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Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria • Racing for the first time in 322 days, Lindsey Vonn had to settle for 13th place Sunday in an unusual women's World Cup downhill with an unexpected winner, Christine Scheyer of Austria.

Not being able to push out of the start gate as usual, the American was more than half a second off the lead at the first split and finished 1.54 behind the Austrian.

"I have a little start routine with my poles and I couldn't really do that with my right hand," Vonn said. "I also kind of lost grip on my pole after the last jump."

The four-time overall champion, who holds the women's record of 76 victories, has been out with a knee injury and a broken arm since February last year. The fracture in her right upper arm also damaged nerves, which was still limiting mobility of her hand.

After heavy snowfall had canceled the program for the past three days, the mandatory training session had to be held just hours before the race. While the course was in good shape Sunday, moving clouds caused changing light conditions.

In only her fourth World Cup downhill start, Scheyer beat Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein by 0.39 seconds. Jacqueline Wiles of the United States was 0.54 behind in third for her first career podium.

A late starter with bib No. 26, Wiles beat Lara Gut by 0.01 to bump the Swiss overall champion, who was sitting in third, off the podium.

Wiles took some time off to recharge after a disappointing start to the season. Apart from her 10th place in a super-G in Lake Louise in December, she failed to finish in the top 20 of any race.

"To come down in third is a dream come true," Wiles said. "I really needed this and it couldn't have come at a better time."

Men's slalom

In Wengen, Switzerland, Henrik Kristoffersen's hot streak in World Cup slalom extended to his fourth win of the season, and Marcel Hirscher was runner-up yet again. Defending a first-run lead, Kristoffersen dropped behind Hirscher at the last time check but the Norwegian raced through the final gates for a 0.15-second winning margin. Felix Neureuther of Germany was 0.63 back in third.

Robby Kelley was the top U.S. skier, finishing in 25th place. —

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