The 2007 Amgen Tour of California has been all about Levi Leipheimer over the prologue and first three stages. That might be about to change.
Although the 3-second lead he takes into Stage 4 is his largest of the Tour, the number 2 man is German cyclist Jens Voigt, a member of the strong Team CSC and a former Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey holder. He certainly has his eyes on the prize.
If Leipheimer and his Discovery Channel teammates stay alert and are lucky, they could hold onto the lead through Thursday's Stage 4, a 133-mile race along the Pacific Coast from Seaside to San Luis Obispo.
Then the race comes down to the 14.5-mile individual time trial around Solvang on Friday. It would be Leipheimer's speed against Voigt's, or No. 3 Rory Sutherland, or No. 4 Chris Horner of the US, or any of more than a dozen riders who are less than 30 seconds behind.
The time trial determined the Tour of California winner last year, when Floyd Landis won the stage and carried the leader's golden jersey all the way to the end.
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