Winning comeback for the Norwegian, third place for Meillard. Sala climbs from 26th to 14th place with the second heat time
Four slaloms and four different winners: on the Gran Risa in Alta Badia the second heat kept its promises and offered a race full of emotions, overtaking and surprises. After Braathen (Levi), Rassat (Gurgl) and Haugan (Val d’Isère), Norwegian Atle McGrath wins the cents lottery. He was 9 behind Noel in the first run and overtook the Frenchman with a faster second run. In a much faster second heat (three seconds less than the first), his 1’44″50 was enough to win and leave behind Noel at 30 (100) and Meillard (at 39/100). Haugan remains at the foot of the podium, the Norwegian who won the last edition is fourth (at 53/100) ahead of Braathen, protagonist of the comeback from 12th to fifth place.
vinny tenth
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Alex Vinatzer’s comeback was unsuccessful: he paid for the delay in the 10 gates between the first and second intermediate and from seventh place, on snow to be caressed he pushed too hard, ending up braking. “I’m disappointed, that was the sector where I could make the difference. But instead of being fluid, I pushed and braked. Then I recovered, but it wasn’t enough.” He finishes tenth at 1″01, a result that is not enough to return to the first group by a whisker.
Tommaso Sala instead smiles, only Feller did better than him in the second heat, but the second time allowed him to move up from 26th to 12th place. “I started at full speed, I looked for a lot of speed” says Sala, who is finding himself race after race after missing last season due to injury.
After the Christmas break, the men’s World Cup moves to Livigno, where a super-G is scheduled for the 27th. This year no competitions in Bormio, the Olympic venue.
classification
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Alta Badia Slalom: 1. McGrath (Nor) 1’44″50; 85/100; 7. Nef (Svi) of 93/100); 14. Sala and 1″1
World Cup (dopo 15 test) 1. Odermatt (Svi) 805; 2. Haugan (Nor) 360; 3. Pinheiro Braathen (Good) 358; 9. Vinatzer 295.
Slalom cup (dopo 4 test): 1. Haugan (Nor) 245; 2. Noel (From) 182; 3. Rassat (From) 180; 12. Vinatzer 88.
