Vonn crashes out of giant slalom

GARMISCH-PARTERNKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Lindsey Vonn, on the brink of clinching her third successive overall World Cup title, crashed in the first leg of the season's final giant slalom on Thursday.

The American Olympic downhill champion spun off about a quarter of the way down the Kandahar course, got up and then skied off the course. A spokesman for the United States team said she was not injured.

Vonn, who has already won the season's downhill and super-G titles, could still win the overall crown later on Thursday if Germany's Maria Riesch, the only skier who can catch her, fails to finish in the top ten.

Otherwise, Vonn can try again in the super-G on Friday and Saturday's slalom which ends the season.

Double Olympic gold medalist Riesch was fifth at the end of the first run while fellow German Kathrin Hoelzl led the field.

(Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Clare Fallon)