Fanchini leads the first training on the Stelvio

Italian Nadia Fanchini was the fastest in the first training run for the last downhill of the season. The race is scheduled on Wednesday, starting at 9:30.

On a course shorter than the classic men's run, with the starting hut at Fontanalunga, Fanchini clocked 1'37"69. French downhiller Marie Marchand-Arvier and Austrian veteran Renate Goetschl trailed by 0.73 and 0.75 respectively.

"It was a good run, the course is beautiful and in very good shape. The snow lets you choose your lines and hold on to them, you can do pretty much whatever you want," said a tired Fanchini at the Finish.

"I was really worn out at the end. The course took its toll on my legs, because I'm not at the top of my condition, yet". Fanchini did not race for much of the season due to a heart condition.

"The way the course has been set, the Carcentina is not as hard as for the men's, even though it's still demanding. And even on the jumps, you don't fly really far, about twenty or thirty meters, but you still have to do a lot of work on them".

Italian former World Cup racer Kristian Ghedina served as a forerunner for today's training. "The course is great", said Ghedina after his run. Ghedina achieved his best result on the Stelvio in 1996, when he finished third behind Luc Alphand and William Besse. "I have to admit, it's even funnier to go down this course as a forerunner. The pressure is off your back and you can really enjoy the run".