While Vonn boosted her lead in the downhill standings, Maze took yet another step to her maiden overall title after her main rival, German Maria Hoefl-Riesch, did not finish the race.

Maze was satisfied with a 14th podium in a season in which she is expected to become the first woman to score 2,000 points.

"This is a a great result, the downhill is always my worst discipline," she was quoted as saying by DPA news agency after a first top-three finish of the season in the discipline.

Maze commands the overall World Cup lead with 1,414 points from 21 of 36 races, almost double the 744 of second-placed German Maria Hoefl-Riesch.