Vonn earned 50 race points for her lowest downhill placing this season, while Riesch failed to score after finishing 17th. Riesch’s cautious run left her a surprising 3.19 seconds behind Mancuso.

The American now has 1,705 points to the German’s 1,678 with three races left this week. Vonn is looking for her fourth straight overall title and already had sealed the downhill discipline title.

“It’s tough when you have led the whole season and suddenly you get knocked off the top,” Riesch said.

The 26-year-old German slumped to the snow in the finish area, and was later shown on television sitting with her head in her hands in the equipment inspection hut.

Skiing several minutes later, Vonn also looked uncomfortable at times on the steep, twisting course. But she raised her right fist triumphantly after finishing when seeing she stood in third place.

Mancuso skied next and delivered an assured, aggressive run to clock 1 minute, 27.50 seconds. Her victory denied Vonn an extra 10 World Cup points.

Mancuso’s win was her first in the World Cup since a downhill at Tarvisio, Italy, in March 2007, and the fifth of her career.

The Olympic silver medalist in downhill had shown good recent form by finishing second behind Riesch in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in January.

Mancuso, who also took silver in super-G at the world championships last month, climbed to third in the final downhill standings, behind Vonn and Riesch who each won three races.

Lara Gut of Switzerland was 0.81 seconds back in second Wednesday and world champion Elisabeth Goergl was third, trailing Mancuso by 1.15.

Stacey Cook added to a strong US showing, finishing ninth in 1:29.75.