Skiing: Hoefl-Riesch shades Vonn

The World Cup-holder Maria Hoefl-Riesch took her first victory of the season in a super-combined at St Moritz yesterday, denying Lindsey Vonn a 50th career win.

The Olympic champion was second-fastest in the morning Super-G section, behind Vonn, the World Cup leader, and beat the American by 0.03 seconds after the slalom with a combined winning time of two minutes and 8.41 seconds.

"I'm really glad. Victory is even sweeter when you have been waiting for it. It's been a tough time for me. I've been criticised, questioned," Hoefl-Riesch said. "But since I took a break in Bad Kleinkirchheim, things have been improving."