When he sees the end of a round, Atle Lie McGrath has few equivalents in the short turn discipline. The Norwegian had been eliminated twice at Adelboden and at Madonna di Campiglio, but he had finished on the podium in four of the last eight giants or slaloms. Sunday morning, in Wengen, it passed and big gaps were opened. Will he be able to contain his enthusiasm from the beginning of the afternoon? In any case, he has the keys to success in his hands.
Norway vibrated during the Bernese morning. Because behind McGrath, Henrik Kristoffersen also showed his technique. However, he will have 43 hundredths to make up if he expects to achieve his second success of the season. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, born in Oslo who now wears Brazilian colors, will also take part, he who is 5th at 0”82.
Since the start of the exercise, Loïc Meillard (23rd after the passage of 35 competitors) has often been the tree that hid the forest of the lack of consistency of the Swiss slalomers. For once, the exceptional technique of the Valaisanno-Neuchâtelois did not really work wonders on the Männlichen route. The one who was still the red bib for the slalom a little over a week ago has left 1”75 behind and will have to achieve miracles in the 2nd round to get back to the top.
-Fortunately for the Bernese public, Swiss Ski has reserves and two athletes frustrated at the start of the season have made their timely return. Tanguy Nef, in particular, confirmed that he was back at the highest level. The Genevan, 5th in Levi and 8th in Adelboden, can dream of his first career podium. He is 3rd at 0”53. Daniel Yule has also found a second youth. The Valaisan took a good provisional 4th place, 0”67 behind McGrath and just 14 hundredths behind her compatriot.
It was more complicated for Marc Rochat (at 2”02), Luca Aerni at 2”46) and Ramon Zenhäusern (at 3”07). The last two should not be at the start early in the afternoon.
