Austria's defending Olympic champion Anna Veith won Sunday's World Cup super-G, but American Lindsey Vonn withdrew with knee pain just 24 hours after winning the first race in Val d'Isere.

Veith, who has twice had surgery since injuring her knee in October 2015, was timed at 1min 05.77sec down the OK course in bitterly cold, but bright conditions.

It was the Austrian's 15th victory on the World Cup circuit and third in super-G.

The timing of her return to form could not be better for the 28-year-old who was overall World Cup champion in 2014 and 2015, and is also a three-time world gold medallist.

"I'm very happy, it was a pretty emotional day for me," said Veith, whose last World Cup win came in Meribel in March 2015.

"For me it's very important to get back to that feeling that I can do it in the race.

"I didn't race so much over the last two years, so it's a good day!"

Liechtenstein's Tina Weirather finished second, at 0.48sec, with Italy's Sofia Goggia following up on Saturday's second place with a third, a further three-hundredths of a second adrift.

- Vonn plays it safe -

Just weeks ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Vonn opted to play it safe by pulling out of the super-G and also Tuesday's giant slalom in neighbouring Courchevel.

"She did the pre-race inspection this morning, but decided against racing," a US team spokesperson said of Vonn.

"She's packed up and already left Val d'Isere. She won't race in Courchevel.

"She will now head home to the US to spend Christmas there."

The 33-year-old star of the circuit who won Saturday's super-G said the move had been a precaution, having also withdrawn from a super-G in St Moritz last weekend with a back injury, for which she had treatment in Austria.

"Knee is a bit sore from yesterday so to be on the safe side I’m going to give my body some rest. My focus is on the Olympics so no need to risk anything now. Still going home very happy after my win yesterday," Vonn wrote on Twitter.

Ironically her withdrawal came after she said she was due some "good karma" after criticism of her form and a vicious backlash against comments she made about the US government and President Donald Trump.

"I guess I'm not a washed-up old hag," Vonn said in a US team statement overnight in response to what it said were "numerous social media comments this week regarding her form as she prepares for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games".

Vonn added: "I think I proved myself, and karma definitely comes back around. I’ve got some good karma coming my way."

Her victory on Saturday took her World Cup tally of wins to 78, one closer to the all-time mark of 86 wins held by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark.