Credit: Eurosport

A row has broken out over the “dangerous” conditions of the Italian ski slope that will host the next Winter Olympics after French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was hospitalised following a serious crash.

Sarrazin underwent a surgical procedure to drain a bleed on his brain following his high-speed accident on Friday on the fearsome Stelvio course in Bormio.

The slope is set to stage the men’s downhill events at Milan-Cortina 2026, but several incidents at this week’s World Cup downhill race have thrown the safety of participants into question.

“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.”

The 30-year-old, who posted the fastest time in Thursday’s first training sessions, appeared to lose control when he hit a bump that spectacularly catapulted him into the air. Sarrazin twice hit the snow before sliding for a considerable distance until he was stopped by the safety catch-fence at the slide of the slope, where he received immediate medical treatment.

The Frenchman was then flown to hospital in Sondalo about 20km away where he was conscious on arrival.

In a subsequent update from the French Alpine skiing team doctor, Stephane Bulle, it was confirmed that Sarrazin was awake following his operation.

“His condition is stable, and he will be kept under observation for an undetermined period,” Bulle added.

Several other high-speed accidents have occurred across the three days of competition so far. Italian skier Pietro Zazzi was taken to hospital by helicopter after suffering a broken leg on Friday, with the Italian ski federation confirming he has undergone an operation on “a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula of his right leg”.

Swiss skier Josua Mettler also crashed on Friday and withdrew to undergo further tests on a knee injury, while American Ryan Cochran-Siegle was lucky to escape serious injury during Saturday’s action.

Cochran-Siegle received a round of applause as he got back to his feet despite soaring into the air when he lost control, with an inflatable air vest coming to his aid. Despite plans for next season’s competitors to wear the vests as mandatory, around 40 skiers have successfully applied for exemptions to avoid wearing one this winter, despite the safety benefits that the device provides.

The accidents have led to an outcry from competitors over the safety standards of the Stelvio slope, with Sarrazin’s team-mate Nils Allègre scathing in his criticism and expressing his belief that they do not deserve to stage the Winter Olympics.

“My opinion here is clear, it’s that they don’t know how to prepare a course,” 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. 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 recorded his best season of results on the World Cup circuit last year with four victories, though he has yet to win this season.

Saturday’s downhill is scheduled to be followed by the super-G event on Sunday, with plans in place to stage the men’s Alpine skiing events at the 2026 Olympics despite the women’s competition taking place five hours away at Cortina d’Ampezzo.