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Press release –
Historic success for Albert Popov. Wednesday sees the Bulgarian athlete win the Night Slalom in Madonna di Campiglio. This is the first World Cup victory for the 27-year-old and the first for his country since Petar Popangelov stood on top of the podium in 1980 – exactly 45 years to the day. Atle Lie McGrath drops out on the second run following a sensational lead on run one.
“Albert Popov’s victory made this a brilliant day for us. Although it was a shame that Atle Lie McGrath didn’t finish the second run, this has been really sensational,” is how HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber analysed the result. “We have been supporting Albert Popov since he was still at school when he came to us in the course of an Austrian scholarship programme. It was always clear that he is capable of great things, and he has put in a great deal of effort. He has been skiing at a high level for a long time now and has always had the podium in his sights. This victory now makes everything even more brilliant. He benefits from our equipment working really well. This also plays an important part. Eighth place for our newcomer Benjamin Ritchie was also great. He is now in the top 30, which also makes things easier for him. We can look forward to the next Slalom races very positively.”
“The best feeling I’ve ever had”
Previously, Albert Popov stood on the World Cup podium once when he finished third in the Slalom in Palisades Tahoe in February 2023. Clocking the fastest time on the second run in Madonna di Campiglio, he skied from eighth place to take the lead. In the finish area, the Bulgarian athlete was delighted with his first victory: “That was everything I trained for. I am proud of myself, my team, and my family. We achieved this together. It is the best feeling I’ve ever had. I looked at the course and thought: it’s all or nothing. I knew that I had to ski full throttle on the steep section and I’m glad that it worked out the way I planned. Winning this race 45 years after Petar Popangelov’s victory means a lot to me. I wanted to show the kids that anything is possible, and I hope we will see more of them on skis. This result will certainly give them more motivation.”
Best World Cup result for Benjamin Ritchie
Benjamin Ritchie achieved his best World Cup result to date, finishing in eighth place with bib number 36 and skiing the second fastest time on run two. The US athlete’s previous best result was 13th place in the Slalom in Levi in November 2024. Johannes Strolz from Austria also bagged points in eleventh place, Paco Rassat from France clocked the fourth fastest time on the second run to finish twelfth, and Dave Ryding from Great Britain finished in 14th place. Despite Atle Lie McGrath not completing the second run, he showed his current top form with his first run. The 24-year-old Norwegian was a whole 62 hundredths of a second ahead. “It was fun, the atmosphere is great. I love these night races with the floodlights. What a beautiful first run! To be in the lead after the first run is a dream. It’s really cool,” said Atle Lie McGrath following his awesome first run.
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A brilliant first run and the third fastest time on run two wins Sara Hector the Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora on Saturday with a sensational lead of 1.42 seconds. Following this ultimate performance, the Swedish athlete also takes the Red Jersey as the World Cup leader in this discipline.
HEAD World Cup Rebels podium in all four races this weekend. Vincent Kriechmayr celebrates his first podium of the season, finishing second in the Super-G in Bormio on Sunday. Second places are also clocked by Franjo von Allmen in the Downhill on the Stelvio run on Saturday, Sara Hector in the Giant Slalom in Semmering on Saturday, and Lena Dürr in the Slalom in Semmering on Sunday.
Atle Lie McGrath stays focused on success in Alta Badia. The Norwegian athlete finishes in third place in the Slalom on Monday, the last race before Christmas, securing his fourth podium of the season.
The HEAD World Cup Rebels celebrate a brilliant double victory by Cornelia Hütter and Lara Gut-Behrami on Saturday at the Super-G in St. Moritz. An equally spectacular comeback sees Lindsey Vonn finish 14th after almost six years away from racing. In the men's Downhill in Val Gardena on Saturday, two HEAD World Cup Rebels podium with Franjo von Allmen in second place and Ryan Cochran-Siegle third.
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