American wins women's downhill ski race

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BORMIO, Italy, March 12 (UPI) -- American Lindsey Vonn was declared the winner of the women's downhill at the World Cup finals in Italy Wednesday despite a weather-related cancellation.

The cancellation of Wednesday's scheduled race in Bormio came after officials waited two hours while hoping for better weather conditions.

Officials said soft snow would have made skiing potentially unsafe.

It does not change the overall World Cup points race, but tightens the title race between Vonn, Germany's Maria Riesch and Austrian Nicole Hosp.

Vonn, who was favored to extend her overall lead during the downhill final, holds a 157-point lead over Riesch, and is 178 points ahead of Hosp with 100 points at stake in each of three remaining races.

During World Cup Finals, all races must be held on the same day on which they are scheduled.