American skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle set the pace in the initial downhill training run at the Milano-Cortina Games on Wednesday, while another competitor had to be airlifted from the challenging Stelvio slope. Cochran-Siegle outpaced Italian Giovanni Franzoni by 0.16 seconds and Swiss skier Marco Odermatt by 0.40 seconds. Canadian skier Jeffrey Read from Canmore, Alta., ranked as the top Canadian and claimed the 10th spot, finishing 1.37 seconds behind the leader.
Cameron Alexander and Brodie Seger, both hailing from North Vancouver, B.C., secured the 20th and 21st positions, respectively, trailing just over two seconds behind. Jack Crawford from Toronto placed 28th, while Riley Seger from North Vancouver finished 34th.
Results and rankings in downhill training are of minimal importance, especially since Wednesday’s session was the first of three preceding Saturday’s race. Nonetheless, Cochran-Siegle’s adept handling of the challenging Stelvio slope, known as one of the most demanding Olympic courses in the last three decades, will boost his confidence.
This marks Cochran-Siegle’s third Winter Olympics appearance. He clinched a silver medal at the Beijing Games four years ago, securing the first Olympic Alpine medal for a U.S. male athlete since 2014. His mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, was the slalom champion at the 1972 Sapporo Games.
The Stelvio slope is relentless, nerve-wracking, intricate due to shaded sections, and allows speeds reaching 140 kph, making it a notoriously unforgiving track. With a length of nearly 3,230 meters, a vertical drop of 986 meters, and a maximum gradient of 63 percent, it stands as one of the most physically demanding courses on the circuit.
Norwegian skier Fredrik Moeller had to be airlifted to the hospital after crashing midway down the slope, possibly due to a rushed turn start that led him to slide on his back. Moeller, who recently returned to competition after fracturing three vertebrae in December, appeared to have a dislocated shoulder and was swiftly transported by helicopter to a hospital in Sondrio.
Bormio is a regular venue on the men’s World Cup circuit. During the last race in December 2024, two skiers had to be airlifted to the hospital. One of them, French skier Cyprien Sarrazin, underwent urgent brain surgery and has yet to make a comeback to competitive skiing.