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– It is stereotypical to say that you are empty of words, but I am completely foolish. Just saying goodbye to you at home, another early Christmas present, says Atle Lie McGrath after sensational second place.
Despite a small mistake in the final round, the 20-year-old Norwegian finished second in the giant slalom race on Sunday. As he took the lead in goal, he screamed and cheered uncontrollably and realized that it was going to be by far the best position of his career at the World Cup.
– Have you seen anything like it? Stand out here. This is absolutely hugely strong, commented NRK’s Thomas Lerdahl.
– crazy
– I didn’t see it was green at first, I saw number six. But then I saw that the other colleagues were completely “crazy.” It was completely wild. Totally sick.
At the same time, teammates Lucas Braathen and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde come and throw themselves around McGrath’s neck. They dance and sing “Atle, ole, ole, ole.”
– That’s why I love being part of a team. It’s totally disgusting how delicious it is, says a clearly excited mountaineer.
Alexis Pinturault was the best after the first round and was therefore the system man in the final round. In the end, the Frenchman was just seven hundredths ahead of McGrath.
Lucas Bråthen and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde sing and dance Atle Lie McGrath.
Seven hundredths of a record
The youngest ever winner in Alta Badia is Italian superstar Alberto Tomba. He was six days away from turning 21 at the time. At today’s giant slalom, both Atle Lie McGrath and Lucas Braathen had a chance to break that record.
The two young men were number four and five respectively after the first lap and McGrath especially received high praise for the way he drove in the first lap.
– The course from Exit 29 is one of the toughest I’ve seen, says Kjetil André Aamodt about McGrath, who can do something great today.
JUBEL RUS: Atle Lie McGrath (left) and Alexis Pinturault were able to bounce the champagne after being the best in the giant slalom race in Alta Badia.
Photo: Marco Trovati / AP
Only one big mistake at the end prevented the 20-year-old from leading the race after the first lap.
– Atle skis incredibly well and hit very well today. It really shows what it does right, even with a bug. Bring out what we know can be today. The driving he’s had in practice for a long time, says Haver-Løseth.
– It says a bit when we compare the boys with Alberto Tomba, perhaps the biggest star we have had in alpine sports, says Kjetil André Aamodt.
When Tomba became Alta Badia’s youngest winner in 1987, it was 13 years before McGrath was born. But his father, Felix McGrath, ran that race and finished eighth.
Braathen was unable to continue the good first round driving and finished as number 18. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde was the second best Norwegian in sixth place, while Leif Kristian Nestvold Haugen was 17 and Henrik Kristoffersen 15.
