A glance at the women's downhill race Friday at world champs

Published Feb. 5, 2015 11:09 a.m. ET

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The women's downhill race Friday.

2013 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOWNHILL MEDALISTS

Gold, Marion Rolland, France; Silver, Nadia Fanchini, Italy; Bronze, Maria Hoefl-Riesch, Germany.

THE FAVORITES

Lindsey Vonn of the U.S.: This is her backyard and she is leading the World Cup standings in the discipline. She finished with the bronze in a windy super-G race Tuesday.

Anna Fenninger of Austria: Fenninger stole the spotlight by winning the super-G. Looking to sweep speed events at worlds like teammate Elisabeth Goergl did at 2011 worlds in Germany.

Tina Maze of Slovenia: Finished second in the super-G. Maze tied with Dominique Gisin of Switzerland for the downhill gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Games.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT

Lara Gut of Switzerland: Won the downhill in a World Cup race at this venue in 2013. She can become the first Swiss female skier to capture the world downhill title since Maria Walliser in 1989.

Julia Mancuso of the U.S.: She always steps up her game at big races. Has five podium finishes at worlds to go with her four Olympic medals.

QUOTABLE

''I'm the hunter. I'm not the favorite. For sure, Lindsey and Anna.'' Cornelia Huetter of Austria.

FACTS & FIGURES

Rolland won't get a chance to defend her downhill crown at worlds after tearing the ACL in her right knee in a crash during a super-G in mid-January. ... Vonn has a gold (2009) and two silver medals (2007, 2011) at worlds in the downhill. ... Vonn didn't race in the downhill at 2013 worlds in Schladming after her crash in the super-G when she tore ligaments in her knee. ... Maze looking to become first Slovenian skier to win this event at worlds. ... Gut won the last downhill World Cup race before worlds as she held off Fenninger in Switzerland. ... Sisters Nadia and Elena Fanchini both looking to become the first female from their nation to win world downhill since Paula Wiesinger in 1932.