Atle Lie McGrath on the podium in the Parallel Slalom in Lech
Racing to third place in the parallel event in Lech/Zürs, Atle Lie McGrath makes an impressive return to form on Sunday. After finishing second in Alta Badia last season, his first World Cup podium finish, the 21-year-old Norwegian athlete was forced to end his season prematurely in January due to a ligament injury.
"It's amazing that Atle Lie McGrath is back on the podium. He delivered a great performance in Sölden, but then unfortunately dropped out. Finishing on the podium at the next opportunity is what I consider a perfect start to the season. I am convinced we will be seeing a lot more of Atle," says HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "It was a shame that he fell in the semi-final because he was already in front then as well. Alexis Pinturault - who won in Lech last year - was unfortunately eliminated despite putting in the fastest qualifying run. But overall, there is nothing to complain about."
Victory against Kristoffersen in duel for third place
Atle Lie McGrath beat his compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen by 15 hundredths of a second in the duel for third place. In the previous run, the HEAD Worldcup Rebel had to admit defeat to Austria's Dominik Raschner in the semi-finals after a fall just in front of the finish line. In the quarter-finals, Atle Lie McGrath won against Adrian Pertl from Austria, and in the last 16 against Cyprien Sarrazin from France. Alexander Schmid from the HEAD team also qualified for the finals. In the end, the German athlete finished in 14th place.
Sara Hector finishes fifth, Lena Dürr seventh
On Saturday, there was the women's Parallel Slalom event in Lech/Zürs. Sara Hector was the best HEAD athlete in fifth place. The Swedish athlete won against Katharina Liensberger from Austria in the best 16. In the quarter-finals, Sara Hector had to admit defeat to the later winner Andreja Slokar from Slovenia. Also among the top-16 were Lena Dürr from Germany in seventh place, Coralie Frasse Sombet from France in tenth place and the two Swiss athletes Vanessa Kasper and Lara Gut-Behrami, who finished in 14th and 15th place.
