Sarrazin awake and stable after surgery on head injury from ski crash

MILAN — French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was awake and in stable condition on Saturday, a day after surgery on a head injury sustained in a crash during training for a World Cup downhill.

Sarrazin, who won the downhill on Bormio’s fearsome Stelvio course last year, was one of two skiers airlifted to hospital after crashing on Friday on the slope set to be used for the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 14 months.

He underwent an operation to drain a bleed near the brain and was still under anesthesia on Saturday morning but has since been brought round.

“Following his operation on Friday evening at the Sondalo hospital near Bormio, Cyprien Sarrazin is awake and conscious. His condition is stable," the French ski federation said in a statement it attributed to team doctor Stéphane Bulle.

“He will be kept under observation for an as yet undetermined period.”

Sarrazin, who was fastest in the first training session the previous day, was on course for another good time in Friday’s second run when he appeared to hit a bump, lost control and was catapulted into the air. He slid a long way down before he was caught in the safety netting.

The 30-year-old was taken by helicopter to the hospital in Sondalo, about 20 kilometers from Bormio.

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 this winter.

Italian skier Pietro Zazzi of Italy also crashed and was airlifted to Sondalo hospital. He was set to undergo surgery in Milan on Saturday after breaking the tibia and fibula of his right leg.

Saturday's downhill was won by Swiss skier Alexis Monney, who had never previously finished higher than eighth in a World Cup race. On Sunday, a super-G scheduled to take place on the Stelvio.

Men’s Alpine skiing at the 2026 Olympics will take place in Bormio, while the women’s will be in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The two ski areas are separated by a five-hour car ride.