California's Big Bicycle Show

Leipheimer completed the 1.9-mile primarily uphill circuit to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill in 4 minutes, 49.05 seconds at an average speed of 23.994 mph.

"I had a lot more pressure this year," said Leipheimer, whose time was about 4 seconds faster than his winning effort last year.

"Last year, I knew I'd ride a good time trial, but I didn't expect to win. This year, I was expected to win, and I expected myself to win."

From there, the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation will provide rolling road closures.

Once the riders leave downtown Stockton, the CHP will escort riders to San Jose. No roads will be closed, but intersections in Tracy might be blocked for up to three minutes along the following streets between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m.:

"I had a lot more pressure this year," said Leipheimer, whose time was about 4 seconds faster than his winning effort last year. "Last year, I knew I'd ride a good time trial, but I didn't expect to win. This year, I was expected to win, and I expected myself to win."

First-year pro Jason Donald, the eighth of 144 riders on the course, finished second in 4:50.49. Ben Jacques-Maynes was third in 4:54.26.

Of the big names, Cancellara was the closest at 5 seconds back, but that still left the top three as Jason Donald, Ben Jacques-Maynes, and Rory Sutherland. We literally watched over a hundred riders attempt and fail to beat Donald's time. It seemed to us that the winds had probably changed direction to make it harder for the bigger riders that started later.

So with Levi the only rider left to finish, ota asked me whether or not Levi stood a chance -- I said, "no way, the course is too hard now."