Miller time in Italy

Starting 21st, the American charged down the Saslong piste in one minute 32.99 seconds to beat Austrian Gruber into second place by a comfortable 0.64 margin.

Canadian Kucera finished third, 0.73 off Miller's pace, to show that his surprise win in the season's first super-G on home snow in Lake Louise was no flash in the pan.

Miller, who failed to win a medal at the Turin Olympics while gaining a reputation for late-night partying, put a poor start to the season behind him when he won the Beaver Creek downhill on December 1.

The 29-year-old will be a favourite to triumph again in Saturday's classic Val Gardena downhill and will fancy his chances in the technical events in Alta Badia on Sunday and Monday as he looks to take command of the overall World Cup.

Miller combined his natural aggression and pace with great concentration on a demanding course with hard snow and plenty of sharp turns.

"I skied aggressively and I definately didn't make any mistakes today," said Miller who on Saturday will be aiming to win his first downhill in Europe.

Miller has previously won three World Cup super-G races - in Lake Louise and Lenzerheide during the 2005 season when he won the overall title and then last season at Are in Sweden.

Kucera's podium place completed a good performance for North Americans with the Canadian in buoyant mood after pushing Switzerland's Didier Cuche, fastest in downhill training here

this week, into fourth place just ahead of former Olympic super-G champion Hermann Maier of Austria.

"I put in a good run and skied well, it was a strong and solid run and I am happy with it. I need to keep focused and pay attention to the littel details," said Kucera.

He paid tribute to race organisers who managed to produce a fast and testing course despite a shortage of natural snow.

"Considering the way the winter has been in Europe so far, I think they did an amazing job," said the Canadian.