Bode Miller has eight races left to catch Hermann Maier for the World Cup title. Getty Images

In the winter of 1998, Hermann Maier revolutionized alpine ski racing. A former bricklayer who was overlooked by the Austrian Ski Federation's talent machine, Maier clawed his way onto the World Cup circuit by winning Triple-A races in a torn and ratty racing suit. He skied a tighter, more daring line than any racer in history and he went faster, too. He dominated the sport and won two gold medals in Nagano.

One moment went largely unnoticed, except by the inside ski world. At a late-season World Cup, Maier did what he often did that winter: Skied two scorching runs to win a giant slalom. As he was celebrating in the finish corral, American Bode Miller, then a wild 20-year-old with a deserved reputation for crashing more often than he finished, rolled down the hill deep into the start order and ran the fastest second-run time of the day. Faster even than Maier's time. From across the corral, Maier nodded at Miller, acknowledging his work. And then the Austrians resumed laughing at Miller's crazy style.

Four years passed. Maier won dozens of World Cup races through 2001, before nearly losing a leg in a motorcycle crash near Salzburg in the fall of '01. He would miss the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Miller harnessed his talent. He denies to this day that he backed off on his unique, high-risk style, but he began getting World Cup podiums. At Salt Lake, he won silver medals in combined and giant slalom. Only Austrian Stephan Eberharter was better, but the ski world tacitly acknowledged that Miller was the heir to Maier.

Yet it appeared that Miller and Maier would never have the cross-generational matchup -- Ali vs. Frazier -- that so defines the passing of the torch. Or gives the elder his opportunity not to pass the torch at all.

Yet this year Maier has put together a solid season and leads the World Cup overall standings (races in all disciplines combined) with 1.054 points. Miller has continued to crash frequently and to struggle occasionally in his second season on new equipment, yet he stands a threatening third with 984 points. Austrian Benjamin Raich is second with 985 and Eberharter is close behind Miller in fourth.

Eight races remain on the World Cup for 2003-04. Eight races in which Miller can at last take down Maier and assume his place as best all-around skier in the world (teammate Daron Rahlves has had a brilliant season in the speed disciplines of Super-G and Downhill, but is not as versatile as Miller, Maier or Eberharter; Raich is primarily a slalom/giant slalom specialist who has been injured). Or eight races in which Maier can hang onto the title for one more season.

The competition begins this weekend with a giant slalom Saturday and a slalom Sunday in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia It ends in two weeks with four races in the 2006 Olympic region of Northern Italy.

The calendar is slightly slanted toward Maier, who excels in not only the speed races, but also in giant slalom (although he slipped further in GS than any other discipline since his injury). Among the eight races left, two are downhill, two Super G, two giant slalom and two slalom. Miller's best chance to draw closer to Maier is in slalom, which Maier does not ski. Maier's best chance is to dominate the speed races, where Miller is wildly inconsistent.

What is most alluring of all about this show half a world away from the United States is that is could very well be the last time Miller and Maier compete at the top of their games. Maier is 31 and making no promises about his future. Miller will be 27 next October and while it is logical to assume that he will stick around to take a place in history in 2006, he is a slave to no one's timetable but his own. It would surprise nobody who knows him to see Miller leave the sport before that.

The ideal matchup would be the Miller of 2002-03 against the Maier of '98. Yet this is the closest we can come. The stakes are considerable. Another overall World Cup title would be Maier's fourth, tying him with Pirmin Zurbriggen and Gustav Thoni behind the legendary Marc Girardelli, who won five. Miller could become the first U.S. skier to win the overall since Phil Mahre won three from 1981-83. He has been hotter than Maier of late, and has a real chance to pull it off.

Now, will anybody over here notice?

Sports Illustrated senior writer Tim Layden weighs in with a Viewpoint every Friday on SI.com.