Alte Lie McGrath celebrates with the team / GEPA pictures
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath captured one of the most dramatic victories of the 2025-26 World Cup season Sunday in Kranjska Gora, edging teammate Henrik Kristoffersen by just 0.01 seconds in a breathtaking men’s slalom battle on the Podkoren 3 course.
Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen finished third, only 0.04 seconds behind the winner, meaning the entire podium was separated by just four hundredths of a second.
It was the kind of race that defines slalom — relentless pressure, tiny margins and athletes pushing the limit through every gate.
Top 5 – Men’s World Cup Slalom, Kranjska Gora
1st 🇳🇴 Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), Bib 6, YOB 2000 — 1:38.85
2nd 🇳🇴 Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), Bib 4, YOB 1994 — +0.01
3rd 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), Bib 2, YOB 2000, Oakley — +0.04
4th 🇦🇹 Michael Matt (AUT), Bib 10, YOB 1993 — +0.06
5th 🇩🇪 Linus Strasser (GER), Bib 8, YOB 1992, Head — +0.09
How did Atle Lie McGrath win the Kranjska Gora slalom?
The final skier in the start gate was Lie McGrath, who carried a 0.56-second advantage from the first run into the decisive second run.
The Norwegian attacked the course but saw his margin shrink dramatically as the run unfolded. Sector by sector, the advantage over teammate Henrik Kristoffersen disappeared until the race came down to the final gates.
Lie McGrath held on.
He crossed the finish line with just a 0.01-second advantage, immediately throwing his head back and screaming with excitement as the green light confirmed the victory.
The win marked his 17th World Cup slalom podium and his sixth victory.
The result also carried personal significance. At the 2026 Olympic slalom, Lie McGrath had also led after the first run before straddling in the second run and failing to finish. Sunday in Kranjska Gora delivered redemption.
What did Lie McGrath say after the victory?
Lie McGrath said the razor-thin margin finally went his way after years of being on the wrong side of hundredths.
“I think today was just about luck,” Lie McGrath said. “The crowd cheering for me helped so much. So many times in my career I’ve been on the wrong side of the hundredths. I’ve lost five victories with a combined two tenths before, so to finally get one back is really nice.”
The Norwegian now heads to the World Cup Finals in Hafjell leading the slalom standings, setting up a title fight with Lucas Pinheiro Braathen.
“There’s no better place to fight for the globe,” Lie McGrath said. “Lucas and I grew up skiing together in Norway, so it’s going to be a really cool fight to the end.”
Lie McGrath also dedicated the victory to his grandfather.
“I love him so much,” Lie McGrath said. “He helped me with so many things in life and I miss him a lot. To bounce back like this after the Olympics, I think he was looking over me today.”
How close was the fight for the podium?
Finishing just 0.01 seconds behind was teammate Henrik Kristoffersen, the 2026 Olympic slalom bronze medalist.
Kristoffersen delivered a composed and powerful run to move into the lead late in the race before the final two skiers dropped.
The result added another chapter to one of the most remarkable careers in slalom. Kristoffersen now owns 61 World Cup slalom podiums.
Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen completed the podium after another spectacular performance.
Pinheiro Braathen arrived in Kranjska Gora in outstanding form after winning the giant slalom the day before, and he nearly added a slalom victory to the weekend.
The Brazilian extended his advantage early in the run before losing crucial hundredths in the final gates, crossing 0.03 seconds behind Kristoffersen and 0.04 behind the winner.
The podium was the 14th slalom podium of his career.
What did Henrik Kristoffersen say after finishing second?
Kristoffersen said the narrow defeat reflected the tiny margins that often decide slalom races.
“I’m super happy with second place and the podium,” Kristoffersen said. “I made so many mistakes in the second run and there was a lot of time left out there, but that’s skiing sometimes. The margins are really small.”
Kristoffersen also said Podkoren 3 remains one of his favorite courses on the World Cup circuit.
“I always like coming here,” Kristoffersen said. “It’s a hill where you have to be a really good skier. It’s not only about skiing straight or attacking a steep pitch — you have to make proper turns. That’s probably why I’ve done well here.”
The Norwegian added that the atmosphere in Kranjska Gora is one of the best on the tour.
“It’s a great hill, a great crowd, and I always enjoy coming here,” Kristoffersen said.
What did Lucas Pinheiro Braathen say after finishing third?
Pinheiro Braathen said he felt he had the speed to win the race but accepted the narrow defeat after seeing his close friend Atle Lie McGrath take the victory.
“It’s a complicated day,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “I had the opportunity to bring home another win here and I felt awesome today. The crowd was amazing, my skis were great and my technician did an incredible job.”
Despite missing the victory by just hundredths, the Brazilian said he was happy to see McGrath on top.
“The best man stands on top and that’s my good friend Atle,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “The big showdown will be at the finals.”
With the slalom globe still undecided heading to the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, Pinheiro Braathen said he welcomes the chance to compete for the title again.
“It will be my third time going into the finals fighting for the globe,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “It’s like skiing for championships, skiing for the Olympics. It’s the biggest thing we do as alpine ski racers, and it’s an honor to be in a position where I can fight for it.”
Pinheiro Braathen also reflected on the growing support from Brazil following his return to the sport.
“Seeing Brazilian flags at a ski race like this is a dream come true,” Pinheiro Braathen said. “Two years ago I announced my comeback and the journey has had a lot of highs and lows. Seeing Brazilians here cheering means a lot to me.”
Who delivered the biggest second-run charges?
The second run produced several dramatic moves up the standings, led by Austria’s Dominik Raschner.
Starting 30th after the first run, Raschner delivered the fastest second run of the race and surged to finish 7th overall, an extraordinary 23-place improvement.
In fact, one fewer point would have left Raschner outside the top 25 and out of the season finale.
He also held the leader’s chair through 19 consecutive racers, becoming one of the defining storylines of the race before Germany’s Linus Strasser finally knocked him out of the lead.
Sweden’s Fabian Ax Swartz also delivered a major climb through the field.
Biggest second-run movers
• 🇦🇹 Dominik Raschner — moved up 23 positions (30th → 7th)
• 🇸🇪 Fabian Ax Swartz — moved up 10 positions (21st → 11th)
How did the late race drama unfold?
The final portion of the race delivered wave after wave of tension.
Austria’s Michael Matt briefly took control after edging Strasser by 0.03 seconds, while France’s Clément Noël, the 2022 Olympic slalom champion, nearly stole the lead before finishing 0.06 seconds back.
Belgium’s Armand Marchant, third after the first run, appeared poised to take the lead before skiing out in the final sector while holding the fastest split.
Those dramatic moments set the stage for the final showdown between the Norwegian teammates.
Which Stifel U.S. Ski Team racers scored points?
Two skiers from the Stifel U.S. Ski Team earned points Sunday in Kranjska Gora.
Both Benjamin Ritchie and Jett Seymour delivered strong second runs to finish inside the top 20.
Ritchie’s result marked his third consecutive World Cup points finish after a difficult start to the season.
Seymour also secured his second points result of the season and his largest points haul of the winter.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team points
• 19th — 🇺🇸 Benjamin Ritchie, Bib 30, USA, YOB 2000, Head — +0.97
• 20th — 🇺🇸 Jett Seymour, Bib 47, USA, YOB 1998 — +1.05
What did the Stifel U.S. Ski Team racers say?
Jett Seymour said the second run course demanded precision right from the start.
“The set was pretty interesting,” Seymour said. “It was a bit more turny right out of the gate. I made a little mistake there, but after that it was fun to ski. The snow was a bit softer, but overall it was good.”
Seymour said he was pleased to finish the season on a positive note after a challenging winter.
“It’s been a tough year,” Seymour said. “I could have gone without a couple mistakes, but I’m happy with my skiing and it’s nice to end it on a high note.”
Benjamin Ritchie said the second run course required careful timing through several difficult combinations.
“It was a little tricky,” Ritchie said. “There were a couple weird combos and overall it was pretty straight down the hill, which is difficult for me.”
Despite the challenges, Ritchie said the conditions held up well.
“The snow actually held up pretty well, even though it’s super warm,” Ritchie said. “It wasn’t my best performance, but I’m happy to get a couple more points to end the season.”
What do the slalom standings look like after Kranjska Gora?
With 10 of 11 slalom races completed, Sunday’s result significantly tightened the battle for the 2025–26 World Cup slalom crystal globe.
Victory in Kranjska Gora pushed Atle Lie McGrath to the top of the standings with 552 points, but the race for the discipline title remains open heading toward the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, Norway.
Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen sits second after his third-place finish Sunday, while France’s Clément Noël remains firmly in contention after placing sixth in Kranjska Gora.
Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who finished second in Sunday’s race, also remains within striking distance of the discipline lead.
Top 5 – World Cup Slalom Standings (after Kranjska Gora)
1st 🇳🇴 Atle Lie McGrath (NOR), 2000, Head — 552 pts
2nd 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), 2000, Oakley — −41
3rd 🇫🇷 Clément Noël (FRA), 1997 — −77
4th 🇳🇴 Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), 1994 — −99
5th 🇳🇴 Timon Haugan (NOR), 1996 — −153
With one slalom remaining this season, the discipline title will be decided at the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, setting up a dramatic finish to the slalom season.
Who claimed the final spots for the World Cup Finals?
The fight to finish inside the top 25 in the slalom standings — the cutoff required to qualify for the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, Norway — came down to the narrowest of margins.
The final qualifying position ended in a three-way tie for 23rd place with 94 points.
• 🇬🇧 Laurie Taylor (GBR), 1996, Head — T-23rd, 94 pts
• 🇦🇹 Dominik Raschner (AUT), 1994 — T-23rd, 94 pts
• 🇭🇷 Samuel Kolega (CRO), 1999 — T-23rd, 94 pts
For Raschner, Sunday’s race was especially significant.
After starting the second run in 30th place, the Austrian produced the fastest second run of the day and surged 23 positions to finish seventh. The result delivered exactly the points he needed to secure his place at the Finals.
In fact, one fewer point would have left Raschner outside the top 25 and out of the season finale.
Why could this race matter for the slalom title?
With only one race remaining this season, the result in Kranjska Gora could play an important role in shaping the 2025-26 World Cup slalom title race.
The fight to finish inside the top 25 in the discipline standings, which determines qualification for the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, Norway, also intensified with valuable points on the line.
And if the race in Slovenia proved anything, it’s that the difference between victory and defeat in slalom can be almost impossibly small.
On Sunday, just 0.09 seconds separated the top five.
Race Results
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About the Author: Peter Lange
