Team RadioShack's Levi Leipheimer edged Christian Vande Velde in Thursday's stage 3 individual time trial of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge to regain the overall lead after three stages.

Leipheimer completed the uphill 10-mile time trial in 25 minutes, 47.8 seconds. Vande Velde of Team Garmin-Cervélo was 0.58 seconds back. Team EPM-UNE's Rafael Infantino, from Colombia, was third -- about 4.5 seconds behind the winner.

Leipheimer, who held the race lead for one day after winning stage 1, has an 11-second lead over Vande Velde with three stages remaining. Tejay Van Garderen of Team HTC-Highroad finished sixth in the stage, 51 seconds behind. He dropped from first to third overall, 17 seconds behind Leipheimer.

Tour de France Champion Cadel Evans of Team BMC Racing powered his way through the course finishing 01:02 minutes behind Leipheimer.

Evans said the high altitude continues to factor into his performance. "Considering all the lead up I've had for the race, I rode pretty well," Evans told Roadcycling.com and Roadcycling.mobi and continued "Technically, I rode a good time trial, but I don't have the basis in altitude acclimatization to really be at the top level with some of the other guys here."

Winner of Wednesday's stage George Hincapie said the uphill time trial did not suit him. "But I gave it everything I had," the three-time U.S. national champion said and concluded "I started maybe a bit too fast. I was close to Levi in the first time check and paid for it dearly in the last four kilometers."