A serious fall by Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin overshadowed the final training for the World Cup downhill in Bormio, Italy.
Last year’s 30-year-old winner was lifted by a wave in the lower section of the notorious Stelvio piste, hit the hard piste from a height of around three meters and flew into the safety net. He had to be transported away in a rescue helicopter. The training was interrupted several times due to many falls.
There was initially no information about possible injuries; Sarrazin himself was apparently conscious at all times and is said to have complained of pain in his foot. Sarrazin caused a sensation last winter and, among other things, won the two downhill runs in Kitzbühel. Sarrazin also triumphed in Bormio.
Lots of falls in training
In the first training session on Thursday, Sarrazin had set the best time and was again setting the fastest time until he crashed. Kyle Negomir (USA) and Josua Mettler (Switzerland) also fell on the treacherous wave, and like Sarrazin, Pietro Zazzi (Italy) also had to be transported elsewhere in the rescue helicopter.
The Stelvio is considered one of the most challenging downhill slopes in the World Cup. “It is the most difficult route with the most difficult conditions”said overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) after his ride at Eurosport. The Canadian Cameron Alexander was fastest in the final training. The best-placed German was Simon Jocher in 10th place. There will also be a Super-G in Bormio on Sunday (11.30 a.m.).
The DSV is starting with Romed Baumann (Kiefersfelden), Simon Jocher (Garmisch), Luis Vogt (Garmisch) and Maximilian Schwarz (Peißenberg).