Stage 3 ITT - HTC-Highroad's Tejay Van Garderen crushed the competition today in the Tour of Utah Stage 3 ITT, finishing ahead of Levi Leipheimer and team mate Patrick Gretsch. Gretsch held the best time for the majority of the race before taking third and the most aggressive rider's jersey.

"Gretsch came out as the twenty fifth to go with 17:43 which was very impressive," says sport director, Allan Peiper, "He held that lead near to the end without much contest."

"Tejay hit the first split with the fastest time and we new he was in the zone, he and Patrick [Gretsch] are both in great form."

"It was great to see Tejay take the win especially ahead of a talent like Leipheimer, and to have two men on the podium was even better."

This marks the forty-eighth win of the season for the HTC-Highroad men's squad the four-hundred and eighty-fifth win for the team since 2008. HTC-Highroad's riders and staff would like to personally congratulate Tejay on his first win of the season, and wish him a happy twenty-third third birthday.

PREVIEW - With several younger riders and two trainees, HTC-Highroad has fielded a line-up for the Tour of Utah on Tuesday with athletes eager to put wins behind them. The short, uphill prologue ITT will kick off the tour for the squad, three of which are fresh off the Tour de France.

"Tejay [Van Garderen] and a few of the other boys [Velits, Pate] are in great form off the Tour," says HTC-Highroad sport director, Allan Peiper, "Danny Pate and Hayden Roulston are after some stage wins." 

With Van Garderen targeting the GC, the team has a formidable roster of for support and stage wins as well.

"Patrick Gretsch has been riding really well this year, he got the TT win at Ster Electro and he's looking to make some big moves here in Utah."   

"Utah's a tough tour but the boys have a good energy are in great shape. We've got two strong trainees [Dempster, Norris] with us that are out to get some experience, so the group is quite strong and we have a good shot at the podium."