Lienz, Austria –Vail, Colo.’s Lindsey Vonn battled the long and rugged Audi FIS Alpine World Cup giant slalom in Lienz for fifth on Wednesday to pad her World Cup overall lead and hold fourth place in the GS standings.

Austrian Anna Fenninger, 22, won the race for the first World Cup victory of her young career with Italian Federica Brignone in second and Tessa Worley of France third.

Minimal snow made for slick and bumpy conditions on one of the longest GS venues on the women’s circuit.

“I was a bit nervous because it was the first time ever I started No. 1. Especially in GS, it’s only the third race that I am in the top seven, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Vonn. “The course is awesome, the snow is perfect, they’ve done a really good job. It’s not easy. You see there is no snow in the area, but they made the race hill perfect.”

Fellow American Julia Mancuso was 17th and Sarah Schleper 23rd. Schleper announced her retirement at Thursday’s slalom in Lienz.

Canada’s women’s team was forced to regroup after Wednesday’s race in which racers Marie-Michèle Gagnon and Marie-Pier Préfontaine both missed out on qualifying for the second run. Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, and Préfontaine, of Saint Sauveur, Quebec, finished 32^nd and 34^th, respectively – just out of the top 30 qualification spots.

“It’s a disappointing day but we’re not established at the top in giant slalom,” said Hugues Ansermoz, head coach of Canada’s women’s team.

Madison Irwin, of Toronto, Ontario, was 56^th after the first run in what was only her third start on the World Cup tour.

“She fell in training and didn’t start with a lot of confidence,” said Ansermoz. “She’s here to learn.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Lienz, Austria – Dec. 28, 2011
Women’s Giant Slalom