Stephan Eberharter won the opening event of the World Ski Championships, the men's super-G, in Switzerland on Sunday.

The Austrian produced a clinical run down the narrow, twisty course to clinch first spot in a time of one minute 38.80 seconds.

It is the second time Eberharter has won the title but he has had a 12-year wait.

"I am extremely proud to become super-G world champion again 12 years later," he said.

"I fought like a tiger but I had no pressure, I was calm and I liked the slope."

Eberharter's big rival, compatriot Hermann Maier made a sensational return after nearly losing a leg in a motorcycle crash 18 months ago.

I was very careless and threw the race away Hermann Maier

Maier shared second place with America's Bode Miller, after both posted an identical time of 1:39.57.

The Austrian was almost on target for a perfect comeback after he built up a big lead at the top of the Corviglia course.

But he slowed on the lower slopes and settled for a joint silver medal.

Maier said: "There was a lot more there for me. '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."

There was frustration for the home crowd as the Swiss contingent missed out on a podium spot, with Ambrosi Hoffmann the leading finisher in fourth.

Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt also failed to recover the form that won him Olympic gold last year, as he fell back to fifth spot.

Canadian duo Erik Guay and Jan Hudec pulled off the surprise of the opening day as they came home sixth and seventh respectively.

The first Briton down the slopes in the championships, Scotland's Finlay Mickel, produced a solid performance to finish 29th in what is not his favoured discipline.

The women will be in action for the first time on Monday in the super-G.

Italy's Karen Putzer, France's Carole Montillet and Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister will be favourites to take the title.

Men's super-G result:

1. Stephan Eberharter (Aut) 1min 38.80sec
2. Bode Miller (USA) 1:39.57
Hermann Maier (Aut) 1:39.57
4. Ambrosi Hoffmann (Swi) 1:39.61
5. Kjetil-Andre Aamodt (Nor) 1:39.75
6. Erik Guay (Can) 1:39.88
7. Jan Hudec (Can) 1:39.91
8. Bruno Kernen (Swi) 1:39.96
9. Lasse Kjus (Nor) 1:40.04
10. Gregor Sparovec (Slo) 1:40.10