Michael Walchhofer was quickest in the opening training session for Tuesday’s downhill in Bormio. The 34 year old Austrian, who won the World Cup downhill title in 2009, was 16 hundredths quicker than Andrej Jerman and compatriot Christoph Gruber.

Austrian world champion Kathrin Zettel suffered a right knee injury in training and is doubtful for the World Cup giant slalom and slalom in Lienz on Monday and Tuesday. The 23-year-old, world champion in the combined, damaged ligaments in her knee, according to the Austrian skiing federation.

Zettel currently leads the giant slalom standings, but is still searching for her first win after three podium places in the giant and one in the slalom.

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Lindsey Vonn confirmed she will be the speed events’ favourite at the Winter Olympics with morale-boosting results at the weekend although she conceded there is still room for improvement before the Vancouver extravaganza.

Italy’s Massimiliano Blardone wowed his home crowd with a dominant victory in the World Cup giant slalom race in Alta Badia, Italy. His compatriot Davide Simoncelli came second but Manfred Moelgg, who had made up an Italian 1-2-3 after the first run, could only finish fifth overall following a lacklustre second leg.

Britain’s number one skier, Chemmy Alcott (27, Twickenham), has today (20 December) produced another good result in Val d’Isere, France with a 16th place in the Super G.

Canada’s Manuel Osborne-Paradis caused a minor surprise when he triumphed in the men’s World Cup Saslong Classic downhill in Val Gardena. The 25-year-old, who won the Super-G at Lake Louise last month, set a time of two minutes and 1.27 seconds to outshine some bigger names on a challenging course with difficult snow conditions.

Canada suffered its second training accident in as many days after Kelly Vanderbeek crashed at Val d’Isere. Vanderbeek was stretchered off the piste conscious but with her left leg in a splint after a spectacular tumble on a training run for Saturday’s downhill.

Benjamin Raich led Austria’s response to Carlos Janka’s challenge after the Swiss’s earlier wins at Val d’Isere. The dominant nation in the sport for years were clearly irritated to see Alpine rivals Switzerland produce an exciting prospect in Janka and enjoy great overall success with Didier Cuche and Didier Defago also doing fine.