ALTA BADIA – Alexis Pinturault held off a challenge from unheralded Norwegian skier Atle Lie McGrath to win the classic men’s World Cup giant slalom on the Gran Risa course Sunday.After leading the first run, the Frenchman mastered the steep and technically demanding course in the Italian Alps for a second time to beat McGrath by seven hundredths.“It was really close.
It was a huge fight,” Pinturault said.“The light was slowly going down because it started to be a little bit late. It made such a difference in the pitch.
But I tried my best and pushed really hard and it paid off.”Justin Murisier finished 0.24 seconds behind in third for the Swiss skier's first career podium result.Marco Odermatt and Filip Zubcic were in the top three after.