Maier DQ'd, U.S. Skier Third

The Herminator stayed too long on the slopes, and that was all Bode Miller needed to make his World Cup breakthrough.

A strong second-leg run gave Miller third place Sunday in a men's World Cup giant slalom, his first time on a World Cup podium.

Miller was the American man to make the podium in a World Cup giant slalom since 1984, when Phil Mahre took third at Aspen, Colo.

Conspicuously absent from the top three was Hermann Maier, the Austrian ace. He was disqualified before the race even began.

Miller, 23, had a bad first run down the Oreiller Killy course, finishing 20th, while teammate Erik Schlopy placed ninth.

"The rhythm and distance weren't good for me," Miller said of his first run.

But in the afternoon, he produced a powerful run, finishing nearly a half-second faster than Michael Von Gruenigen of Switzerland, the overall winner in 2 minutes, 31.33 seconds.

"I knew I was capable of racing a leg like that," Miller said. "It's what I was trying to do the first time if I hadn't made so many mistakes."

Miller placed fourth in two slalom races in 1998, but has struggled since.

"It was a long time coming," Miller said Sunday after being timed in 2:31.98, just behind Heinz Schilchegger of Austria (2:31.92).

Miller also said that Maier's disqualification for breaking a time limit on his morning inspection run was a long time coming.

Miller accused Maier of having previously stayed 20 minutes longer than permitted on inspection runs, which allow skiers to get familiar with the course.

"He takes advantage of that every time," Miller said. "They had to lay down the law at some point. This is the only way to do it."

The International Ski Federation later barred Maier from racing in the next World Cup giant slalom and fined him $15,625, after he took an unauthorized run on Sunday's course 10 minutes before the race.

Schlopy wound up eighth at 2:32.64 after two strong runs, his fourth time among the top 10 this season in a World Cup giant slalom.

"I'm just doing the same thing race to race," Schlopy said. "The skiing is good and the confidence gets better.

"It brings more interest to the sport when Austrians don't do as well."

Other American finishers were Daron Rahlves, 19th, and Thomas Vonn, 22nd.

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