ALPINE:

Germany bests Italy to win alpine team event

March 20, 2011

LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland — World Cup women’s overall champion Maria Riesch helped Germany win the alpine skiing season-ending team event on Sunday. Canada finished fifth.

Germany defeated Italy 3-1 in the final as teams of two men and two women raced head-to-head on parallel giant slalom courses.

Riesch defeated Denis Karbon in their heat, ending the international season victorious one day after winning her first overall title.The 26-year-old German held her points lead over American rival Lindsey Vonn, the three-time defending champion, when the final giant slalom race was canceled due to poor snow conditions.

The United States did not enter the team event.

The IOC is considering whether to add the competition to the 2014 Sochi Winter Games program.

— The Canadian Press contributed to this report