Lara Gut capitalised on Lindsey Vonn's crash by winning in Val d'Isere

Lara Gut: Victory on a hill where she has done well in the past

Lara Gut of Switzerland won a World Cup downhill race in Val d'Isere on Friday after Lindsey Vonn crashed out.

Vonn had won all four of the speed races in the new season but was unable to make it five on a hill she has made her own.

It was Gut, who descended second, who ended top of the podium after completing the course in one minute 19.75 seconds, edging out American Leanne Smith by 0.16secs.

Gut's team-mate Nadja Kamer came home third, while Americans filled four of the top-10 positions despite Vonn's spill.

"It's my first victory in downhill and it's a pleasure. I'd been second in Val d'Isere before," Gut said.

"It feels good, and I feel like I've been skiing well since the start of the season. I already thought in St. Moritz [last weekend] that a podium was coming."

Vonn has won three downhills and two super-combined races at the French resort as well as winning two gold medals at the 2009 Wiorld Championships there.

Gut climbed to fifth in the overall standings behind current leader Tina Maze, who was unable to capitalise on Vonn's mishap by finishing 12th, while another big rival Maria Hoefl-Riesch was one place behind.