SELVA DI VAL GARDENA, Italy (AP) – Olympic champion Matthias Mayer led the final training session for the Saslong Classic downhill on Thursday.
The Austrian, returning to the course where he broke two vertebrae in a horrific crash two years ago, finished 0.40 seconds ahead of late starter Benjamin Thomsen of Canada.
Otmar Striedinger of Austria was third, 0.51 behind.
Austria’s Matthias Mayer is airborne during an an alpine ski, men’s World Cup downhill training, in Val Gardena, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
The session was delayed numerous times due to thick fog over the course, which is in the heart of the Dolomites Range.
Norwegian standout Kjetil Jansrud was flagged down during the middle of his run due to the fog then restarted from where he stopped after nearly half an hour.
A super-G is scheduled for Friday on the Saslong, followed by the downhill on Saturday. The circuit then moves to nearby Alta Badia.
Austria’s Matthias Mayer starts an alpine ski, men’s World Cup downhill training, in Val Gardena, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
From left, Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud , Switzerland’s Beat Feuz and Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal wait for the start of an alpine ski, men’s World Cup downhill training, in Val Gardena, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud waits on the course as the training was interrupted due to fog during alpine ski, men’s World Cup downhill training, in Val Gardena, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States’ Steven Nyman is airborne during an an alpine ski, men’s World Cup downhill training, in Val Gardena, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
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