Zabriskie Takes Third Consecutive US Pro Time Trial, Road Favorites Prepare for Paris Mountain

David Zabriskie has had a tough 2008. Crashes, illness and various injuries have plagued the Garmin time trial ace all season long, but the quirky Utah native tasted sweet redemption at the US Pro time trial championship today, winning by a comfortable five seconds over Bissell's Tom Zirbel.

The win sets the stage for the possible double for Garmin-Chipotle, as the American team will have several cards to play tomorrow in the road race. Danny Pate, who was slotted to ride the time trial, instead skipped the event, presumably to prepare fully for the road race. But he wasn't alone.

Greenville's favorite cycling son George Hincapie chose to stay away from the time trial, as did Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton, among others. Hincapie will hope to take his third stars-and-stripes jersey while Hamilton will be on the hunt for his first. If either rider is to win however, they'll need to withstand the Garmin juggernaut lining up for Sunday, some 14 riders strong.

Others in the hunt for victory will be Rock's Freddy Rodriguez, the Toyota-United combo of the two Chrises, Baldwin and Wherry, and Bissell's ageless climber Burke "the Ninja" Swindlehurst. Andy Bajadali will fly the flag for the kelly Benefit team, while BMC will pin their hopes on Tour of Utah climbing ace Jeff louder and all-around threat Tony Cruz.

Other riders to watch include Neil Shirley of the Jittery Joe's team, Kirk O'Bee of the Health Net outfit, and Aaron Olsen of Bissell, who may try to escape down the stretch and time trial home for the win. Additionally, there are a handful of other underdogs that under the right conditions could ride away from the field to take the win.

In the end though, it is the Garmin team that will have all the pressure, as they try to take home the jersey after failing last year to keep Levi Leipheimer from escaping for victory late in the race. Greenville hometown favorite Hincapie will be highly motivated to take the jersey back to his Columbia team, to add to the many national champions already on the team.