They call it “The Race of Truth.”

But it seemed someone was telling a fib on Friday.

The final cyclist on the road tore down the finishing stretch, turned the corner and zoomed past the finish line. The clock read 30 minutes, 46 seconds - a runaway mark unchallenged by the world's best time trial cyclists, each trying to leap into the top general classification spot at the 2008 Tour of California.

Someone get the chief official a polygraph test. Check the clock mechanics. Wait for official results, because California hero Levi Leipheimer embarrassed the field.

He won, that's for sure. He made the experts picking David Millar, David Zabriskie and Fabian Cancellara do an about-face.

The Race of Truth didn't lie last year, and if it holds true again, Leipheimer - 29 seconds better than runner-up Millar in this critical Stage 5 event - will win the title for the second straight year.

“I was nervous to be honest” he said. “I'm not trying to act like I'm The Machine. I had my doubts.”

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Who wouldn't with 13 cyclists trailing him by less than 43 seconds? And a number of them were time trial specialists, prepared for Solvang's unique race against the clock on a quick 15-mile rout.

On Leipheimer's tail were Millar, a British Time Trial Champion, Zabriskie, a U.S. National Time Trial Champion and Cancellara, a two-time World Time Trial Champion.

“I really expected Fabian to win today,” said a puzzled Slipstream's Christian Vandevelde.

For the second straight year, Santa Rosa's own Leipheimer (of Astana) ruled the day in Solvang.

By doing so, he took command of the overall lead, including a 49-second GC advantage over second place Millar. Last year, Leipheimer won Stage Five in Solvang and rode it to the overall win.

The target was on the yellow jersey Friday, a day after a brutal free-for-all down Highway 1 kept the standings intact. That proceeded from Wednesday's Modesto to San Jose stage, which included five calf-busting category climbs.

Mix in some slippery roads from the recent rain - that tapered off as race time approached - and add a challenging wind to the “most important stage,” as Leipheimer put it.

Maybe Leipheimer's winning time was better last year (29:40), but 30:46 was plenty impressive on this day.

“The sign of a good time trial is if you don't remember a lot,” Leipheimer said. “And I don't remember a lot.”

Cancellara, just 13 seconds behind Leipheimer before the day started, was considered his greatest threat. The Team CSC frontman finished fifth in 31:54 and dropped to fourth overall.

“It was evident today Levi is a better rider now,” he said.

Cancellera clearly felt the effects of a heroic mountain climb in stage three

“He made an amazing performance the other day, blew everyone away with the way he climbed,” Leipheimer said. “Š You pay for that. Obviously today was not a normal Fabian Cancellara.”

Rounding out the top five were Millar (second in 31:15), Christian Vandevelde (third in 31:31) and Gustav Larsson (fourth in 31:44). American David Zabriskie finished sixth in 32:01.

Millar and Vandevelde, both of the upstart Team Slipstream , sit second and third in the overall standings. UCI president Pat McQuaid, who attended the race and spoke freely to reporters after the event, described Slipstream and Team High Road as the two biggest teams in the United States.

He even discussed the possibility of the Tour of California becoming a fourth Grand Tour event amongst the world's greatest.

“It is the biggest and best race in America,” he proclaimed.

The president of the world's cycling authority was to have dinner with AEG president Andrew Messick Friday night. AEG owns and operates the 650-mile Tour of California.

“There are three grand tour events, but there is no reason there couldn't be a few more,” he said. “..It (Tour of California) could be a candidate.”

Also discussed was Leipheimer's fight against the Tour de France, which banned Astana from its race - citing the damage the team's doping problems caused the tour last year. Since that embarrassment, Astana has hired a new team director and fresh crop of riders, including former Discovery cyclist Leipheimer. He finished third in last year's Tour de France.

“These are my best years and they are taking away an opportunity from someone that has dreamed about this his whole life,” Leipheimer said.

Leipheimer, it seems, currently has two fights on his hands.

For the present, his California fight continues today with Stage Six from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita. The tour wraps up with Stage Seven on Sunday, from Santa Clarita to Pasadena.

“It looks like it's Levi's race to lose,” Messick said.

Feb. 23, 2008