"Downhill is a great event and I was aiming for my first win this season, Meissnitzer said from the finish, "I’m very excited to have done so well here. I’m having a great time so far this season. But I’m looking forward to get some rest during the Christmas break. I have been quite busy so far and I will need to take some energy before the next race in Austria before New Year."

Germany’s Hilde Gerg, the winner of the first downhill here on Friday, could not repeat her streak and lost by almost a second to Meissnizter, placing 6th behind Switzerland’s Corinne Rey-Bellet, who reached her first top-10 in a downhill after crashing on Friday's course.

Sweden’s Pernilla Wiberg, 2nd on Friday, missed a gate mid-course after clocking a very fast intermediate time — a terrible mistake which will cost her precious World Cup points. Wiberg was the favorite for the combined event between this race and Sunday’s slalom.

Italy’s Bibiana Perez, 3rd yesterday, only managed 8th place this time behind Canada’s Melanie Turgeon. Martina Ertl, of Germany, didn’t break the top-10, but she is now in "pole-position" to win this first combined and gain ground on Meissnitzer in the overall World Cup. However, Austrian ace Meissnitzer, who is dominating this season with wins in giant slalom, super-G and now in downhill, will be difficult to beat if she can keep her rhythm going.

Similar to Gerg the day before, Meissnitzer didn’t try to ski to her limits on the treacherous "Bear Run" course which demands power and technical skills from the athletes.

"I went again for a rather cautious run today because you can lose much time with a mistake in one of these long and demanding turns," Meissnitzer explained. "It was also windy up there, but I don’t think it was a problem for me."

Though no French skier has won a major downhill since the success of Caroline Attia in Sansicario, Italy in 1982, Regine Cavagnoud proved today that she has the guts and the talent to close this long gap this winter. After grabbing third place last week in the super-G in Val d’Isère, the 28-year-old racer from La Clusaz was very close to her first World Cup success here in Veysonnaz.

"I’m improving my form after each race," said Cavagnoud. "I was second here in 1993, so I was very motivated. I was maybe too hard on my skis, but I know that I can do better than 5th. It’s great to be so consistent now in three specialties."

A slalom is planned on Sunday on the final section of the downhill course. On the icy track, it will be difficult to beat Slovenia’s Urska Hrovat and Austria’s Sabine Egger. Hilde Gerg and Martina Ertl will also fight for success in the combined races.

—Mountain Zone European Correspondent