LAKE LOUISE, Alberta, 2 December 2003 — Hermann Maier, back to his winning ways after a life-threatening motorcycle accident, led an Austrian sweep of the top four places in the first men’s super-G of the Alpine ski World Cup season yesterday.

Former Olympic and world champion Maier, who almost lost his right leg in the crash two years ago, produced a storming run to beat teammate Michael Walchhofer, Saturday’s downhill winner here, into second place by 0.26 seconds.

“It’s unbelievable,” beamed a clearly delighted Maier after registering his 43rd career victory. “I am surprised. This is so much more than I expected.

Defending overall World Cup champion Stephan Eberharter was third, 0.55 seconds behind Maier’s time of one minute 36.69, with Benjamin Raich fourth in 1:37.64.

Experienced Norwegian Lasse Kjus was the highest-placed non-Austrian, just ahead of Saturday’s runner-up Erik Guay who briefly raised Canadian hopes when he held the early lead. But there was no denying Maier, who attacked the Olympic course like the “Herminator” of old, clenching his teeth as he pushed out of the start hut and roaring down the sun-kissed Whitehorn Mountain.

When Maier crossed the finished line and saw his time on the scoreboard he immediately thrust his fists into the air and twirled his ski poles in celebration.

The victory opens another chapter in what has become one of the most remarkable comebacks in all of sport.

After nearly 18 months of intensive therapy, a determined Maier finally made his return to the World Cup last January, stunning the ski world by winning an emotional super-G on home snow just 13 days later in front of thousands of fans in Kitzbuehel.

He followed that effort with a silver medal-winning performance in the same event at the world championships at St. Moritz but then had to undergo another operation on his reconstructed leg.

This season did not begin well for the 30-year-old Austrian, who broke a rib in a training crash but raced through the pain to finish 16th in the opening giant slalom last month.

It was another disappointing day for American Bode Miller as the overall World Cup leader finished 19th to see his advantage in the standings trimmed to just nine points over Walchhofer.

But the only regret Miller expressed at the end of his run was that he had not been able watch Maier’s impressive charge down the course.