Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin suffered a heavy fall on Friday during the second training session before the World Cup downhill in Bormio which he won just a year ago.
Sarrazin, best time in the first training session the day before, lost control of his skis on a terrain movement in the final while he was in the lead at all intermediate points.
The 30-year-old skier literally flew off a bump and then bounced violently on the slope, before ending his race in the tarpaulins and protective nets after a long slide.
The Frenchman, 2nd in the final ranking of the Downhill World Cup last winter behind Nidwalden Marco Odermatt and winner of four races that season, was joined by the emergency services. He was then evacuated by helicopter.
In a brief press release, the French Ski Federation indicated that Sarrazin “was conscious”: “He will carry out examinations,” said a spokesperson for the FFS. According to the Eurosport channel, Sarrazin complained of pain in one foot.
“The track is very icy, with very dark sections in terms of visibility, it’s a big change compared to Val Gardena (editor’s note: station where the last descent took place), we know the dangers of this track,” explained Justin Murisier from Valais on Eurosport.
A downhill on Saturday and a super-G on Sunday are on the program for the Bormio stage, one of the most difficult tracks on the circuit where the men’s alpine skiing events of the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan Cortina will take place.
