VAL D'ISERE, France, Dec 13 : Italian Luca de Aliprandini described Saturday's World Cup giant slalom at Val d'Isere as the hardest race of his life, coming two days after his Swiss partner Michelle Gisin suffered a heavy fall in training which required neck surgery.

De Aliprandini finished 26th in the men's event won by Loic Meillard, but the result paled into insignificance with two-times Olympic ski champion Gisin in hospital with injuries to her wrist, knee and cervical spine (neck).

"It was Michelle's wish that I race here. I couldn't say no to her, but it was the toughest race of my entire life," an emotional De Aliprandini told Rai Sport.

"She gave me so much strength, and fortunately she is improving hour by hour.

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