CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (Reuters) - Leading U.S. skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn withdrew from a women's World Cup Alpine combined event on Friday because of safety fears about poor course conditions in Crans-Montana. Fog and soft course conditions delayed the beginning of the first-run super-G and, after the first three racers skied out near the top, organisers decided to lower the start and rerun the race from the beginning. The Americans, however, decided that World Cup leader Shiffrin, four-times overall champion Vonn and team mate Laurenne Ross would not race. Despite not starting, Shiffrin maintained her overall World Cup lead as the season-long competition resumed after the world championships break. Italy’s Federica Brignone won the race for her fourth career World Cup victory.

Source: The Star February 24, 2017 19:18 UTC