USAPCC - Stage 4: Aspen > Beaver Creek, 156.4 km
Christian Vande Velde adjusts his shoe as the peloton rolls out of Aspen towards Independence pass...
As in previous stages, attacks from kilometer zero have created an early escape of 18 riders...
Behind, the peloton rides a steady tempo, there are a lot of miles ahead...
Moving up the course, there are ones and twos of riders from the break...
Just this group of six has any cohesion left, what is going on up the road?
This explains it! Jens Voight has attacked the escape and has begun to build his advantage!
After cresting Independence Pass - he is attacking the descent full gas!
The remnants of the break descend just at three minutes later...
...with the yellow jersey group streaming past just under seven and a half minutes behind Jens!
Leipheimer and Horner seem to be content in the pack today, most pundants have this race being decided in the closing stage's TT.
Jacobe Keough shows textbook descending form coming down the pass...
As the peloton nears Twin Lakes, Phinney is back at his team car - discussing how to handle the break, and get Tejay back in yellow.
Vande Velde has looked strong today, keeping pace easily with the group.
The yellow jersey group is now strung out during the last portion of the descent.
The break passes through Leadville just 2:40 behind Jens - they've only pulled back 20 seconds since the top of Independence...
...while the yellow jersey group is now only 49 seconds behind the chase; just three and a half minutes behind Jens.
A heavy downpour has begun, riders don their jackets.
Rus Velo has come to the front, they are hoping to keep Ivan Rovny in his top three GC position...
The chase seem to be easing up - the rain has taken some of the fight out of the group, the peloton is in sight behind, but what is the situation up front?
Jens seems to be ignoring the rain... no jacket, no arm warmers; driving on in the downpour... his lead begins to grow again.
The tempo riding of the yellow jersey group on the last KoM of the day has ensured Jen's success on the day... his lead is now back over five minutes.
The sun has shined on Jens' efforts today...
...he soaks in the cheers of the crowd as he wins the stage.
Kloden has made it a one two RadioShack finish; Tejay in third, looks back to see where the yellow jersey is. Has he done enough to regain the lead?
Indeed he has - though only the second count back has been needed today. While still at the same time overall; his finish ahead of Vande Velde has put the yellow jersey back on Tejay's shoulders.