Swiss Olympic skier Gino Caviezel, 30, is airlifted to hospital after critical crash in Italy in newest incident on slope set for use at 2026 Winter Games

Swiss skier Gino Caviezel was airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious crash during an event in Italy on Sunday. 

Caviezel, 32, became the third rider to require treatment after falling in Bormio in the space of just two days, raising questions over the safety of the course.

The slope is set to be used for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 14 months. 

Caviezel was the first to descend during the World Cup downhill race but his run lasted barely 50 seconds. At a gate before the San Pietro Jump, he caught an edge and lost one of skis. He then slid down the incline and remained lying on the piste. 

After receiving medical attention, he was taken to hospital by helicopter. 

The race was subsequently interrupted.

Swiss skier Gino Caviezel was airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious crash in Bormio

Caviezel was the first to descend during the World Cup downhill race but he quickly lost a ski

On Friday, French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was one of two competitors airlifted to hospital after crashing on the Stelvio course, where he won the downhill last year. He was placed in intensive care and underwent surgery to drain a bleed near his brain.

The procedure, carried out on Saturday, was successful and he is now conscious.

Sarrazin went quickest in the first training session on Thursday, but when he looked to repeat the feat in the final practice on Friday, he hit a bump and lost control.

He was launched into the air before landing on the back and sliding down the slope. 

Emergency services on site quickly attended to Sarrazin before a helicopter arrived.

In a statement, Federation Francaise de Ski said: ‘Cyprien Sarrazin underwent surgery last night to decompress an intra-cranial haematoma.

‘The operation went well, but he remains under anesthetic for the time being. We will give you more information later today.’

Italy’s Pietro Zazzi was also airlifted from the course following an incident while Swiss competitor Josua Mettler sustained injuries to both his knees while training.

Cyprien Sarrazin was also airlifted for urgent treatment after crashing on the same course

Sarrazin was placed in intensive care and underwent surgery to drain a bleed near his brain

Ten riders from the top 40 on the World Cup start list were missing from the event due to injury while four athletes also decided not to take part at short notice. 

The incidents brought 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 team-mate Nils Allegre 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,’ Allegre 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.’