Kranjska Gora, Slovenia – Vail, Colo.’s Lindsey Vonn missed the Kranjska Gora giant slalom podium by three hundredths of a second to finish fourth on Saturday, yet boosted her Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall lead to 296 over local ski racer Tina Maze, who finished behind Vonn in fifth.

Vonn, the Olympic downhill champion, slipped a few gates before the finish and dropped both hands in the snow, but made a quick recovery to stay on an icy course conquered by Tessa Worley of France after first run leader Elisabeth Goergl went out in the second run.

Saturday’s race was moved from Maribor, Slovenia two weeks ago due to a lack of snow. Squaw Valley, Calif.’s Julia Mancuso finished 19th. Her U.S. teammates Resi Stiegler and Megan McJames did not qualify for the final.

“Everybody had mistakes today, it was a really tough course. It was icy and bumpy and hard to stay with it,” said U.S. Ski Team women’s coach Alex Hoedlmoser. “Lindsey  (Vonn) had an OK first run, but she was really charging in the second run. We thought she was going to take the lead, but then she slipped a few gates from the finish and actually had to put both hands on the snow to save it. Without that, she might have been in it for another GS win. Still, she took some great points today and is consistently showing that she can challenge for the top of the podium in GS.

“Julia (Mancuso) was fighting pretty hard today, but was having trouble releasing her ski. It was almost like her edges were too sharp and they kept locking up on the ice,” Hoedlmoser added.

Marie-Michele Gagnon, the only Canadian to qualify for Saturday’s final, finished in 22nd place.

Following Saturday’s results Vonn, who won the season opening GS in Soelden, Austria, was sitting in third in the World Cup giant slalom standings.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia – Jan. 21, 2012
Women’s Giant Slalom