Montillet grabs third downhill win
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Montillet won twice on successive days last month
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CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, (Reuters) -- Olympic champion Carole Montillet won her third World Cup downhill of the season in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The Frenchwoman, who had two wins on consecutive days last month, skied down Cortina's Olimpia delle Tofane piste in one minute 16.27 seconds.
She beating overall World Cup leader Renate Goetschl of Austria by 0.23 seconds with 19-year-old American Lindsey Kildow third, just 0.01 seconds behind Goetschl.
Goetschl pulled away from Swede Anja Paerson in the overall cup standings. Paerson, a technical expert new to downhill racing, picked up 10 points by finishing 21st, 1.68 seconds behind Montillet.
Goetschl now leads with 869 points to Paerson's 798 and also took the lead in the downhill cup, just five points ahead of Gerg.
Montillet, 30, has enjoyed a good run in Cortina, finishing fifth and fourth in the two super-Gs on Wednesday and Friday and third in Saturday's downhill, held on a shortened course because of poor visibility.
"This morning at the start I said to myself: 'You have had a good week, you have got your confidence back'," she said.
"Yesterday's podium liberated me and I didn't feel any pressure. The visibility was better today so I was able to take risks. I am very happy; it was great skiing and everything just felt right."
Kildow, who had finished fifth on Saturday was busy calling friends and relatives on her cellphone within minutes of confirming her first podium finish.
"I can't believe it. I have been crying all the time. I couldn't imagine finishing on the podium. After finishing fifth on Saturday I knew I could be up there in the top five but obviously with a first podium the emotions are incredible. I won't forget this," she said.
There were rare celebrations in the British camp too when Chimene Alcott broke into the top 10 for the first time, finishing ninth, 0.95 seconds behind Montillet and one place ahead of former World Cup downhill champion Isolde Kostner of Italy.
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