la Molina, Spain  - Maria Riesch of Germany smashed the opposition on Sunday to win a slalom ski race while her second-placed American friend Lindsey Vonn regained the World Cup lead.

Riesch, 24, had the best time in each of the two runs for a combined total of 1 minute 52.98 seconds. It was her first win of the season and seventh overall.

Vonn trailed by a massive 1.48 seconds in second place with 1:54.46 minutes. The third-placed Austrian Kathrin Zettel was almost another second behind on 1:55.34 minutes.

The defending champion Vonn reclaimed the overall World Cup lead with 438 points from eight events. Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, who had ranked first by winning Saturday's giant slalom, has 400 points. Riesch is third with 328 points.

Vonn also commands the slalom rankings after three races with 230 points from Riesch (200) and Czech Sarka Zahrobska (179).

The women's World Cup continues on Friday in St Moritz, Switzerland, with a super-combined event. (dpa)