KITZBUEHEL, Austria — Swiss skier Daniel Albrecht was placed in an induced coma Thursday after crashing in downhill training on the legendary Streif course.

Albrecht lost control after flying through the air for about 40 yards, landed on his back and came to a stop near the finish line. He lost consciousness and received medical attention for about 20 minutes before being taken by helicopter to a hospital in nearby St. Johann.

"Daniel is in a stable condition now. He woke up briefly but doctors placed him in an artificial coma," Swiss team spokeswomen Diana Faeh said. "He will be transported to a hospital in Innsbruck for further examinations on his injuries."

An induced coma puts the brain in hibernation so it can recuperate and allows swelling in the brain to ease.

The 25-year-old Albrecht has four career World Cup victories — three in giant slalom and one in super-combi. He has two GS wins this season, at Soelden, Austria, and Alta Badia, Italy, and is eighth in the overall World Cup standings.

The crash was similar to that of Scott Macartney last year on the Streif. The American sustained a brain contusion after slamming his head on the snow and was out for the season.

Organizers lowered the final jump of the course after Macartney's crash and clearly marked the natural wave so racers would be able to better time their jump.

In Wednesday's first training session ahead of this weekend's Hahnenkamm races, Austria's Michael Walchhofer almost fell backward at the same point where Albrecht crashed.

"The wind pushed the front of my skis up so I was lifted in the air," Walchhofer said. "That was quite extreme, I totally underestimated that jump."

Thursday's training session was interrupted for half an hour before resuming.

Bode Miller of the United States posted the fastest time, racing down the Streif course in 1 minute, 55.95 seconds to beat last year's winner Didier Cuche of Switzerland by 0.26 seconds.

Klaus Kroell took third, 1.64 behind Miller, while fellow Austrian and downhill champion Walchhofer was fifth, 1.74 behind.

The 69th edition of the traditional Hahnenkamm races starts with a super-G on Friday, followed by a downhill on Saturday and a slalom on Sunday.