McGrath tops Olympic slalom times but Braathen out / Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI - AFP
McGrath tops Olympic slalom times but Braathen out
Norway's Atle Lie McGrath topped times in an attritional first leg of the men's Olympic slalom in Bormio on Monday which saw Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen among the casualties.
McGrath was first out of the start hut in snowy conditions and timed 56.14 seconds, a time that was not bettered as racers struggled with visibility on a deteriorating Stelvio course.
Braathen, who won South America's first-ever Winter Olympic gold when he stormed to victory in Saturday's giant slalom, slipped out high up the course.
Only three racers got within one second of McGrath, whose grandfather died during the opening ceremony of these Milan-Cortina Games.
Switzerland's Loic Meillard sat in second, at 0.59sec, wtih Austrian Fabio Gstrein third (+0.94) and McGrath's teammate Timon Haugan fourth (+0.96).
N.Stefanou--AN-GR
