COURCHEVEL, France (AP) — Finnish skier Tanja Poutiainen set the fastest time in the opening slalom run at Courchevel on Tuesday, while World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn and her rival Maria Riesch both crashed out on the highly technical course.
Vonn, who won the downhill and super combined last weekend in imperious style at Val d’Isere, hooked the tip of her ski around a gate having safely negotiated the trickier top section.
Poutiainen had no such trouble and remains on course for her third straight slalom podium this season after taking third at Aspen and on her home snow at Levi. She clocked 48.27 seconds.
Marlies Schild of Austria, who won at Levi, was .11 behind Poutiainen in second place.
French slalom champion Nastasia Noens was third and starts the second run .37 back.
