In a course made around 30 seconds shorter by the removal of 11 gates in the top section due to fog, the 29-year-old clocked a time of 1:09.59 to win by 0.15 seconds.

Canada's Larisa Yurkiw placed second for her first World Cup podium finish, with Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg third.

But while the two minor medallists benefited from a low bib number, as the visibility slightly deteriorated with more fog and even light snowfalls as the race went on, Fanchini thrived despite starting later, as she produced a virtually flawless performance. 

"Last night I watched the winning run of Isolde Kostner in 2001," she explained afterwards.

"She is the last Italian racer to have won one a downhill in Cortina and I tried to replicate her performance today.

"I am so happy it worked out.

"I have been through so many injuries in my career.

"My knees and my shoulders got hurt, but I am so passionate about the sport that it was impossible for me to even think to stop at any stage."

Elena Fanchini got the better of both the conditions and a strong field to take victory
©Getty Images



The race had been billed as an opportunity for United States superstar Lindsey Vonn to break Austria's Annemarie Moser-Pröll's all-time record of 62 World Cup victories.

But, despite being the fastest during the training run, an error-strewn performance meant she had to be content with 10th place in the end, 0.88 seconds adrift.

Vonn, Fanchini and all the rest of the field will get a second chance to thrive on the famous Italian course with another downhill World Cup event taking place tomorrow. 

Contact the writer of this story at nick.butler@insidethegames.biz


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