The Scandinavian made a real demonstration on this first route. The son of Felix, an American slalom racer in the 1980s (1 World Cup podium), took advantage of his No. 2 bib to benefit from an almost immaculate course and showed off his precision. The native of Vermont (USA) pushed the entire “peloton” back by at least half a second. McGrath is the only skier to have opened up gaps.
Because far behind him, the athletes have piled up at the start of the Italian evening, which promises a great fight for the podium at 8:45 p.m. There are around fifteen of them who ranked in the same second as Loïc Meillard (2nd at 0”62). The Valaisanno-Neuchâtelois has once again showcased his talent but will have to watch his rearview mirror in “prime-time”.
Apart from Meillard, the Swiss-Ski coaches will grimace a little at the end of this first route. The Valaisan Daniel Yule and the Genevan Tanguy Nef were left behind the good car, more than a second from the provisional podium. Vaudois Marc Rochat finally saw a finish line, but at the cost of extreme caution. His three seconds delay should not allow him to start the second round. Same sanction for Ramon Zenhäusern, dropped at two and a half seconds.
The Frenchman Clément Noël, always among the big favorites when it comes to short turns, was eliminated after just a few gates. On a track which held up well, despite the recent heavy snowfall, the Norwegian Timon Haugan and the Swede Kristoffer Jakobsen also left the track, surprised by patches of ice. Same sanction for Marco Schwarz, title holder, after just a few gates.
This first round was a small cemetery of elephants, because the Italian Alex Vinatzer and the Haut-Valaisan Luca Aerni got on board. The last transalpine victory on this track dates back 20 years now. It was Giorgio Rocca, the native of Chur in Graubünden. The legend Alberto Tomba, triple winner on this slope and present in the stands, must not have appreciated it.
