03/08/26 04:44:00
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03/08 04:42 CDT Atle Lie McGrath leads in first World Cup slalom since his
Olympic exit into the forest
Atle Lie McGrath leads in first World Cup slalom since his Olympic exit into
the forest
KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) --- From a course-side forest at the Olympics back
into the leader's box in the World Cup.
Atle Lie McGrath was fastest in the first run of a slalom Sunday, his first
race in the discipline since an emotional exit from an Olympics race three
weeks ago that he was set to win.
As he waited at the start gate Sunday, the World Cup television broadcast
showed a quiet empty space in a nearby forest --- a reminder of where the
Norwegian racer famously went to cool off alone in Bormio, Italy, after failing
to finish his second run.
It was a vivid image from the Milan Cortina Olympics and McGrath made another
strong impression with a slick finish to be 0.17 seconds faster than Lucas
Pinheiro Braathen.
The childhood friends also are dueling for the season-long World Cup slalom
title that will be decided at the last race on March 24 in Norway, where they
grew up.
The Vermont-born McGrath leads Pinheiro Braathen, the Olympic giant slalom
champion racing for Brazil, by just one point in the standings. The winner
Sunday earns 100 points and the runner-up gets 80.
Clment Nol, the 2022 Olympic champion, also is in contention for the slalom
title though he was seventh-fastest, with 0.78 to make up in the afternoon run.
Armand Marchant of Belgium was third, trailing McGrath by 0.55.
The Olympic and world champion in slalom, Loc Meillard, skied out and another
Norwegian contender in the World Cup standings, Timon Haugan, straddled a gate.
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AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
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