French skier Sarrazin suffers head injury after crash

French skier Cyprien Sarrazin will have surgery to drain a bleed in his brain after crashing during training for a World Cup downhill race on the slope set to be used for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Sarrazin was one of two skiers airlifted to a hospital on Friday after crashing at Bormio and the French ski federation said he was conscious but diagnosed with a subdural haematoma.

Sarrazin, who won at the venue last year, lost control during his second practice run, bouncing off the surface and sliding a long way.

French media reports said he was conscious after the fall.

"Following further examinations and the progress of Cyprien's clinical examination, it has been decided, in agreement with the Italian surgeons, to operate on Cyprien this evening in order to drain the subdural haematoma," the FFS said in a statement.

Italy's Pietro Zazzi was also taken to a hospital by helicopter after a crash. The incidents called into question the safety of the fearsome Stelvio slope — the course for next winter's Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Sarrazin won the downhill in Bormio last year and was fastest in the first training session on Thursday.

The 30-year-old was on course for another good time in Friday's 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.

Sarrazin enjoyed his best campaign on the World Cup circuit last season with four victories — three downhill and one super-G — but has yet to win in 2024-25.

The men's Alpine skiing events at the 2026 Olympics will take place in Bormio, while the women's will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo.