VAL GARDENA, Italy -

Canadian Erik Guay, the defending World Cup super-G champion, was third in a World Cup super-G race on the Saslong course Friday.

Michael Walchhofer won in one minute 34.35 seconds, extending Austria's strong start to the Alpine season. With his second victory, Walchhofer takes the lead in the overall World Cup and super-G discipline standings.

Stephan Keppler of Germany got a career-best second place, trailing by 0.67.

Guay, from Mont-Tremblant, Que., was 0.81 back in third.

Austria has now won four of the season's eight men's World Cup races, including Walchhofer's downhill win last month at Lake Louise, after a terrible Olympic season.

"The first victory at Lake Louise was really important. It takes a lot of pressure from us and you can see how different a season can go with a good start," Walchhofer said.

"It's much better than last year," said Walchhofer, part of the so-called Wunderteam that was ruthlessly criticized by the Austrian media after it failed to win a medal at the Vancouver Winter Games.

Guay said the Austrians -- who got the super-G win at Beaver Creek, Colorado, from Georg Streitberger -- look "in incredible shape."

"I think they got torn apart quite a bit in the press," he said. "It's their national sport and I'm sure they put in the effort this summer."

Walchhofer used his faster downhill skis on the more technical super-G course and was 0.67 ahead of Germany's Stephan Keppler of Germany, who finished in a career-best second place.

Austria also changed its men's head coach, luring Mathias Berthold after he guided the German women to three Olympic gold medals. Berthold also worked with the United States women's team in 2002-03.

Berthold's team took five of the top 10 places Friday, and also has five in the top-10 list in the overall and super-G standings.

With the 100 points from his victory, Walchhofer leads overall with 249 points, 11 ahead of teammate Benjamin Raich who placed fourth in the race.

Morning leader Aksel Lund Svindal crashed out toward the end of his run when poised to challenge for the lead.

"If I hadn't gone out I would have had another podium (finish)," said the Norwegian, who reported sore shins but was otherwise unhurt. "I don't know what happened. I hit something or got compressed, then got catapulted."

Bode Miller of the U.S. was 16th, 2.10 down on Walchhofer. He lost time early on when braking to get inside a gate on a tricky course set by his former coach John McBride.

Keppler wore bib No. 7 and set the standard before flurries of snow and light mist made conditions tougher.

"It's a wonderful result for me and a surprise, I have to admit," said the 27-year-old Keppler, whose previous best was eighth in the super-G here four years ago. "I've been looking for a result like this for a long time."

Val Gardena hosts a World Cup downhill race on Saturday when Walchhofer will be heavily favoured.

"I have to be clear and not celebrate too much tonight," said the 35-year-old Austrian who won back-to-back Saslong downhills in 2007 and '08. He also won the super-G here in December 2004.