Norwegian skier Haugan posts convincing men's slalom World Cup win in Italy

Norwegian skier Timon Haugan added to his first-run advantage to win a World Cup slalom by 1.13 seconds over Loic Meillard of Switzerland at Alta Badia resort in La Villa, Italy on Monday. Two Canadians didn't advance to the second run.

Beats Swiss athlete Meillard by 1.13 seconds; Canadians didn't advance to 2nd run

Timon Haugan of Norway is hoisted by fellow skiers after winning a men's slalom race for his second World Cup victory on Dec. 23, 2024 at Alta Badia resort in La Villa, Italy.
Timon Haugan picked up his second World Cup victory Monday, finishing 1.13 seconds ahead of Loic Meillard of Switzerland and 1.26 in front of Norwegian teammate Atle Lie McGrath in men's slalom at Alta Badia resort in La Villa, Italy. (Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)

Norwegian skier Timon Haugan added to his first-run advantage to win a World Cup slalom by a large margin at Alta Badia resort in La Villa, Italy on Monday.

Haugan finished 1.13 seconds ahead of Loic Meillard of Switzerland and 1.26 ahead of Norwegian teammate Atle Lie McGrath.

It was Haugan's second World Cup victory after taking the slalom at finals last season in Saalbach, Austria, the site of this season's world championships in February.

WATCH l Haugan wins 2nd career World Cup slalom:

Norway's Timon Haugan wins men's slalom for 2nd career World Cup title

1 day ago
Duration 1:52
Timon Haugan of Norway finishes first in the men's World Cup slalom race in Alta Badia, Italy.

Montreal's Simon Fournier was 47th in the opening run and didn't advance, while Calgary's Erik Read did not finish the run.

Haugan led McGrath by 31-100ths of a second after the first leg then charged the entire way down his second run. He made a mistake and was pushed wide midway down and made a slight bobble on the bottom of the Gran Risa course. But he recovered both times and celebrated by skiing in a circle in the finish area.

"I tried to keep it simple, keep it clean and really attack," McGrath said. "That was the main goal today, just focus on the skiing and not think about the result."

Haugan was coming off a fifth-place finish in Sunday's giant slalom on the Gran Risa course, which was his best result this season -- until Monday.

"It's always nice to ski the GS the day before and get a feeling for the snow," Haugan said. "It's good for the nerves, too, to get a good result yesterday and then I can just relax and focus on the skiing."

3 straight podiums for McGrath

Meillard was only eighth in the morning but surged up the leader board for his third podium in four slaloms this season.

McGrath, who was second after the first run, recorded his third consecutive slalom podium after placing third in Gurgl, Austria, and second in Val d'Isere, France.

Norway had a 1-2 in Val d'Isere eight days ago with Henrik Kristoffersen finishing ahead of McGrath.

Kristoffersen finished fourth this time, 1.31 behind, but held on to his lead in the slalom standings.

Olympic champion Clement Noel stood third after the first run but struggled toward the end of his second run and placed sixth.

Noel won the opening two slaloms of the season but then missed the Val d'Isere race after injuring his ankle in a giant slalom.

The course in the Italian Dolomites was dark in sections, icy and bumpy.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the Norwegian-born standout now representing Brazil, finished 12th, putting down the fastest second run to move up from 24th after the first leg.

The men's circuit resumes with downhill and super-G races in Bormio on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

With files from CBC Sports

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