Alte Lie McGrath / 2025 Alta Badia SL Champion / GEPA pictures
McGrath wins Alta Badia slalom as Gran Risa delivers eight lead changes
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath won his fourth career slalom in a dramatic men’s World Cup in Alta Badia on Monday, pushing the second run to the edge of the possible to prevail on Gran Risa. A second run that included eight lead changes.
McGrath entered the second run with a 0.17-second advantage over Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard, then delivered the defining run of the race. He absorbed early pressure and built speed through the demanding middle section, expanding his margin to 0.39 seconds and guaranteeing himself no worse than second before the final skier dropped.
France’s Clément Noël, the first-run leader, launched last holding a slim 0.09-second edge, but that margin disappeared by the third split. Noël fought back through the lower section, yet he could not match McGrath’s pace and crossed the line 0.30 seconds back to finish second. Meillard completed the podium in third.
All three men are deeply accustomed to life on slalom podiums, and once again the margins separating them were measured in tenths rather than mistakes.
McGrath commits fully and is finally rewarded
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath said the victory carried special meaning after a difficult stretch earlier in the season and several near misses on Gran Risa.
“I am so incredibly happy,” McGrath said. “Thank you, Alta Badia — you guys are incredible. This is one of my favorite places.”
McGrath explained that the breakthrough was rooted in a decision he made long before race day. After a rough weekend in Val d’Isère, he said an eight-hour drive to Italy gave him time to reset his mindset and commit fully to skiing on the attack for the remainder of the season.
“On the drive here, I decided that for the rest of the season I’m just going to go for it — every World Cup, every race,” McGrath said.
That approach showed on Gran Risa, where he pushed each section without hesitation and finally saw the green light after being close so many times. Despite already owning multiple World Cup podiums, McGrath said winning carries a different weight.
“A victory means so much more because it means you actually dare to go,” he said, adding that a third-place finish in Gurgl earlier this season still lingered because he felt he had let a win slip away.
McGrath also shared a personal note at the finish, saying the victory came on his girlfriend Maud’s birthday, calling it a perfect way to end an emotional day.
Noël accepts second after razor-thin battle
France’s Clément Noël said he was satisfied to leave Alta Badia on the podium after what he described as an exceptionally tight and demanding race.
Noël said the margins were minimal from top to bottom, noting that while Gran Risa skied relatively flat and the snow felt easy underfoot, it was difficult to generate real speed — a combination that kept the entire field compressed. He acknowledged that he would have preferred to convert his first-run lead into a victory, especially after leading early, but said he was still happy with second place at the end of such a close contest.
Looking ahead, Noël said he plans to use the Christmas break to rest, enjoy time with family, and reset before returning fully focused for the important January block of racing.
Meillard pleased despite costly mistake
Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard, who finished third, said he was satisfied with his approach after pushing for the victory and accepting the risk that came with it. Meillard said he made a big mistake while skiing for the win but was happy he committed fully, adding that the second run reflected how he needs to ski every time. He regrouped after the error, gave everything he had left, and said that ending the day on the podium left him genuinely pleased.
Haugan fights through pain and delivers again
Despite significant back pain, Norway’s Timon Haugan once again delivered on Gran Risa. The defending Alta Badia slalom champion attacked the second run aggressively, carried green lights from top to bottom, and briefly took control of the race, producing the sixth lead change of the afternoon.
Haugan ultimately finished just off the podium, but his consistency carries real weight. He now heads into the Christmas break with a 63-point lead in the slalom season standings after four races, holding the advantage over Noël as the calendar turns toward January.
Second run chaos reshapes the race
The second run turned volatile almost immediately. Austria’s Joshua Sturm set the opening benchmark, before Great Britain’s Laurie Taylor and Italy’s Tommaso Sala quickly traded the lead.
Austria’s Manuel Feller then charged through despite back trouble of his own, while Norway’s 21-year-old Oscar Andreas Sandvik edged into the leader’s chair by just 0.08 seconds.
Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen followed with one of the third fastest second runs, surging into the lead and holding the top spot deep into the second run before the final group unleashed full commitment.
Big movers: second run rewards commitment
Gran Risa’s reversed start order produced major movement through the field.
Feller delivered the biggest climb of the day, gaining 11 positions with one of the strongest second runs in the field. Taylor also made a significant jump, moving up nine places to finish 18th. Pinheiro Braathen surged seven positions during a long stint in the leader’s chair, underlining how aggressively the second run rewarded skiers willing to push the limit.
Great Britain and the United States take positives into the break
Great Britain left Alta Badia with momentum. Veteran Dave Ryding finished 15th and said he felt noticeably sharper on the second run, particularly in the turny upper section, where the rhythm suited his skiing. He described the run as solid and controlled, noting that while he may have been able to push harder in a few places, the overall feeling was far more encouraging. Ryding said he will now fly home to spend Christmas with his family and enjoy time with his daughter before resetting for January.
Taylor echoed that sentiment after his charge through the field, saying the run felt clean and controlled and that he was pleased with the smart approach he brought to Gran Risa. Like Ryding, Taylor said he will take a break for Christmas before refocusing on the next block of racing.
For the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Jett Seymour took an important step forward by scoring his first World Cup points of the season. Seymour said he committed fully in the second run but paid the price for small mistakes on a slope that offers no margin. He described the course as turny at the top before opening into a fast, risk-heavy lower section, adding that when you ski at that level of risk, mistakes are difficult to avoid. Seymour said he plans to enjoy some time off over Christmas before getting back to work, noting that things are trending in the right direction.
The men’s World Cup now pauses for the Christmas break before resuming in January. Slalom’s hierarchy remains tight, but on Gran Risa, McGrath once again proved that when the pressure peaks, he is willing to go all in.
Race Results
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Second Run Analysis: Top Three and British skiers
About the Author: Peter Lange
