In what will certainly be regarded as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of sports, Austrian Hermann Maier won the Super-G today at Kitzbuehel. The race was only Maier's fifth since returning to action following a motorcycle accident 18 months ago that nearly took his life and left doctors wondering if he would ever walk again.

Maier's time of 1:20.48 led an Austrian sweep of the top 5 spots just two days after the home team was shut out in the Hahnenkamm downhill. Christoph Gruber was second in 1:20.59, while Stephan Eberharter's 3rd-place finish (1:20.64) enabled him to regain the overall points lead from American Bode Miller.

But the day clearly belongs to Maier. Perhaps the only comparable story of an athlete at the top of his sport suffering such a serious physical setback, yet returning to the highest levels of performance, would be U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong, who recovered from testicular cancer to claim three consecutive Tour de France crowns.

Maier demonstrated the mental toughness of a champion when asked to evaluate his earlier performances in his comeback. "I think when I came back I had too much of an expectation on myself," he said. "So I had to change my tactics. Today, in the start, I thought of having one of the best times -- maybe not winning -- but having one of the best times."

Given that it was his fifth race back, and his performance had improved each time out (including 7th and 6th in his last two events), Maier's suggestion that his expectations were too high simply shows that he believes he can, and will, win every time out, even after his injury.

Many thought the race would be called, as heavy, heavy snow began about a half-hour prior to start. Marco Sullivan was the first U.S. victim, pulling out just past the midway point after having trouble keeping on line. Thomas Vonn made it to the bottom, but it wasn't pretty. "I took this HUGE air in Johno's section at the top. I knew the jump was there, but I couldn't see a thing and all of a sudden, bam, I'm flying about 50 feet and it felt like I was 12 feet in the air. I was going right at a gate panel." Vonn finished 35th.

Downhill winner Daron Rahlves, was never really on pace against the eventual winning times, but lost any chance with a big mistake at the bottom. "I just got too much on my left ski and shot way wide," said Rahlves.

"The super G has been disappointing (for me) this season, with just no results," he added. "I haven't had a good run top-to-bottom yet. I feel like I can change that quickly. And in St. Moritz, I'm going to be ready for that race.

"Today it was tactics which just threw me off. It's not a good feeling to keep doing that. The downhill side of things is where I put the heavier price, but I've done well in super G in the past. But I'm looking forward to get it going again in St. Moritz."

Miller battled snow in and on his goggles. By the lower part of the course, he had extremely limited visibility. He had a top-10 top split, but was 28th on the bottom. The finish did drop him behind Eberharter in the overall hunt, but Miller has the opportunity to move back into the lead in Tuesday's night slalom in Schladming, which he won a year ago.

The finish kept the U.S. men in third behind Austria and Switzerland in the Nation's Cup hunt.

The men's speed team now heads to a private training camp before next Sunday's World Championship super G. The U.S. World Championship Team will be named later on Monday but will, of course, be led by defending World Champion Rahlves. Miller will join his slalom teammates, already in Schladming, for the spectacular Tuesday night race where he won a year ago.

The World Championships promise to be amazing, with the points race between Miller and Eberharter now joined by the Herminator's return to the top. Stay tuned.

See our feature story and interview with Hermann Maier about his return.

— MountainZone.com staff with additional material courtesy US Ski Team