A day of ups and downs for Italy in the men’s slalom at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics. In the first heat, marked by treacherous snow conditions and a real storm on the track, the most awaited Italians were unable to play their cards for the top positions, while a young talent surprised with a convincing performance.
Vinatzer and Sala held back by snow
On the technical track, dominated in the initial phase by the American Atle Lie McGrath with bib number 1, the first heat saw Alex Vinatzer and Tommaso Sala struggling to find rhythm between the gates. Vinatzer tried to push in the second part of the test but fell, interrupting his race and compromising the possibility of a comeback in the overall ranking. Even Sala, despite showing commitment, was unable to keep up with the best.
Saccardi shines and enters the top-10
The surprise was instead Tommaso Saccardi, who with a clean race placed himself among the top ten in the first heat. His performance sparked enthusiasm in Italy, offering a positive element in a complicated day for the Italian slalomists.
The race continues
The race, conditioned by the weather conditions, saw McGrath close the first stage in the lead with a reference time, ahead of fierce competition. For the other Italians competing, the day was a test in the driving snow, with the imperative of trying to recover in the second heat.
A day that confirms how unpredictable Alpine slalom can be, especially when elements such as snow and visibility come into play. The Azzurri look to the second test with the aim of improving and collecting precious points for the rest of the competition.