ST. MORITZ, Switzerland - Austria's Stephan Eberharter won the super giant slalom at the World Championships on Sunday, finishing just ahead of Bode Miller and Hermann Maier, who tied for second. Eberharter finished in 1 minute, 38.80 seconds to reclaim the title he won 12 years ago.           

"I am extremely proud to become Super G world champion again 12 years later," Eberharter said.

Stephan Eberharter

Maier and Miller finished in the identical time of 1:39.57.

Maier, who returned to competition three weeks ago after nearly losing a leg in a motorcycle accident in August 2001, built a 0.67-second lead in the top of the Corviglia course but lost time at the bottom and finished tied with Miller.

"It's great company," Miller said after his best Super G finish.

Maier wasn't happy with his performance. He swung his poles in frustration after crossing the line.

"There was a lot more there for me," the two-time Olympic champion and three-time overall World Cup winner said. "I was very careless in the bottom, I threw it away.

"I should have been more aggressive, at one gate I went too wide and that's what made the difference."

Maier shared the gold medal at the 1999 World Championships in Vail, Colorado, with Norway's Lasse Kjus, who finished ninth Sunday

American Daron Rahlves, the defending champion, finished 22nd.

 Eberharter

It was a sweet victory for Eberharter, who dominated the World Cup circuit in Maier's absence but was often overshadowed by his countryman.

Eberharter was 0.34 seconds slower than Maier at the halfway mark, but raced a tremendous bottom section to win by .77 seconds.

"I fought like a tiger," Eberharter said. "It was my sixth World Championship. I had no pressure. I was calm and I liked the slope.

"To be the winner of this race is much more important than beating Hermann Maier. We are getting on well with each other, it's the media that say it is the other way around."

Eberharter, who leads the overall World Cup standings, won the Super G title for the first time on home snow in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in 1991.

Miller wasn't happy with his performance.

"It didn't feel like my best race, but it was my best result," said Miller, who trails Eberharter in the World Cup standings.

Until this season, Miller was best known for his success in gate races rather than speed events.

"These two guys have been the best in the world in the last five, six years. It's great to be sharing the podium with them," Miller said.

Switzerland's Ambrosi Hoffmann finished fourth.

Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt, the Olympic Super G champion, finished fifth, missing a record-tying 11th World Championship medal.

Canadians Erik Guay and Jan Hudec finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

By NESHA STARCEVIC, Associated Press Writer, 02.01.2003