Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) continued a run of good form and blew away the stage three time trial in the Tour of Utah, increasing his lead in the best young rider competition in the process. Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) gained 1 minute and 9 seconds on Sergio Henao and took the overall leader’s jersey from the Gobernacion De Antioquia-Indeportes Antioquia rider.
On the windy, 15-kilometer course around a motor racing track, the 18-minute barrier proved to be a difficult one to break for the early racers. Patrick Gretsch (HTC-Highroad) was the first, and he put down an impressive 17:43, a time that seemed untouchable for a while.
The sizeable American crowd held its collective breath as a host of American time trial specialists came close, but failed to unseat Gretsch. Danny Pate (HTC-Highroad), Tom Danielson (Garmin-Cervelo), Tom Zirbel (Jamis-Sutter Home), George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo), and Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team) all finished in the top fifteen, but couldn't challenge the time of Gretsch, or break the 18-minute mark.
Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervelo) also came up short of Gretsch, but his 17:52 made the man who will ride for Skil-Shimano next season seem at least beatable. While Vande Velde crossed with a time that would eventually earn him fifth, word came through that Van Garderen was the fastest to the intermediate time check.
Van Garderen sprinted into the final straight and there was never a doubt, as the young talent crossed in 17 minutes 33 seconds to celebrate his 23rd birthday in style. Leipheimer was strong as well, and his 17:39 was good for second place. Henao was off the pace, finishing in 18 minutes 48 seconds, which put Leipheimer in yellow.
Tour of Utah stage 3 brief results:
1 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad 17:33.64
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack @5.94
3 Patrick Gretsch (Ger) HTC-Highroad @10.11
4 Alexander Wetterhall (Swe) Endura Racing @17.59
5 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo @18.60