Finlay Mickel's dreams of becoming Great Britain's first Olympic alpine medallist were shattered after a disappointing downhill run at Sestriere Borgatta.

Mickel learned the harsh reality of his sport's biggest competition as he finished 25th, 2.68 seconds behind runaway winner Antoine Deneriaz of France.

From a start gate of two, the Scot never fully recovered from a poor start, and his hopes of exceeding Martin Bell's eighth place finish in 1988 were over.

Mickel said: "I was disappointed not to have my best day of the season here on the biggest day of the season.

"My mistake was made yesterday in qualifying. Normally I would build confidence every day up to a race but I had a shocker that set me back.

"The course was really challenging at the top and I have not been able to nail those top three gates all week. You've got to be able to change your game for the big courses and I could not do it today."

Mickel had harboured realistic hopes of a top-ten finish having secured tenth place in a World Cup race last month following 11th at last year's World Championships.

Now he will seek to gain inspiration from the surprise performance of Deneriaz who blitzed out of his start gate of 30 to knock World Cup leader Michael Walchhofer into second place.

Mickel believes he has strong comparisons with the way Deneriaz fought back from injury and technical problems to be crowned Olympic downhill champion.

Mickel added: "I have been racing with him for many years and beaten him plenty of times in the past and seeing him up there is an inspiration for me."

Mickel will now turn his attention to next Saturday's super-giant slalom, as will his British team-mate Roger Cruickshank who finished 37th of the 55 competitors.

Cruickshank, who trailed winner Deneriaz by 5.85 seconds, said he was simply pleased to be at the Games after suffering an horrendous knee injury early last year.

Cruickshank said: "I definitely played it too safe, but I am the happiest man here after what I've been through and I realised a lifetime ambition today."

Snowboarder Daniel Wake-ham failed to build on his recent fifth place in the World Cup by trailing in 20th and missing qualification for the final of the men's half-pipe.

Luger Mark Hatton had a lucky escape after a making a huge mistake during his third run at Cesana Pariol.

Hatton came off his sled at curve six of the Olympic track but held on and managed to clamber back aboard two curves later and finish.

Hatton, who had started the second day of competition in 25th place, dropped to 36th and last with one run remaining.

He put in a better fourth run but it was not enough, He finished 35th and last of those who finished. Team-mate Adam Rosen fared much better with a creditable 16th-place finish behind the winner, defending champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy.

Nottingham short-track racer Jonathan Eley squeezed through one heat of the men's 1500 metres but was eliminated following a game effort in his semi-final.

Eley kept up with the pace well amongst some illustrious company before falling away in the last two laps before having to settle for fifth place.

Sarah Lindsay qualified for Wednesday's quarter-finals of the women's 500m after finishing second in her heat behind Sun-Yu Jin of Korea.

But Lindsay's team-mate Jo Williams missed out after coming third and last in her tough opening heat.