winning the overall title again in 2011, especially if Maria Riesch makes any serious mistakes in the final races.
That nearly happened in Tarvisio: Riesch came close to crashing in the Super-G in Italy. This year’s women’s Alpine Ski World Cup is set for an exciting finale. Vonn and Riesch have no ski holiday ahead of them, but rather a tough competition. Anyone spending their ski vacation at one of the venues for the final races should take the opportunity to attend: they may be able to witness live, as a spectator on their ski vacation, one of the most exciting overall World Cup finals of all time.
Christian Bathen
