Initial stage: tough outdoor conditions to tackle at this weekend's Ski World Cup in Kvitfjell. Fresh snow has once again fallen on the pistes to ski the final descent of this alpine season. During Friday's much-abbreviated training session, Adrian Smyseth Segerstedt and Cyprien Sarasin were injured in falls.

Favorites: After Cyprien Sarrazin's heavy fall, everything points to Marco Odermatt's next victory. In the Downhill World Cup, the Swiss and Sarrasin are separated by only six points. Odermatt's win at Kvitfjell will be a foregone conclusion. The fight for the crystal ball will only get serious in mid-March in the final in Saalbach. Fastest in final practice was Frenchman Ken Caillot, who edged out compatriot Adrien Fresquet in a 50-second race with two demanding corners.

Austrians: ÖSV ace Vincent Kreichmeyer wants to make the best of the situation in Kvitfjell despite the difficult conditions. “I want to be back on stage,” he said. The top Austrian in training was Ottmar Stridinger in 15th, Raphael Hauser in 16th and Kreichmeier in 22nd. Stephen Reiser was 32nd. As for race, the list of results has practically no meaning.