BORMIO, Italy (AP) 鈥 French standout Cyprien Sarrazin was one of two skiers airlifted to a hospital on Friday after crashing during training for a World Cup downhill race in Bormio.
Pietro Zazzi of Italy was also taken to a hospital by helicopter. Both were conscious and set to undergo tests to determine the extent of their injuries, but the incidents called into question the safety of the fearsome Stelvio slope 鈥 the course for next winter鈥檚 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
鈥淢y opinion here is clear, it鈥檚 that they don鈥檛 know how to prepare a course,鈥 Sarrazin鈥檚 teammate Nils All猫gre said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been 40 years that they have been preparing courses, but they don鈥檛 know how to do anything, apart from dangerous things.
鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 not something everyone agrees with but it鈥檚 my opinion and it鈥檚 deep-seated. It鈥檚 not right, I don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e trying to prove, but a year ahead of organizing the Olympics, having a course like this 鈥 they don鈥檛 deserve to have the Olympic Games here.鈥
Sarrazin won the downhill in Bormio last year and was fastest in the first training session on Thursday.
The 30-year-old Frenchman was on course for another good time in Friday鈥檚 second session when he appeared to hit a bump and lost control as he was catapulted into the air, landing on his back and sliding a long way down before being brought to a halt by the safety netting on the side.
French media reported that Sarrazin had hurt his foot while Zazzi had injured his knee.
Sarrazin enjoyed his best campaign on the World Cup circuit last season with four victories 鈥 three downhill and one super-G 鈥 but has yet to win in 2024-25.
The men鈥檚 Alpine skiing events at the 2026 Olympics will take place in Bormio, while the women鈥檚 will be held in Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo. The two ski areas are separated by a five-hour car ride.
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