Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Team Radio Shack, including stage winner Chris Horner, third from left, climb during stage 4 of the Tour of California in Santa Clara County, Calif., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By John Henderson, The Denver Post

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Tom Danielson has tried to catch up to his reputation as the next great American cyclist ever since he tore up races as a college kid in Durango. His only problem? His legs were always better than his head.

The last thing a cyclist seeking confidence needs is to stare up — almost straight up — at Sierra Road. On the eastern outskirts of San Jose, it is only 1,943 feet and less than 4 miles up a barren hill, but much of it is at a 10 to 14 percent grade. Cars need a rest halfway up.

The hill has broken Danielson in past Tours of California, but this is a new year — and it may be Danielson's year. Already pegged as a favorite in Colorado's inaugural U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge, the 33-year-old finished a strong fifth Wednesday on the Sierra Road stage from Livermore and stands third overall, one minute, 22 seconds back.

With Danielson leading five Garmin-Cervelo riders in the top 11, the Boulder-based team is ahead in the team standings by 2:48. Boulder High graduate Taylor Phinney finished the day in the second to last group with 59 other riders 24 minutes, 43 seconds back.

Is Danielson headed to  his first Tour de France?

Steady climbing up a mountain road during Stage 4 of the Tour of California in Livermore, Calif., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Horner wins Sierra Road battle

(AP) Chris Horner, 39, blew away some of the world's elite climbers and gave the weeklong Tour of  California its first major highlight, blasting up grueling Sierra Road for the Stage 4 win.

His stage time: 3 hours, 27 minutes, 51 seconds.

His triumph: Beasting it past RadioShack teammate Levi Leipheimer and others on that final climb in San Jose.

Leopard-Trek's Andy Schleck finished second, 1:15 behind, and United Healthcare's Rory Sutherland was third.

Horner leads three-time winner Leipheimer by 1:15 with Tom Danielson of Boulder third overall, 1:22 behind.  Garmin's David Zabriskie, a prerace favorite, is out of contention, trailing by 4:55.

After abandoning almost 200 miles of the original route because of a weekend snowstorm in Lake Tahoe, the tour got a break Wednesday as thousands of cheering fans lined the steep roads in the Diablo Range under a clearing sky.

Chris Horner, of the United States, celebrates his win in Wednesday's stage of the Tour of California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)