American skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle set the pace in the first downhill training session at the Milano-Cortina Games, outperforming the competition on the challenging Stelvio slope. Cochran-Siegle was 0.16 seconds quicker than Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni and 0.40 seconds ahead of Swiss athlete Marco Odermatt.
Canadian skier Jeffrey Read from Canmore, Alta., secured the top Canadian spot, finishing as the 10th fastest skier, 1.37 seconds behind the leader. Cameron Alexander and Brodie Seger from North Vancouver, B.C., came in 20th and 21st, respectively, with Toronto’s Jack Crawford in 28th place and Riley Seger from North Vancouver in 34th place.
Despite the rankings, the training session results hold little significance as it was the first of three sessions leading up to the actual race on Saturday. Cochran-Siegle’s impressive performance on the demanding Stelvio slope, known as one of the toughest in Olympic history, is likely to boost his confidence. This marks Cochran-Siegle’s third Winter Olympics appearance, having won a silver medal at the Beijing Games in 2022.
The Stelvio slope, measuring nearly 3,230 meters in length with a 986-meter vertical drop and a maximum gradient of 63 percent, poses significant challenges to skiers with its high speeds reaching 140 kph. The track is physically demanding and unforgiving, characterized by shaded sections and treacherous conditions.
Norwegian skier Fredrik Moeller faced a serious crash during the training session, requiring helicopter transport to a nearby hospital in Sondrio after possibly misjudging a turn and sliding down the slope on his back. Moeller, who recently returned from a back injury, sustained a dislocated shoulder but managed to stand up after the fall.
The Stelvio slope in Bormio is a regular fixture on the men’s World Cup circuit, known for its technical difficulty and history of challenging incidents. In a previous race in December 2024, two skiers had to be airlifted to the hospital, including French skier Cyprien Sarrazin, who underwent emergency brain surgery and has since been absent from competition.
