Fog and the piste cause upset in Crans-Montana
It was a huge disappointment for the racers, the members of the organisation and the 12'000 spectators present, the downhill race in Crans-Montana had to be cancelled this Saturday. The fog, which was persistent on the lower and then the middle of the Mont Lachaux piste, prevented the women's race from starting. The race was scheduled for 11am and postponed every 15 minutes until it was finally confirmed for 1pm, only to be cancelled shortly afterwards, following the piste check. The snow conditions meant that the competitors would not be able to race safely.
The downhill should be rescheduled for Sunday, replacing the super-G, that was initially programmed. A decision will be made later this afternoon. It is however certain that the race will not be rescheduled for Monday, as the Women's World Cup caravan is due to fly to Norway and Kvitfjell, where speed events are also scheduled.
The last time a World Cup event was cancelled in Crans-Montana was in 2016. The downhill and alpine combined had to be cancelled due to heavy snowfall.
The pictures from our photographers Hervé Deprez and Frédéric Dubuis illustrate this Saturday unfortunately without the downhill event.
Information for the spectators:
Tickets for grandstands today are, as informed at time of purchase, non-refundable.
Tickets for the super-G on Sunday remain valid for the downhill on Sunday.
