American skier Lauren Macuga has posted the fastest time in the downhill portion of the new team combined event at the Alpine skiing world championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

Lauren Macuga put the United States on top of the leaderboard after the downhill element of the women's team combined event at the Alpine World Ski Championships on Tuesday. With Paula Moltzan set to ski the decisive slalom part for the USA 2 team,

Lauren Macuga's bronze in the super-G at the world championships adds to what's been a breakout season for the 22-year-old American.

World super-G bronze medallist Lauren Macuga of the United States set the fastest time in the downhill section of the women's team combined at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Tuesday. That result left Vonn's slalom partner AJ Hurt with a mountain to climb when that gets under way at 1215 GMT.