Lie McGrath’s “so excited” after notching slalom triumph in Alta Badia

Atle Lie McGrath (NOR/ Head) scored his fourth career Audi FIS World Cup victory on Monday, with a thrilling second run in Alta Badia to overhaul first-run leader Clement Noel (FRA/ Dynastar).

It was an aggressive comeback ski reminiscent of his legendary teammate – and current slalom Crystal Globe holder – Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR/Van Deer), who had an off day and finished 22nd.

Noel finished second, but the Frenchman did add vital points in his quest for the slalom Crystal Globe.

Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol), last year’s Crystal Globe runner-up, and in the hunt this time around, finished third.

The results after four of eleven slalom races this winter left the slalom standings extremely close.

Lie McGrath: “I am so excited for what is to come”

Noel had put down a fine marker in the first run on the icy Gran Risa, with a smooth performance, just ahead of McGrath and Meillard.

The pace was set in the second run by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic), who was tidy and precise, but had lost too much time in the morning.

Red bib Timon Haugan (NOR/Van Deer) was also left rueing an imperfect first run, after his energetic and precise second attempt put him fourth.

Meillard – runner-up in the slalom standings last term – had an eventful turn, making a double error on his outside ski, but recovering brilliantly and finding a great flow on the bottom of the course.

Lie McGrath, however, produced an attacking run, turning it on mid-course to see the green light.

Olympic slalom champion Noel couldn’t quite find the rhythm and groove of his first go. He struggled at the top, and despite bustling on the flatter mid section and pushing hard at the bottom, just missed out on victory, +0.30 seconds behind. Meillard was third, +0.39 adrift.

“This took a lot of effort, and I have such a passion for this sport, it’s hard to let it in,” said Lie McGrath. “Standing there knowing I had a chance. To fail, like I have over and over this season, and to finally do it, it is incredible. 

He averted his gaze as the conclusion unfolded. “I couldn’t watch, it was too nerve-wracking," admitted Lie McGrath. "I was more nervous sitting at the bottom. They speak a little bit difficult German and Italian here, so I couldn’t understand anything. So when he came to the finish and I saw he was behind, that feeling was incredible.

“Now I go home. I get to see my girlfriend, it’s her birthday, so happy birthday. I’ll spend time with my family, and do some cross country skiing, I always do that at Christmas. And some training of course.

“January is the best month and then February with the Olympics, so I am so excited for what is to come.”

In-form Noel looks forward to “real winter” in New Year

Noel was perhaps left pondering his conversion rate – he’s now had 18 leads in slaloms and has finished first seven times – but could be pleased with an excellent all round performance.

“I knew the first run was really tight, so you can expect to go down in the classification or to stay in your position, but it’s always tough,” he said. “The track was a bit bumpier than the first run, of course.

 “I am happy with my race, even though you would prefer to win, for sure – when you are in first place after the first run you want to win, but that’s still a good race. My skiing is good and I feel that it will be even better in January.”

First comes a short rest. “I’ll have a bit of a Christmas break with my family, good food and good wine. Then we are going to train at the beginning of January for this big month, with Campiglio, Adelboden, Wengen, Kitzbuhel, Schladaming. It’s going to be the real winter.

“I like Val D’Isere because it’s my home race, but then I would say all the January ones [are favourites], Kitzbuhel is at the top, but there are some really cool places.”

Meillard was also satisfied with his overall approach. “I pushed for the victory and I did a big mistake, so I am happy that I tried to win it,” he said. “I am very happy with how I skied, how I pushed, on the second run, that’s how I have to ski every time. 

“I went back into the rhythm after the big mistake. I thought 'OK, give it all, it most likely it won’t be enough'. So to end up with a podium, I’m pretty happy.”

“Now I’ll go home, have two days with the family, eat some good food, have a glass of wine to celebrate the last two weekends, then we will drive to Livigno for a Super G. So it will be  very short break.”

In the slalom standings, Haugan keeps the lead, but Noel, Paco Rassat (FRA/Head), Pinheiro Braathen, Lie McGrath and Meillard are all within 87 points of him – and all within 15 points of each other. 

The New Year of slalom resumes on 7 January at Madonna di Campiglio.