Abetone, Italy (Wednesday, January 22, 2003) - A women's Europa Cup race scheduled for Abetone had to be postponed after the ski resort's gondola station burned to the ground.

Racers arrived early Tuesday to witness the charred remains of the main gondola station and the broken cable at the base of the hill. Canadian development team head coach Hugues Ansermoz said graffiti covered the walls of nearby buildings.

Police were investigating the cause of the fire.

Ansermoz said his racers handled the situation well and never felt threatened by the strange events. The giant slalom races were rescheduled for Wednesday and Thursday and the racecourse will be accessed via a T-bar lift.