Christmas finished 29/100 behind McGrath.

The Swiss Daniel Yule completes the podium at 64/100.

Back from the Olympics, Clément Noël had largely failed in the two slaloms in Garmisch ten days ago (two outings).

On Wednesday, he regained a more respectable position in his new standing.

Third after the first heat, he mastered his subject on the second course (9th time), designed by his trainer Loïc Brun, to take the provisional lead, before seeing the young McGrath pass him in front.

The joy of Norwegian Atle Lie Mcgrath, after his victory at the finish of the second run, in the Flachau slalom, counting for the World Cup, on March 9, 2022 in Austria BARBARA GINDL APA / AFP

This 2nd place is only his second World Cup podium this season in nine slaloms, after winning the opening race in Val d'Isère in December.

In the meantime, the Vosgien has been out a lot (four times), experiencing many disappointments before winning the Olympic title in China last month.

The joy of Norwegian Atel Lie Mcgrath (c), winner of the Flachau slalom, counting for the World Cup, ahead of Frenchman Clément Noël and Swiss Daniel Yule, on March 9, 2022 in Austria BARBARA GINDL APA / AFP

His irregular season no longer allows Noël to play the small slalom globe, where he is only 8th, but he will have the opportunity to finish in style on March 20 for the last slalom during the finals in Méribel, France.

In the general classification of the World Cup, the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen left the door open to his competitors with a modest 16th place.

But he keeps the lead with 48 points in the classification of the specialty on his compatriot Lucas Braathen and 64 points on the German Linus Strasser before the last race (the victory is worth 100 points).

Five skiers can still claim the globe (with Manuel Feller and Daniel Yule).

Ahead of the French, the Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath won the first victory of his career at 21, after having already finished 2nd in January at Schladming (he also has a 3rd place in parallel and a 2nd in giant acquired last winter) .

The young man with an American father confirms the very good health of Norwegian skiing: four of them have won at least one slalom this winter with Kristoffersen, world champion Sebastian Foss-Solevaag and Lucas Braathen.

He took advantage of the big miss in the 2nd round of Austrian Olympic vice-champion Johannes Strolz, who had nevertheless crushed the 1st round, counting 97/100 ahead of McGrath, 2nd in the first layout.

The two leaders of the general classification, the Swiss Marco Odermatt and the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, do not line up in the slaloms, and were therefore absent in Austria.

The circuit goes on Saturday and Sunday in Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) with two giants.

© 2022 AFP