Alpine skiing-Norways McGrath wins mens slalom in Alta Badia

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Dec 22 - Norways Atle Lie McGrath denied Olympic champion Clement Noel a first World Cup victory of the season as he stormed to victory in the mens slalom at Alta Badia on Monday.

Frenchman Noel led after the first run but lost time with a scrappy start to his second and could not better the time of McGrath, who won with a combined time of 1:44.50. Noel was 0.30 seconds back with Swiss Loic Meillard in third, 0.39 seconds slower.

Noel had led after the first leg of a World Cup slalom 17 times in his career but converted those into victories only seven times, and it was another day of frustration for the 28-year-old who was only 22nd-quickest on his second run.

U.S.-born McGrath produced a solid second run and accelerated through the closing gates to claim his fourth World Cup victory.

Norwegian-born Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was third-quickest in the second run at the Italian resort but just missed out on a podium place in fifth position, with Norways Timon Haugen, the slalom World Cup leader, in fourth. REUTERS