Cyprien Sarrazin has surgery on head injury after crash on 2026 Olympic slope

The French skier Cyprien Sarrazin remains under sedation after undergoing a successful operation on a head injury. Sarrazin was hurt in a brutal crash on Friday during training for a World Cup downhill race in Bormio.

Sarrazin, who won the downhill on Bormio’s fearsome Stelvio course last year, was one of two skiers airlifted to hospital after crashing on the slope set to be used for the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 14 months. He was placed in a neurological intensive care unit and later underwent surgery to drain a bleed near the brain.

“Cyprien Sarrazin was operated on yesterday night to decompress the intracranial haematoma,” the French ski federation said in a statement. “The operation went well, he remains under anaesthesia for the moment. We will communicate more information during the day.”

Pietro Zazzi of Italy was also taken to a hospital by helicopter after a crash. The incidents called into question the safety of the slope. “My opinion here is clear, it’s that they don’t know how to prepare a course,” Sarrazin’s teammate Nils Allègre said.

“It’s been 40 years that they have been preparing courses, but they don’t know how to do anything, apart from dangerous things,” Allègre added. “Maybe it’s not something everyone agrees with but it’s my opinion and it’s deep-seated. It’s not right, I don’t know what they’re trying to prove, but a year ahead of organising the Olympics, having a course like this – they don’t deserve to have the Olympic Games here.”

Sarrazin 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 before being brought to a halt by the safety netting on the side.

The Frenchman 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 races will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The two ski areas are separated by a five-hour car ride.