LEVI, Finland (AP) — Lucas Pinheiro Braathen took a commanding lead in the opening run of a men’s World Cup slalom Sunday, positioning himself for what would be Brazil’s first-ever win in a top-level ski race less than three months before the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Pinheiro Braathen had an all-attacking run on the Levi Black course to finish 0.41 seconds ahead of 2022 Olympic champion Clement Noel of France and 0.49 ahead of his former Norwegian teammate Timon Haugan.

The rest of the field, including slalom World Cup winner Henrik Kristoffersen and world champion Loic Meillard, had more than eight-tenths to make up on Pinheiro Braathen in the final leg later Sunday.

“I had a good feeling. I had a plan and a strategy, and I followed that. I know when I follow my plan, I have a lot of po

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