HEBER CITY — While talking to a reporter a day before the time trials at the Cascade Classic last month, Salt Lake City's Jeff Louder had said, "History shows I've always rode pretty well against Chris (Wherry) in time trials."
However, on Wednesday, history switched stations. Toyota United riders tuned in and made merry.
Toyota's Wherry pulled ahead of challengers Navigators Insurance's Sergey Lagutin and Health Net Maxxis' Louder up the roads in Heber Valley, winning Wednesday's time trial, the third stage of the Tour of Utah.
"I got into good rhythm. There was a tail wind going uphill," said Wherry, who darted the 14.9-mile-course with an average speed of 31.9 mph. "Chris' (Baldwin) finish gave me an idea what to shoot for."
US National road champion Wherry takes the leader's yellow jersey as he leads second-place Lagutin by 14 seconds and fourth-placed Louder by 30 seconds on General Classification heading into the first mountain stage Thursday.
Wherry had also won Tuesday's second stage in a long sprint finish. Lagutin led the peloton across the line to win the first stage in Provo.
USPRO time trial champion Baldwin lived up to his billing, finishing in 15 minutes and 58 seconds, eight seconds behind teammate Wherry.
"He (Wherry) is a tiger right now. We both are in good shape," Baldwin said. "The field is going to throw everything at us. We just have to control and not allow breakaways."
Baldwin's second place finish moved him to third overall at 26 seconds off the leader.
Toyota has a strong lineup with the likes of Wherry, Baldwin, mountain specialist Justin England, junior national time trial champion Chris Stockburger, former junior U.S. national road champion Josh Thornton and former Florida State criterium champion Stefano Barberi.
"Navigators have depth and they have done whatever needs to be done," Baldwin said. "They are our biggest threat."
It's no wonder then that director sportif of Navigators Edward Beamon oozed a calm confidence.
Apart from Lagutin, Navigators have climbing specialists hometown favorite Burke Swindlehurst, Tour of Georgia stage-six winner Cesar Grajales and Glen Chadwick at 10th, eighth and sixth GC spots, respectively.
"It's great to have men up and going," Beamon said. "We have four-five climbers for the job on the morrow and we will put pressure early."
Wherry said his team was up for any challenge. We've been climbing strong and I always do well in altitude," Wherry said. "The race is far from over."
Health Net Maxxis' Scott Moninger is seventh in the GC position. "Louder and Moninger are tough nuts," race announcer Gardy Jackson said. "Better watch out for them."
Thursday's Stage Four, the 94-mile 101.9 The End Road Race, will lead from Provo to the summit of the Nebo Loop, a race that will most likely decide the leaders each team will root for. The racers will finish at nearly 8,000 feet on the Nebo Loop summit after 20 miles of climbing.
"Mount Nebo will decide who is going to be the leader and who the also-ran," Beamon said.
"Racing the mountains is different. Either you have it or you don't," Wherry said as he prepared to rest his much-worked legs.
E-mail: schakraborty@desnews.com