Lemont Native Christian Vande Velde Wins USA Pro Challenge

Lemont native Christian Vande Velde won the 2012 USA Pro Challenge on Sunday—his first overall title in more than three years.

Vande Velde, 36, started the day 9 seconds behind race leader Levi Leipheimer, but finished second in the final stage (17:35.38) to claim the yellow jersey.

Leipheimer finished ninth Sunday with a time of 18:08.65, and dropped to third overall (24 seconds behind Vande Velde).

The win is Vande Velde's first since winning the Tour of Missouri in 2008. 

"I've been bridesmaid so many times in my career," Vande Velde told the Denver Post. "I wasn't going to let that happen today."

Read more: Christian Vande Velde wins USA Pro Challenge overall title in Denver - The Denver Post

Earlier this summer, Vande Velde completed his 10th Tour de France, finishing 60th out of 153 riders.

During Stage 15,  The mostly flat 99-mile route from Samatan to Pau came down to Vande Velde and French rider Pierrick Fedrigo in the final breakaway, with Fedrigo outsprinting Vande Velde in the in the last 200 yards.

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