Aubert wins World Cup slalom; Vonn doesn't finish

Aubert wins World Cup slalom; Vonn doesn't finish

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom race, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010.

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) -- Sandrine Aubert of France won a women's World Cup slalom on Sunday for her second win of the season, and Lindsey Vonn lost her lead in the overall standings after failing to finish.

Aubert posted the fastest second run on the Crveni Spust course to finish in an aggregate of 2 minutes, 0.36 seconds and record her fourth career victory.

Vonn, still hampered by a bruised left arm, was 1.71 seconds back after the opening run. That forced her to attack and she missed the 15th gate on her second run.

"In the first run, my hand hurt. In the second run, I went full risk and maybe tried too hard," said Vonn, the two-time defending overall champion.

Maria Riesch of Germany finished fourth to take the lead in the standings with 599 points. Vonn has 594 and Kathrin Zettel of Austria has 569.

Zettel finished second, 0.43 seconds behind Aubert after having the fastest first run.

"I am not disappointed. The podium was my goal," Zettel said. "Leading after the first run was a surprise to me. I've got to learn to cope with such a situation."

Riesch's sister, Susanne, finished third, 0.74 behind Aubert.

Aubert, who was fourth after the first leg, tops the discipline standings after also winning last month in Are, Sweden.

"I love to come back from behind and put pressure on the leaders," she said. "But in slalom, you always need some luck as well, and I had it today."

Marlies Schild, who was second going into the final run, fell shortly before the finish as she tried to make up lost time from the steep part of the course.

"I am obviously disappointed not to finish," said Schild, returning this season after breaking a leg in October 2008. "On the other hand, I couldn't ski the whole past season and that was harder to take."

Anna Goodman of Canada crashed at the next to last gate in her first run, slid off-course and was treated for an apparent right knee injury.

The women's World Cup circuit continues next week with two downhills and a super-G in Haus im Ennstal, Austria.