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There are still two days to go, but Levi Leipheimer has taken an option on the final victory in the Cascade Cycling Classic. It is the 29th edition of America’s longest consecutively run stage race. Leipheimer was impressive in stage 3, the Skyliner’s time trial in Bend over 22,4 km (15 m). The US champion completed the course in 28:07. Jeff Louder (BMC) finished 2nd, 1’15” behind Leipheimer, Darren Lill (BMC) 3rd, losing 1’20”. In the GC, Levi Leipheimer takes the yellow jersey from Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) who lost more than three minutes.

“It was hard on the way out, always up hill, which is mentally difficult,” said Leipheimer to Cyclingnews.com. “It was a straight road and sometimes you could see more than a kilometer in front of you. It’s hard to stay focused on a course like that. But coming back was fun at like 64 km/h (40 m/h).” He added that the course is similar to the one of this August’s Olympic Games in Beijing, China. “It was good preparation, climbing on the way out and fast on the way back.”

For Levi Leipheimer it is his 4th victory of the season. As he started in the Cascade Cycling Classic as an individual rider, with only Chris Horner as a team-mate, it will not be easy to hold on the lead. “We are at the mercy of everyone for sure,” continued Leipheimer. “We are going to have to be smart.”

The Cascade Cycling Classic ends on Sunday. Saturday’s queen stage will take the riders around Crane Prairie Reservoir Elk Lake to the finish at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort.

Result Stage 3 Cascade Cycling Classic, Skyliner’s TT, 22,5 km (14 miles) (July 11th):
1. Levi Leipheimer (AST) 28:07 (average 48,08 km/h, 29,88 m/h); 2. Jeff Louder 1.15; 3. Darren Lill 1.20; 4. Tom Zirbel 1.35; 5. Ben Day 1.35; 6. Ben Jacques-Maynes 1.46; 7. Christopher Barton 1.51; 8. Chris Baldwin 2.00; 9. Steven Cozza 2.02; 10. Peter Stetina 2.06; 11. Tom Danielson 2.11; 18. Chris Horner (AST) 2.25

Result Stage 4 Cascade Cycling Classic, Downtown Criterium, 74,3 K (46 miles) (July 11th):
1. Dominique Rollin; 2. Kyle Gritters; 3. Ricardo Escuela; 4. Chris Horner (AST); 5. Alessandro Bazzana; 6. Darren Lill; 7. Matt Wilson; 8. Chris Jones; 9. Ivan Stevic; 10. Roman Van Uden; 15. Levi Leipheimer (AST)

General Classication after Stage 4:
1. Levi Leipheimer (AST); 2. Tom Zirbel 1.58; 3. Jeff Louder 2.02; 4. Chris Baldwin 2.18; 5. Matt Wilson 2.27; 6. Darren Lill 2.30; 7. Chris Wherry 3.09; 8. Peter Stetina 3.32; 9. Steven Cozza 3.35; 10. Tom Peterson 3.38