German time-trial specialist and HTC-Highroad rider Patrick Gretsch won the of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado Springs yesterday, as American cyclists Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Cervelo and Brent Bookwalter of BMC followed him across the finish line in second and third place respectively. Riders reached speeds of more than 55 miles per hour during the 5.2-mile individual time trial, which descended from the Garden of the Gods to Colorado Springs. A headwind that picked up during the day may have slowed later riders. Levi Leipheimer and Tour de France champion Cadel Evans were both within 10 seconds of Gretsch. “Give me a couple days and I might be able to go all right,” , noting that he wasn’t yet used to the mile-high altitude. Despite his win, Gretsch will soon be looking for a new team, as HTC-Highroad is and will cease operations after this season.
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