| Santiago Botero of Colombia speeds to win the third stage (AP Photo) |
Botero, a former world time trial champion, finished the 47-kilometer time trial in 1:00:6.55 or an average speed of nearly 47 kilometers per hour.
Leipheimer was only 0:01 seconds back, with Armstrong 0:26 seconds off the winner. American Floyd Landis was fourth, with Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan fifth.
Leipheimer's finish was enough to give him the overall lead in the race. Botero is second, 0:12 seconds back with Armstrong third, 0:30 seconds behind the leader.
Thursday's fourth stage is a 177-km ride between Tournon-Sur-Rhone and Le Mont Ventoux that ends with a climb up the 1.9-km high mountain at the end of the stage. The race ends Sunday in Sallanches.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
