Vonn stays perfect with fifth straight podium while Delago triumphs on home snow in Tarvisio

Lindsey Vonn continued her remarkable resurgence on the Alpine World Cup circuit as she claimed her fifth podium finish in as many downhill races, while Italy’s Nicol Delago celebrated a career-defining first World Cup victory on home snow in Tarvisio.

The women’s downhill returned to Tarvisio for the first time in 15 years, and the long-awaited comeback was staged in challenging conditions. Thick fog blanketed sections of the Di Prampero course, particularly through the middle sector, creating a demanding test for the world’s best speed skiers. Despite the visibility issues, Delago mastered the conditions to deliver the performance of her life.

Starting with bib number three, the 30-year-old Italian stopped the clock at one minute 46.28 seconds to secure her maiden World Cup win. The triumph marked her first podium appearance since finishing third in Saalbach in March 2024 and capped an emotional day in front of her home supporters.

Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann came closest to denying Delago, finishing second after starting sixth out of the gate. She crossed the line just 0.20 seconds adrift, unable to match the Italian’s smooth and confident run through the fog-shrouded sections of the piste.

Vonn, racing with bib 11, once again demonstrated her consistency and resilience. The American legend powered into third place, finishing a further 0.06 seconds behind Weidle-Winkelmann. Despite a visible mistake midway down the course, Vonn recovered brilliantly to maintain her perfect podium record in downhill races this season.

The race also carried special meaning for the Delago family. Nicol’s younger sister, Nadia Delago, who won Olympic downhill bronze at the Beijing Games in 2022, finished in 10th place. The sisters shared an emotional embrace at the finish line, a moment that highlighted the significance of Nicol’s breakthrough victory.

“I was extremely nervous this morning,” Nicol Delago admitted after the race. “I couldn’t wait to get to the start because I really love this slope. It suits my skiing, and I felt comfortable from the moment I pushed out of the gate.” Her confidence was well-founded, having also posted the fastest time during Friday’s training run.

For Vonn, the result further underlined her astonishing form at the age of 41 as she prepares for a potential Olympic comeback at next month’s Milano Cortina Winter Games. With her podium finish in Tarvisio, Vonn extended her lead in the downhill standings to 144 points ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher.

Across the five downhill races contested so far this season, Vonn has delivered two victories, one second-place finish, and two third-place results. In contrast, Delago’s win represented just the sixth World Cup podium of her entire career, making Saturday’s success all the more special.

Although Tarvisio holds history for Vonn—she claimed a World Cup super-G win at the venue back in 2011—the American admitted she had little recollection of the course itself.

“People kept telling me it would be a big advantage because I was the only one who had raced here before,” Vonn said. “But honestly, I don’t remember the mountain at all. What I do remember are the fans and the atmosphere, and that was still amazing today.”

Vonn also reflected on the difficulty of the conditions, particularly the soft snow and poor visibility. “It was really hard to see in the middle section, and I made a pretty big mistake,” she explained. “But I’m happy to be back on the podium. For me, consistency is the most important thing, and I’m proud I was able to deliver that even in these conditions.”

The women’s speed calendar now moves on quickly, with one final downhill scheduled for January 30 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. That race will serve as the final downhill test before athletes turn their focus toward the Olympic competitions in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Tarvisio will remain in the spotlight for one more day, however, as the resort is also set to host a women’s super-G on Sunday, offering another opportunity for the sport’s elite to shine on Italian snow.