Kjus denies Austrian aces in Italy
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Kjus proved his mastery of the Saslong piste and his Austrian rivals.
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VAL GARDENA, Italy -- Hermann Maier had to settle for third behind winner Lasse Kjus of Norway and Austrian team-mate Stephan Eberharter in Friday's World Cup super-G at Val Gardena, Italy.
The 'Herminator' has made a superb return to competition after nearly losing a leg in a motorcycle accident, but could not match Kjus' run of one minute 36.94 seconds.
He was followed by former overall World Cup champion Eberharter, who marked a return to form as he came within a tenth of dislodging Kjus.
It was the second super-G success for the 32-year-old Norwegian veteran, eight years after his top spot on the podium in Vail, Colorado.
Kjus, who was ahead at all the intermediary timing points, said: "I'm really pleased to beat Eberharter and Maier. It's a real pleasure. I have worked hard this season on a lot of little points which prevented me from doing well last year."
American Bode Miller, who finished 17th, finally finished a speed event after continually falling in races in the United States earlier this season.
Third place was good enough for Maier to stretch his lead in the super-G and overall World Cup standings.
Maier leads the discipline standings with 160 points after two races and has 465 in the overall rankings after 11 events. Compatriot Hans Knauss has 358 and Kjus jumps to third place with 350 points.
The World Cup continues on Saturday with a downhill on the same Saslong piste.
