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Ski. Atle Lie McGrath is the next young Norwegian to revolutionize the World Cup. A compatriot does not look good at all: Henrik Kristoffersen.
Alta Badia / Vienna. Giant slalom grandmaster Alexis Pinturault was able to defend himself from the newcomer’s attack. While the laid-back 29-year-old Frenchman awaited the award ceremony, just as boring in Covid times, in Alta Badia, the jubilation of a young Norwegian knew no bounds: 20-year-old Atle Lie McGrath went up to seven hundredths of a Pinturault and he was happy for his first. World Cup podium.
But with McGrath, another Viking is not only revolutionizing the ski world, his sensational gait makes a supposed Norwegian leader look very bad: Henrik Kristoffersen.
The 26-year-old, used to success, is currently going through a dangerous stage in his career. For years he bit his teeth against Marcel Hirscher, and when he finally resigned, it was not Kristoffersen, as expected, but his compatriot Aleksander Aamodt Kilde who inherited Hirscher as the overall winner of the World Cup. Explosive: Kilde embodies the philosophy of the Norwegian team like no other, his victory was also a triumph over Kristoffersen’s unpopular solo effort. In the end, after years of bickering, he had outdone his own private team based on the Hirscher model.
Material or nerves?
As if that’s not enough humiliation for the ambitious Kristoffersen, in the first race of the new season at Sölden his compatriot Lucas Braathen, who is only 20 years old, races to his first victory. Hailed by Kilde, who took the young man under his wing according to Norwegian tradition. Even in the giant slalom of Santa Caterina, Kristoffersen only follows behind (22 and 12). And now, at Alta Badia, where he had won last year, he finished 15th not only clearly behind Kilde (6th), who was coming twice as fast as Val Gardena, but was again fooled by a teenager. McGrath also benefited from the experience of his peers in the Big Laughter. This is the only way for a 20-year-old to be fast immediately on one of the toughest tracks in the World Cup, where Marcel Hirscher hasn’t won six times in a row for nothing.
Apparently Kristoffersen is struggling with his material, but at Alta Badia he stated: “I had no problem with the material. I drive like a twelve year old. Without speed, strength and aggressiveness. “
Another explanation: the pressure on the Salzburg resident has become too great with Hirscher’s resignation. And now that the young point guard surrounding Braathen and McGrath are overtaking him in the giant slalom and is more than 200 points behind the superior duo Pinturault and Kilde in the overall World Cup, Kristoffersen is getting nervous. Slack was never his strong suit, which is why the Rælingen man never enjoyed the popularity of his compatriots Aksel Svindal, Kjetil Jansrud or Kilde.
Atle Lie McGrath, on the other hand, is the team player. He grew up in Norway, he drives for the well-known Baerums ski club (Finn Christian Jagge, Hans Petter Buraas, Lasse Kjus, Lucas Braathen). His father, American Felix McGrath, was one of the best slalom runners in the world in the 1980s. Now that the son has reached the World Cup, the renowned coach has returned to his home country and signed up. at Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont. The most famous graduate is Mikael Shiffrin.
Giant slalom Alta Badia
1. Alexis Pinturault (FRA) 2: 27,19 min.
2. Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) +0.07 Sek.
3. Justin Murisier (SUI) +0.24
Also: 4. Odermatt (SUI) +0.28 5. Ford (United States) +0.41 6. Source (NOR) +0.76 8. Brennsteiner (AUT) +0.91 twenty-one. Black (AUT) +1.66 22. Search (AUT) +1.73. Ausgeschieden ua: Feller (AUT).
ÖSV-LICHTBLICK
Stefan brennsteiner He came eighth at Alta Badia for the first top ten result in a giant ÖSV slalom this winter. Ninth halftime Roland Leitinger fell back to 22nd.
The ÖSV has been without a victory in 18 World Cup races (women and men 9 each).
(“Die Presse”, print edition, December 21, 2020)
