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MOSCOW MILLS — Julia Mancuso of the United States and Alexis Pinturault of France dominated the parallel slalom World Cup races on a giant ramp in Moscow on Tuesday.
Mancuso dominated Michaela Kirchgasser of Austria in both final runs in the only city event on the Alpine circuit this season. Overall World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn, who lost to Mancuso in the semifinals, finished third.
"You can never count yourself out," said Mancuso, who was 0.16 seconds behind Nicole Hosp of Austria in the first quarterfinal run. "I didn't really think I could win, so it's a very good example that just if you try hard enough, you can do it."
The top 16 men and women in the World Cup standings competed in the event on a 564-foot long ramp with 18 gates, constructed on a square at the Luzhniki sports complex.
Vonn dominated the first two rounds but hit the fifth gate and missed the next one in the first run against Mancuso. She started 0.50 seconds behind in the second run and was 0.31 behind at the finish.
"I really tried to get on the podium," Vonn said. "And it was cool, it was a really fun event."
Pinturault edged Felix Neureuther of Germany by 0.17 in the second run of the final to earn his first career World Cup title. Andre Myhrer of Sweden beat Romed Baumann of Austria for third.
"It's a very special victory for me," Pinturault said. "The event is really very special and differs much from other disciplines. You have to be really very quick at the start and very aggressive."
A city event scheduled for Munich, Germany, was canceled this season because of warm weather.
