Wengen Men’s Slalom First Run: McGrath Leads as High Bibs Break Through
Atle Lie McGrath controls the first run in Wengen as DNFs open the door for a wave of high-bib qualifiers and a tight podium fight.
Atle Lie McGrath controls the first run in Wengen as DNFs open the door for a wave of high-bib qualifiers and a tight podium fight.
Loïc Meillard clinched back-to-back wins in Hafjell, edging out Atle Lie McGrath in a thrilling World Cup slalom finale. Norway dominated with McGrath, Timon Haugan, and Henrik Kristoffersen battling for the podium and to maintain the lead in the season's standings, while Lucas Pinheiro Braathen impressed for Brazil. With the regular season now complete, all eyes turn to the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley.
Loïc Meillard leads the final slalom of the World Cup regular season in Hafjell after a dominant first run. With Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and Fabio Gstrein close behind, the battle for the podium is set to intensify. Seven high-bib skiers broke into the top 30, while North Americans Ben Ritchie and Jett Seymour secured second runs. With season rankings and World Cup Finals spots on the line, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion.
Under a perfect sky and on a meticulously prepared slope, Switzerland’s Loic Meillard set the pace in the Kranjska Gora World Cup slalom, but the battle remains fierce with razor-thin margins. While top contenders stayed close, late starters seized their chance—Italy’s Stefano Gross and Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhäusern charged into the top 15, proving that smart, aggressive skiing was rewarded. With just 0.88 seconds separating the top eight, the second run promises an intense fight for victory.
Loïc Meillard achieves first gold in 75 years for Switzerland in the final race of the World Championships. McGrath and Strasser achieve their first medals.
The World Championship men's slalom, Clément Noël of France takes the lead in the first run. Meillard in 2nd, and McGrath in 3rd.
Under the glow of Schladming’s floodlights, Linus Strasser set the pace in the first run, but the race remains wide open with six skiers within 0.71 seconds. Austria’s Manuel Feller, fueled by a roaring home crowd, looks to close the gap, while Norway’s Timon Haugan and Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard remain in striking distance. Fabio Gstrein’s seventh-place run kept Austrian hopes alive, and the British team pulled off the unusual feat of qualifying all three of its racers. Meanwhile, Ben Ritchie was the lone North American to qualify, continuing his breakout season. With the reverse start order setting up early lead changes and the crowd returning louder than ever, the second run promises a thrilling battle to the finish.
Clément Noël delivered a stunning second run to claim his fourth slalom victory of the season on Kitzbühel’s legendary Ganslernhang slope. Italy’s Alex Vinatzer earned a career-best second-place finish, while Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history with another podium. The challenging course tested the world’s best, creating the thrilling drama Kitzbühel is known for.
Norwegian Timon Haugan set the pace in the first run of the Kitzbühel World Cup slalom, leading by a slim 0.07 seconds on the challenging Ganslernhang slope. With tight margins among the top racers and standout performances from higher bibs like Britain’s Laurie Taylor and France’s Hugo Desgrippes, the stage is set for a thrilling second run.
Norway dominated the Wengen slalom with a stunning podium sweep, led by Atle Lie McGrath, who claimed his first victory of the season. Teammates Henrik Kristoffersen and Timon Haugen completed the historic achievement, showcasing Norway's strength in the discipline.
Norway dominated the first run of the Wengen slalom as Atle Lie McGrath led the field with an impressive performance, followed by teammate and season leader Henrik Kristoffersen in second, 0.43 seconds behind. Swiss fans had plenty to cheer about on home soil, with Daniel Yule initially holding third before Tanguy Nef surged ahead, pushing Yule to fourth. Benjamin Ritchie of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team impressed as the only North American to qualify for the second run, finishing eighth. Meanwhile, late starters faced tough odds, with only three skiers outside the top 30 advancing, including Belgium’s Sam Maes and Germany’s Anton Tremmel.
The first run of the Madonna di Campiglio Men’s World Cup Night Slalom delivered drama and excitement on the challenging Canalone Miramonti slope. With a well-prepared surface despite 40 centimeters (16 inches) of wet snow earlier, top seeds like Clément Noël and Marco Schwarz struggled, exiting early, while Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath seized the lead. Impressive performances from higher bib numbers added to the excitement, with ten skiers outside the top 30 qualifying, including Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Jett Seymour in 17th and Sweden’s Gustav Wissting in 27th. The stage is set for a thrilling second run under the lights.
Norway’s Timon Haugan delivered a dominant performance to win the 2024 Alta Badia World Cup Slalom, marking the second slalom victory of his career. Haugan’s clean and attacking skiing secured a commanding margin over Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard, who surged six spots with the second-fastest run of the day, and teammate Atle Lie McGrath, who claimed his third podium of the season. Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Jett Seymour also impressed, finishing 13th to cap off a thrilling day on the Gran Risa course.
The Alta Badia slalom delivered thrilling action as Clément Noël returned from injury to claim third after the first run, with Norwegians Timon Haugan and Atle Lie McGrath leading the charge. Amid icy conditions that favored precision, eight racers with bibs above 30, including Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Jett Seymour and River Radamus, qualified for the afternoon finale. Seymour’s 13th-place finish and Radamus’s 25th marked the first time this season that two North Americans advanced to a World Cup slalom second run, highlighting a day of opportunity and progress on the challenging Gran Risa course.
Henrik Kristoffersen claimed his first victory of the season in Val d’Isère with a commanding second run, edging teammate Atle Lie McGrath and Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard for the top spot. Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen delivered a stunning 22-position climb to tie for fourth, while Jett Seymour secured his first points of the season, finishing 21st for the U.S. Ski Team.
Norwegian Felix McGrath, son of former U.S. Ski Team member Felix McGrath Sr., took the course wearing bib eight. Delivering a composed and technically brilliant run, McGrath crossed the finish line in third place, 1.01 seconds behind Tumler and 0.65 behind Kranjec, keeping the competition tight heading into the final run.
When FIS announced that athletes could wear sponsors logos on the sides of their helmets, it presented an opportunity for athletes to make more cash and build their visibility through brand ambassador partnerships. Atle Lie McGrath—arguably the most personable and popular young star on the circuit—had his share of offers but wanted a relationship that went beyond a paycheck and a logo. The 24-year-old explains: “I really wanted to be able to represent something that meant something to me that I could be very, very proud to be a part of.”
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Successful season opening for Atle Lie McGrath. On Sunday, the Giant Slalom in Sölden sees the 24-year-old athlete from Norway race to third place. The HEAD Worldcup Rebel was in fifth place after the first run and gained two places with the tenth fastest time on the second run.
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