Shocking moments in Val Gardena: Forerunner fell badly

Actually, the downhill training on the Saslong should have started at 11.45 a.m. However, fog banks in the upper and middle parts ensured that the start was delayed until the training was finally canceled at around 14 p.m. - also because there were two falls. The forerunners Francesco Gatto (Ratschings) and Andrea Maddii (Firenze) went onto the slopes as test pilots, but were thrown off.

Francesco Gatto fell. © Instagram

It hit Ratschingser Gatto hard, he fell on the finish jump and had to be taken away by ambulance. How seriously he was injured is still unclear. Maddii, who started after him, couldn't stand a jump in the camel's humps, but got up again on his own and went down. After these falls, training was finally canceled. Program change on Thursday At the second team captains' meeting on Wednesday evening, not only was the canceled training run discussed, but also a look at training on Thursday. This does not start at 11.45 a.m. as originally planned, but at 10 a.m. The reason for this is the delicate weather forecasts, which predict a deterioration from midday onwards.

FIS race director Markus Waldner (on the microphone) announces news. © Saslong Classic Club / Robert Perathoner

“The forecast for Thursday is again not particularly promising, but it should be fine for the morning. If the weather still throws a wrench into our plans, we now have more scope to get the training done anyway,” said FIS race director Markus Waldner, explaining the decision.

Training starts on Thursday from the first reserve start - which means that the downhill classic on Saturday will not start from the original start. It has also been clear since Wednesday that the racing program will not be changed. The Super-G is scheduled to take place on Friday as planned, followed by the downhill the following day. For a short time there was talk of changing the program, but according to the latest weather forecasts, this plan was also off the table.

Rainer Senoner, President of the OK Team, talks about the changes to downhill training in this video:

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Shocking moments in Val Gardena: Forerunner fell badly

The first downhill training in Val Gardena could not take place on Wednesday. There were still two falls, some of them violent.

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