Sawt Falasteen - Pirovano overtakes Vonn after 'crazy' World Cup downhill double

As on Friday, the 28‑year‑old Pirovano edged her nearest rival by just 0.01 seconds -- this time Austria's Cornelia Huetter -- while Switzerland's Corinne Suter finished third, 0.05sec behind.

"Today I couldn't believe it, even more than yesterday," said Pirovano. "I didn't feel as good as I did yesterday, halfway down. I felt so tired because yesterday took so much out of me, a lot of emotions."

Pirovano, who had until this week never finished on a World Cup podium, moved into first place in the World Cup downhill standings, a spot previously held by American Lindsey Vonn, who was seriously injured in a crash at last month's Winter Olympics.

"My thoughts are really confused right now. Unbelievable is the right word for today and yesterday, to win two races, as first podiums, and (by) one hundredth (of a second), that is crazy," said Pirovano.

"I tried not to hold back. And when I saw the green light, and again with one hundredth, it was incredible. We talked about all the bad luck I've had over the years, and now with these two races I think it's pretty much evened itself out.

"I am done with luck. It paid back. There is two kilometres of snow and so many turns, it's a crazy sport."

Ahead of the final downhill of the season, at the end of March in Norway, Pirovano leads with 436 points. Germany's Emma Aicher -- 12th on the day, 1.06 seconds off the pace -- moved above Vonn but is 28 points behind Pirovano in the race for the crystal globe.

Aicher missed an opportunity to put pressure on American Mikaela Shiffrin, the overall World Cup leader who does not compete in downhills.

"I made some stupid mistakes, but it's not finished. There are still a lot of races," said Eicher.

Shiffrin still has a lead of more than 100 points going into the super-G that will close out the Val di Fassa stop on Sunday, a race she may take part in.

A.Suleiman--SF-PST