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Leipheimer Cuts Horner Lead In Tour Of California

SOLVANG (CBS / AP) -- Dave Zabriskie rode to a dominating individual time trial victory and three-time race winner Levi Leipheimer was second to cut teammate Chris Horner's overall lead to 38 seconds Friday after the sixth stage of the Tour of California.

Zabriskie, the Garmin-Cervelo rider who has finished second overall three times in the event, completed the 15-mile course in 30 minutes, 35.92 seconds at an average speed of 29.37 mph.

>>Photos: Amgen Tour Of California

Zabriskie isn't a threat for the overall title. He's 15th, 4:04 back.

"I wanted to leave the race with something," said Zabriskie, a time trial stage winner this year at the Tour of Romandie and former race leader in the Tour de France. "So, I am happy."

Leipheimer, riding for RadioShack, finished in 30:49.80, and HTC-Highroad's Teejay Van Garderen was third in 31:15.94.

Horner, who took the lead with a solo mountaintop win in the fourth stage, was sixth -- 50 seconds behind the winner. Horner began the day with a 1:15 lead over Leipheimer.

"I felt my lead was safe," said Horner, at 10th the top U.S. finisher last year in the Tour de France. "I just didn't want to throw the bike down in some gravel."

The seventh stage Saturday is a 75.8-mile mountain leg from Claremont to Mount Baldy.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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