Tina Maze out to extend alpine World Cup lead

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO (Italy) (AFP) –

Slovenia’s Tina Maze, pictured during a training session for the women’s downhill World Cup, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, on January 18, 2013. Maze has not ruled out a sensational double in the downhill and super-G this weekend as she looks to continue her spectacular alpine season.

Slovenia’s Tina Maze has not ruled out a sensational double in the women’s downhill and super-G this weekend as she looks to continue her spectacular alpine season.

Maze, who boasts a huge points tally of 1334 at the midway point of the season, won her first ever World Cup super-G last week to become only the sixth woman to win races in all five alpine disciplines.

Already virtually assured her maiden World Cup overall title, the 29-year-old has also been tipped by retired Austrian great Hermann Maier to add another prestigious line to her season’s achievements.

Maier remains the only skier to achieve 2000 points in a single season — in 1999-2000 — and Maze, who holds a 590-point lead on second-placed German Maria Riesch-Hoefl, is not shying away from becoming the second skier to do so.

“I think everything’s possible if you let your body and your mind run free and not get too preoccupied about reaching the 2000 points,” the Slovenian said on Thursday.

Italy’s Daniela Merighetti, pictured during a training session for the women’s downhill World Cup, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, on January 18, 2013.

A former specialist in the technical events of the slalom and giant slalom, Maze has gradually improved her skills in the glaringly different speed events of the downhill and super-G.

She has only one downhill win to her name, from Saint Moritz in 2008, and on paper might trail American speed queen Lindsey Vonn in the list of favourites for Saturday’s downhill on the Olimpia della Tofane course in the spectacular Dolomites.

Vonn, the only active skier with more than 50 World Cup victories, with 57, holds a stunning 28 victories in the women’s blue riband event.

But with Maze placing an impressive fourth in the downhill here last year, and amid the best season of her life, she has not ruled out a second career downhill win which, in turn, would take her confidence sky high ahead of Sunday’s super-G.

“I came fourth here last year and I’ve improved a lot,” added the Slovenian.

“The speed events used to be my weak point but for the past two years I’ve been doing a lot of work in the summer to prepare better for these events.

Lindsey Vonn of the US, pictured during a training session for the women’s downhill World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo, on January 18, 2013.

“I’ve seen myself hit well over 100 km/h sometimes and that was really scary. Now, I don’t feel so afraid of going fast. I’m really confident. No stress, it’s better to be like that at the start gate than the opposite.”

Having finished third in the super-G here last year, and one second ahead of Vonn on her way to a maiden super-G win in Sankt Anton, Austria, last week, Maze will also be among the favourites on Sunday.

But in both races she won’t be given any favours. Conditions are expected to be perfect for both days of racing and Vonn, second in the downhill last year, will be out for her first win in the event since Lake Louise in early December.

Also in contention will be compatriot Alice McKennis, winner of the Sankt Anton downhill last week, and Italian runner-up Daniela Merighetti of Italy.

After this weekend’s races the women’s World Cup moves to Maribor, where Maze says she will be assured a welcome worthy of a champion.

“It will be crazy there, the people will be so excited,” she said. “I’m so happy it snowed there already, and I hope the temperatures stay good.”

Maze underlined her victory ambitions on Saturday by finishing second in the sole training session for the event.

In perfect race conditions, Merighetti, the winner last year, topped the times in 1min 40.03sec with Maze only 0.22 off the pace in 1:40.25.

Vonn was third in 1:40.63 ahead of compatriot Julia Mancuso in fourth (1:40.91).