Atle Lie McGrath, a U.S.-born skier representing Norway, secured a triumph over Olympic champion Clement Noel in a World Cup slalom event held in Alta Badia, Italy. Despite initially leading after the morning run, Noel lost his advantage early in the second descent on the Gran Risa course. McGrath finished 0.30 seconds ahead of Noel, clocking in at one minute 44.50 seconds over two runs, outpacing third-place finisher Loic Meillard by 39-100ths of a second. McGrath, expressing extreme joy, stated that he missed a previous winning opportunity in slalom one month ago in Gurgl, Austria, where he placed third.
McGrath, known for his signature ski flip gesture reminiscent of Swiss former downhill star Didier Cuche, now boasts four career victories in World Cup slalom events, along with six second-place finishes. The 25-year-old Vermont-born Norwegian is shaping up as a formidable contender for a medal in the slalom event at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics scheduled for February 16 in Bormio.
McGrath’s father, Felix, who competed for the U.S. in the 1988 Calgary Olympics in slalom and giant slalom, has been a source of inspiration for him. Noel expressed optimism about his skiing performance, stating that it would improve further in January while looking forward to spending quality time with his family during the holiday season. Calgary’s Erik Read was the sole Canadian competitor in the event but did not complete the opening run.
Timon Haugan maintained his lead in the season-long World Cup slalom rankings by finishing fourth, trailing his Norwegian compatriot McGrath by 0.53 seconds. Haugan also climbed to the second position in the World Cup overall standings, behind the four-time defending champion Marco Odermatt, who does not compete in slalom events. Odermatt’s closest rival, Marco Schwarz, failed to finish the race after winning the giant slalom event the previous day.
The upcoming men’s World Cup race will also take place in Italy on Saturday, featuring a super-G event at Livigno, near Bormio, the venue for all men’s alpine races at the Olympics. McGrath, who rarely competes in super-G, plans to engage in some cross-country skiing before the next World Cup event scheduled for January 7 at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.