Atle Lie McGrath: GEPA pictures
The Männlichen race slope in Wengen doesn’t see the sun until later in the day, but the early action in the slalom was as bright as ever. The world’s best skiers tackled the course first, and the early leaderboard quickly reflected the high level of competition.
Norway claimed the top two spots after the first seven skiers took their runs. Atle Lie McGrath led the charge with an impressive performance, while his teammate and current slalom season leader, Henrik Kristoffersen, followed in second place, 0.43 seconds behind. Both Norwegians have shown consistency throughout the season, making their positions at the top unsurprising.
Swiss Fans Celebrate Yule, Then Nef Steps Up
Swiss fans had reason to cheer when the second seed, bibs 8-15, took to the course. Daniel Yule, struggling to find his top speed this season with a best finish of seventh in Madonna di Campiglio, surprised the crowd by delivering what was initially the third-fastest first run. Yule finished 0.67 seconds off Atle Lie McGrath’s leading time, a performance that could mark a turning point in his season.
Competing on home soil, Yule has impressively finished all six races so far but is still chasing his first podium of the season. Today’s strong performance has put him in contention to achieve that goal and delight the Wengen crowd.
However, Yule’s hold on third place was temporary. With excellent conditions, bib 20 Tanguy Nef delivered more excitement for the Swiss fans. Nef skied brilliantly, moving into third and relegating Yule to fourth. The home crowd’s energy may have inspired Nef to one of his best runs of the season.
Rounding out the top five was Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who clocked in 0.82 seconds behind his close friend Lie McGrath. Pinheiro Braathen, another consistent performer, positioned himself well for the second run.
Ritchie Shines for North America
The first of the North Americans to ski was the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Benjamin Ritchie, who is having a breakout season under the leadership of new head slalom coach Tristan Glasse-Davies. Ritchie did not disappoint. Wearing bib 28, he skied with power and efficiency, attacking the course to cross the finish line in eighth place.
This strong performance puts Ritchie in an excellent position for a career-best result, showcasing his progress this season and his ability to compete among the world’s best.
Unfortunately, Ritchie was the only North American to qualify for the second run.
Course Conditions Keep the Field Intact Early
The streak of clean runs ended with Austria’s Olympic slalom silver medalist, Johannes Strolz, who wore bib 16 and became the first racer to record a DNF. His early exit marked a break in the consistency displayed by the first 15 competitors. Remarkably, Strolz was the only skier among the first 30 to fail to finish the first run.
This reality sets a high bar for the later starters, who needed to deliver exceptional performances to qualify for the afternoon finale. The tight competition and favorable conditions mean every fraction of a second counts in the battle for a top-30 spot. However, as in every race, some manage to rise to the challenge.
Late Starters Face Tough Odds
By the end of the first run, only three skiers starting outside the top 30 managed to qualify for the second run. The fastest among them was Belgium’s Sam Maes, wearing bib 42, who skied into 23rd place, finishing 1.71 seconds behind leader Atle Lie McGrath.
The final skier to make the cut was Germany’s Anton Tremmel, starting with bib 44. Tremmel delivered a strong performance to secure 26th place, just 1.78 seconds off McGrath’s leading time. Their success highlights the difficulty for late starters in such a competitive field, especially with excellent early conditions.
First Run Results: Top 30 Finishers
Click images to enlarge
Analysis of the Fastest Three and North American Qualifiers
About the Author: Peter Lange
