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Lindsay Vonn v Stuhec in Gut's shadow

Lindsey Vonn fractured the humerus in her right arm in November but has since made a remarkable return to the slopes, albeit with gripping problems in her hand

But Sunday's head-to-head ran aground after Gut was ruled out for the season after suffering a bad knee injury in training for the slalom section of Friday's alpine combined event.

Gut's injury was a cruel blow for the Swiss team, for whom the 25-year-old has become a standard bearer, especially in the women's speed events.

"Wishing @Laragut a speedy recovery. I feel your pain. Heal up," tweeted Vonn, the American herself coming back from a broken right humerus that has left her such limited grip in her hand that she has it bound by tape onto her pole.

Despite Gut's agony, there was some compensation for Switzerland in the shape of Wendy Holdener who led home a memorable Swiss 1-2 in Friday's combined.

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Vonn finished fifth in the combined and although she insisted she had "no regrets" about her day's racing, she lamented the fact organisers had shortened the opening downhill in a bid to beat changeable weather.

"Hopefully it'll be the full course on Sunday," said Vonn, adding that her combined downhill -- sixth best of the runners -- had not been perfect.

"I had a little bit too much air in the middle and I pushed a little bit wide before the traverse and lost some speed there for sure, got into the slower snow," the 32-year-old said.

"I'll be looking at the video but I know there's quite a bit of time to be had. I'll be ready for Sunday."

In the absence of Gut, Vonn's principal rival for gold could well be Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec, who leads the World Cup downhill standings and has won five races this season including three downhills and a super-G.

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Stuhec in Maze's boots

Stuhec, taking up the mantle from her now retired countrywoman Tina Maze -- 2015 world downhill champion and joint Olympic champion with the also-retired Swiss racer Dominique Gisin, has proved her form on the mountain by topping the two downhill training runs on the Engiadina course.

Stuhec, second after the combined downhill, made a dreadful error in the slalom, sliding out after just three gates, but vowing afterwards to "stay focused on the main event".

"Downhill trainings were definitely better concerning how I felt on the skis. I know what to work on for Sunday!" the 26-year-old said.

"And hopefully Sunday's downhill goes all the way from the top."

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Also in the running for a podium placing will be Italian Sofia Goggia, a remarkable nine-time World Cup podium finisher this season, surprise super-G gold medallist Nicole Schmidhofer of Austria and Liechtenstein's Tina Weirather, who has 11 downhill podium finishes on the World Cup circuit.

Joining Gut on the sidelines, however, will be Austria's Anna Veith who is making her comeback from a serious knee injury but has decided to step aside.

"Decision made: no downhill for me at these world champs," said Veith, who won the overall World Cup titles in 2014 and 2015 under her maiden name Fenniger.

"I just want to make sure that my teammates who have so much more downhill days than me can fight for the medals, as they are out of reach for me. Jumps are right now too much for my knee. I will concentrate on Thursday's giant slalom and go for training in the next few days."

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