Tony Martin, who did an enormous amount of work for his HTC-Columbia team in Stage Six, somehow found the legs to turn in the best time in Stage Seven, the individual time trial, winning the stage with a time of 41:41.
Behind him were the race favorites, Michael Rodgers, David Zabriskie, and Levi Leipheimer, 23, 27, and 33 seconds behind.
Jens Voight, not normally considered a time trial specialist, finished fifth with his enormous power, moving himself into fifth overall.
Michael Rodgers kept the yellow jersey, but only by nine seconds. Levi Leipheimer is now second in the General Classification, with David Zabriskie in third, 24 seconds back. This sets up a terrific battle for the overall win in the final stage on Sunday.
Behind him were the race favorites, Michael Rodgers, David Zabriskie, and Levi Leipheimer, 23, 27, and 33 seconds behind.
Jens Voight, not normally considered a time trial specialist, finished fifth with his enormous power, moving himself into fifth overall.
Michael Rodgers kept the yellow jersey, but only by nine seconds. Levi Leipheimer is now second in the General Classification, with David Zabriskie in third, 24 seconds back. This sets up a terrific battle for the overall win in the final stage on Sunday.
Stage Seven was a two-lap, 20.9-mile individual time trial through downtown Los Angeles.
The route circled several L.A. landmarks: the Los Angeles Convention Center, the University of Southern California, Exposition Park and the LA Coliseum, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and Los Angeles City Hall.
Each lap included a couple short, steep climbs, just enough to slow the pure time trailers and favor the power riders. The whole route slops; it is not a traditional flat time trial course.
