Comeback queen Lindsey Vonn produced a fine sixth on her World Cup downhill return as Italian veteran Federica Brignone continued her superb season at St Anton on Saturday.
With 40-year-old Vonn continuing her return after a near six-year retirement, and evergreen Brignone stealing the show there was a real retro feel in the air at the famed Austrian ski resort.
Vonn, 0.58sec behind after starting 32nd of the 51 starters, raised her arms as if she had won after her exhilarating effort on her first downhill since her comeback to the elite circuit at St Moritz last month.
"It was fun. I love being back in the start. I feel a little bit more confident and comfortable in downhill than I do in Super G," the most successful women's downhill skier of all time with 43 wins told Eurosport.
"I still made a couple of mistakes - I know I can be faster - but I think for the first downhill race in six years, it was a pretty good start," added Vonn, whose last top level downhill was at the 2019 world championships in Are, Sweden - where she took bronze.
Vonn revealed that it had been "hard to focus" with her thoughts on those suffering from the raging Los Angeles wildfires.
"My home was in the evacuation zone and even just the thought of losing it was emotional. I can only imagine what it must feel like for the people who lost everything," she wrote 24 hours before the downhill.
She continued: "It's another example to appreciate what you have. No matter how bad your day is, someone always has it worse. I am beyond grateful to be here and I will do my best to make it mean something! Sending my love and prayers to everyone in LA, this one is for you!"
The American ski star was at one stage on target to land a hugely popular podium, only to lose a bit of momentum towards the end of the slope in the heart of the Austrian ski resort.
One of the all-time biggest names in the sport has made her return after a partial knee replacement.
She came in a hugely respectable 14th in the super-G at St Moritz and with this eye-catching sixth place she looks bang on target to achieve her dream of qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics at Milan-Cortina in Italy. AFP
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