Emma Aicher pips Breezy Johnson at Val di Fassa to close on Vonn and Shiffrin

• Aicher trims Vonn's downhill lead to just 14 points

• Pirovano wins first race in 125th World Cup start

• USA's Johnson third as overall title race tightens

With neither injured Lindsey Vonn nor Mikaela Shiffrin starting a World Cup downhill on Friday, Emma Aicher seized her chance to cut the American superstars' leads in the season-long standings.

Aicher, the Olympic downhill silver medalist, placed second - just 0.01 behind first-time winner Laura Pirovano, pushing Olympic champion Breezy Johnson down to third - and reduced Vonn's lead in the downhill points race to just 14 with two races left.