Flachau slalom – First success in the World Cup for Atle Lie McGrath, Clément Noel 2nd

It was well worth a memorable scene of joy. The very demonstrative Atle Lie McGrath threw his helmet on the ground, before taking the lead with both hands, when the time of Johannes Strolz, author of the best time of the 1st round but finally 4th, was displayed on the panel. Yes, the winner of the Flachau slalom is indeed him. A sensation, inevitably, for the 21-year-old Norwegian who had never tasted success but had already distinguished himself with a 2nd place in Kitzbühel. Solid in both races on Tuesday, Clément Noel took 2nd place at 29 hundredths.

We thought victory was almost assured for Strolz. The Olympic vice-champion had indeed crushed the first run with a second ahead of the competition. But the Austrian faltered on the second part of the final run and had to settle, in front of his home crowd, with a frustrating 4th place two hundredths from the podium completed by the Swiss Daniel Yule (+0”64). McGrath is the 8th different winner (and the 4th Norwegian!) out of the nine World Cup slaloms already contested this winter. Before the last, which will be held on March 20 in Méribel, his compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen, the only skier with 2 victories between the poles (Saturday and last Sunday in Garmisch), remains on pole to win the 3rd small globe of his career.

Kristoffersen got hot

The tempestuous Scandinavian is doing well despite his 1st run completely missed. Trapped at the bottom of the course, he hung on to qualifying in extremis (28th time at 2”67) for the final round. This did not allow him to make the hoped-for recovery – despite having set the best time. But Lucas Braathen, his runner-up in the small globe ranking, did not shine either, ranking 15th … one rank ahead of Kristoffersen (16th at 1”34) and one place behind Alexis Pinturault (14th at 1”20), alone another French present in the 2nd round.

As a result, “Kristo” still has a 48-point lead over his young compatriot, 64 over Linus Strasser (9th on Tuesday), 70 over Manuel Feller (6th) and 88 over Daniel Yule. The others, including Clément Noël (114 points behind), mathematically can no longer win the globe.

Moelgg bowed out

This night race on the lands of Hermann Maier (the track on which the race takes place bears his name) was also marked by the last race in the career of Manfred Moelgg, winner of the small globe in 2008 and three World Cup slaloms. The Italian, soon to be in his forties, took the time to savor his last moments as a professional skier by hurtling down the first run quite calmly. His friends from the circuit were waiting for him in the finish area to shower him with champagne. A retirement celebrated as it should be.