Colombia's Javier Acevedo won the fourth stage of the 2011 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah earlier today in hot conditions, and defending champion Levi Leipheimer retained the overall lead with one day left.

Acevedo, racing for Team Gobernacion Indeportes Antioqia, completed 11 laps on a 7.4-mile loop that started and ended at the state capitol building in 02 hours, 56 minutes, 18 seconds.

Spain's Javier Megias finished second, 5 seconds behind Acevedo. Swiss rider Rubens Bertogliati was third.

Leipheimer, the Team RadioShack star from Butte, Montana, had a 23-second lead over Colombia's Sergio Henao in the overall standings. Team RadioShack's Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia was third, 27 seconds back.

Tomorrow's 100-mile final stage, featuring several rugged climbs, will start in Park City and finish at Snowbird Ski Resort just above the Salt Lake Valley.

"It's really high mountains and long sustained climbs," Leipheimer commented and added "You will really see the pain and suffering on the riders' faces."

Acevedo got into a small group that broke away from the main pack early.

"All I think about is drinking water," Acevedo told the press after crossing the finish line and found the energy needed to add "It's been very hard for me."

With teammates Henao and Oscar Sevilla -- 29 seconds behind Leipheimer -- in the top four in the overall standings, Acevedo said his team wanted to make Leipheimer feel some heat going into the final day.

"The race is not lost," Acevedo said and concluded "We're hanging in there. We are going to give it our all to win tomorrow."

Leipheimer finished 30th in the stage, 1:38 behind Acevedo.