Women's World Cup downhill canceled in Bulgaria

BANSKO, Bulgaria (AP) -- A women's World Cup downhill was canceled because of strong wind and won't be rescheduled.

The decision to scrub the last women's downhill of the season was made after the original start time was postponed three times with wind gusting up to 80 mph. That means the current top 25 in the standings will compete in the World Cup finals next month in Schladming, Austria.

Lindsey Vonn leads the downhill standings, followed by Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria.

American team head coach Axel Hoedlmoser said the decision to cancel the race was justified.

"Sometime gusts came from behind, sometime there was headwind, so it for sure wouldn't be fair and not safe either," he said.

In both training sessions on Thursday and Friday, Hoefl-Riesch led the overall World Cup leader Vonn.

The super-G is scheduled Sunday, when less wind is expected.

After five races and two more to go, Vonn leads the super-G standings with 313 points. Anna Fenninger of Austria is in second place, 10 points behind. Julia Mancuso of the United States is third with 269 points.

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