Back in 2001, Levi Leipheimer became the only American to stand on the Vuelta a España podium with a breakout third-place finish that announced his arrival to the elite levels of the sport.

Flash forward to Wednesday’s 42.5km individual time trial on the flat, wide-open roads around Cuidad Real and Leipheimer made more history at the Vuelta.

Following a fabulous come-from-behind victory, Leipheimer becomes the fifth American to win a Vuelta stage and just the second to wear the leader’s jersey.

“I felt really strong today. After the Olympics, I came into this Vuelta is ideal condition,” Leipheimer said after the victory, his fourth win on the 2008 season. “Nothing is ever guaranteed, but I felt really good today. The first 20km were very hard because there was a lot of headwind.”

As he often does in longer time trials, the Astana captain started slow and was 22 seconds down on Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) at 11km. When he was down 42 seconds at 28km, victory looked unlikely.

Using the form he had to win the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games and victory in the Clasica de los Puertos last weekend in Spain, however, he rode an absolutely superb second half of the out-and-back course to surpass the Liquigas rider and stake claim for the stage victory-leader’s jersey double.

Leipheimer finished 33 seconds ahead of Quinziato, meaning he took 1:15 out of the Italian in the final 14.5km. Leipheimer’s dazzling finish also assured victory against an equally strong Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), taking out one second per kilometer on the Frenchman in the final 12km.

Aero': Leipheimer's unique position pays off.

Photo: Graham Watson

“I’m very happy because the goal was to win a stage during this Vuelta, and I’ve done that,” Leipheimer said. “Plus, this is the first time I’ve worn a leader’s jersey in a grand tour, so that’s great as well.”

Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) made a great bid for the double and stopped the clock 12 seconds slower Leipheimer in the stage, knocking Quinziato into third, and the Frenchman slipped into second place at just two seconds back.

Late starters Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step) each put down excellent rides, but were unable to knock Leipheimer off the top spot of the leader-board despite starting with considerable head-starts thanks to time bonuses that accompanied with stage victories in the Vuelta’s opening days.

Valverde faded late, but still rode well to finish fifth and slot into third at 30 seconds down. Boonen sprinted the final 150 meters to claw into fourth at 32 seconds down.

“I can only be satisfied with how I rode today,” Valverde said. “I felt really good today, so I just went for it, thinking that maybe I could even win or retake the jersey. In the end, I could feel my power decreasing, but it’s one of the best time trials I’ve ever ridden, so I am pretty happy with my ride.”

Valverde finished 59 seconds behind Leipheimer, and 10 behind Contador.

Photo: Graham Watson

Pre-race favorite Alberto Contador (Astana) rode a new time trial position that he’s honed over the past few months to place a strong fourth at 49 seconds off his teammate’s winning time and settled into fourth overall at 47 seconds off the pace.

“I’m happy with the race because I was consistent throughout the course. I had the references of Levi ahead of me. Maybe I lost a little in the end, but Levi was just flying and I was maintaining my speed,” Contador said. “Everyone rode a pretty good time trial today, so for better or worse, it’s going to make for a more interesting race. I am ready for the mountains.”

Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank) was expecting more and finished a distant 15th and ended up seventh overall at 1:27.

Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner), winner of two time trials at the 2008 Tour de France, didn’t have the same legs and stopped the clock in 11th at 1:21 off Leipheimer’s winning pace.

As expected, overnight leader Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) lost more than three minutes and forfeited the leader’s jersey without much of a fight.

Still the captain: Leipheimer says he's still riding for Contador.

Photo: Graham Watson

Promises to work for Contador
Leipheimer is the lone American in this year’s Vuelta, but he’s doing a great job to remind everyone that the U.S. has done well in Spain since he barnstormed through the Vuelta in 2001.

Leipheimer joins Tom Danielson (2006), David Zabriskie (2004), Guido Trenti (an Italian by birth racing with a U.S. license) and Jason McCartney (2007) as American stage winners. He also joins Floyd Landis (2004) as the only American to don the Vuelta’s golden leader’s jersey.

As soon as the dust settled, Leipheimer was queried by Spanish journalists about what will happen at Astana? Will he ride his own race now that he’s in the leader’s jersey or ride to help Contador?

Leipheimer left no doubt about what his intentions are in the coming stages.

“Alberto is the best climber in the world. He’s won the Tour, he’s won the Giro and now we’re going to work so that he will win the Vuelta,” Leipheimer said. “No one’s going to be able to follow him up the Rabassa and Angliru climbs. He skipped the Tour, so he’s fresh and motivated. I’m here to help him.”

Contador, meanwhile, rode an excellent race and put 40 seconds into archrival Sastre.

Other GC contenders gave up more terrain than they would have liked. Igor Antón (Euskaltel-Euskadi), fighting for a podium after finishing eighth overall last year, was happy enough with 12th at 2:17 off the pace.

Robert Gesink, making his grand tour debut with Rabobank, was 27th at 2:08 slower while Yaroslav Popovych (Silence-Lotto), hoping to make up for a disappointing Tour de France, was 46th at 2:52 back.

Damiano Cunego (Lampre), involved in a crash late in Tuesday’s stage, struggled to 80th at 3:52 back.

Everyone agrees that Astana is now in the driver’s seat.

“It seems that all the captains from the major teams are still in contention. The race is still very wide open, but it’s obvious that Astana must now assume responsibility for the race,” said Caisse d’Epargne director Eusebio Unzue. “Just like today helped put things in order, the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees (Saturday) will help everyone see who’s going to contend for this Vuelta.”

Contador says he’s ready for the battle waiting in the Pyrénées and later in the even more difficult climbs waiting in Asturias with the Angliru and Fuentes de Invierno summit finishes on Sept. 13-14.

“I’m content with the position that I have in the GC now, just a little time from the leader, only a few seconds from Valverde and some advantage to other favorites,” Contador said. “The most important is that I’ve had good sensations on the bike. Perhaps I am a little thinner than at other races. I could really notice it in the time trial, but it help in the mountains.”

Thursday’s stage
The 63rd Vuelta continues Thursday with the 150.5km sixth stage from Cuidad Real to Toledo.

The bumpy profile could slow down the purest of sprinters, with a third category climb at 100km and an unrated climb midway through a 10km finishing circuit around Toledo before a rising finish into the old part of town.

It’s not a typical finish for a mass gallop, but one that the sprinters will be keen to take advantage of ahead of three climbing stages across the Pyrnénées following Friday’s first of two rest days.