- Gino Caviezel's race lasted just 50 seconds before he lost one of his skis.
- He then slid down the slope and was treated before being airlifted to hospital.
- A day earlier, French skier Cyprien Sarrazin fell while training on the slope
Swiss skier Gino Caviezel was airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious accident during a test in Italy on Sunday.
Caviezel, 32, became the third rider to require treatment after falling in Bormio in just two days, raising questions about the safety of the course.
The track will be used in 14 months for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Caviezel was the first to descend during the World Cup downhill race, but his race lasted just 50 seconds. At a gate before the San Pietro jump, he ran into an edge and lost one of his skis. He then slid down the slope and remained lying on the track.
After receiving medical attention, he was taken by helicopter to the hospital.
The race was later interrupted.
Swiss skier Gino Caviezel was airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious accident in Bormio.
Caviezel was the first down during the World Cup downhill race but quickly lost a ski.
On Friday, French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was one of two competitors airlifted to hospital after crashing on the Stelvio slope, where he won the downhill last year. He was placed in intensive care and had surgery to drain a hemorrhage near his brain.
The procedure, performed yesterday, was successful and he is now conscious.
Sarrazin was the fastest in Thursday's first training session, but when he tried to repeat the feat in Friday's final practice, he hit a bump and lost control.
He was thrown into the air before landing on his back and sliding down the hill.
Emergency services at the scene quickly treated Sarrazin before a helicopter arrived.
In a statement, the Fédération Française de Ski said: “Cyprien Sarrazin underwent surgery last night to decompress an intracranial hematoma.
“The operation went well, but for the moment he remains under anesthesia. We'll give you more information later today.'
Italian Pietro Zazzi was also airlifted from the circuit after an incident, while Swiss competitor Josua Mettler suffered injuries to both knees while training.
Cyprien Sarrazin was also airlifted for urgent treatment after crashing on the same journey.
Sarrazin was admitted to intensive care and underwent surgery to drain a hemorrhage near his brain.
Ten riders from the top 40 on the World Cup start list missed the event due to injuries, while four athletes also decided not to participate at short notice.
The incidents brought the safety of the track into question.
“My opinion here is clear: they don't know how to prepare a course,” said Nils Allegre, Sarrazin's teammate.
'They have been preparing courses for 40 years, but they don't know how to do anything, except dangerous things,' Allegre added. 'It may not be something everyone agrees with, but it's my opinion and it's deeply held.
'It's not right, I don't know what they are trying to prove, but a year after organizing the Olympic Games, having a course like this…
“They don't deserve to have the Olympics here.”