Strong winds force men's downhill in Caterina to be canceled

Published Dec. 28, 2016 9:19 a.m. ET

SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA, Italy (AP) Strong winds prompted organizers to cancel a men's World Cup downhill race on Wednesday.

The upper part of the Deborah Compagnoni course was considered too dangerous.

The International Ski Federation said that due to an already congested schedule the race will not be made up, leaving only six more downhills this season after the two already contested.

The cancellation was good news for Aksel Lund Svindal, the Norwegian leading the downhill standings who is taking this week off to rest a sore knee.

Svindal holds an 18-point lead over teammate Kjetil Jansrud in the downhill standings.

The cancellation was also positive for overall World Cup leader Marcel Hirscher, who does not race downhill.

The next downhills on the schedule are the classic Lauberhorn and Hahnenkamm races in Wengen, Switzerland, and Kitzbuehel, Austria, on Jan. 14 and 21, respectively.

An Alpine combined event is scheduled for Santa Caterina on Thursday.