By USSA

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn of Vail produced a stunning, on-edge downhill run in Garmisch to win the historic 50th Audi FIS Alpine World Cup of her career on Saturday.

The victory, Vonn’s 25th in downhill, came after trailing at the first four race intervals and surviving a near crash on a bumpy side hill called the Ice Hang. It was Vonn’s ninth win this season and places her soundly in the World Cup overall lead by nearly 500 points.

Vonn trailed at the first three intervals and survived a near crash at the midway point.

Subzero temperatures of minus 13 degrees forced racers to tape their faces to avoid frostbite.

Stacey Cook of Mammoth was ninth, Laurenne Ross of Bend, Ore., 10th, Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley 13th.

The women’s U.S. Ski Team leads the nations standings for downhill by 433 points over Austria.

A super G is scheduled for Sunday to close the weekend in Garmisch.