Two victories in the TT and a podium finish at the Vuelta a Espana … American Levi Leipheimer is on form, as they say in cycling.

So, I’ll pick him to win the World TT title in a few hours, with three-time World TT champ Michael Rogers a very close second.

Of course, Rogers might beat Leipheimer, too, but Levi’s determined to wear a special jersey next year after being unable to defend his stars-and-stripes early this month at the U.S. road championships. (Slight schedule conflict with Vuelta.)

Interesting little comparison: Leipheimer won the 18-mile Stage 3 uphill time trial in Branson last year at the Tour of Missouri in 39 minutes 37.480 seconds. Rogers, who came to ToM specifically to use the Branson TT as preparation for the World TT, finished in 40:12.400, second to Garmin-Chipotle’s Christian VandeVelde.

Rogers will be better rested, but Levi was flyin’ at the Vuelta. If he can hold form, I think he’s got it.

For the third spot, I’m thinking Italian, perhaps Italian TT champ Marco Pinotti, who didn’t ride particularly well in the Branson TT (while serving in a support role for the Team Columbia) but he will be super-motivated on his home course. American David Zabriskie also is a podium contender, and could challenge Levi and Rogers.

But don’t count out Canadian Svein Tuft.

Also, do you know what all these cats have in common? They all raced here in the Show-Me State, Leipheimer last year and the others just a couple of weeks ago. That says a lot about the caliber of the Tour of Missouri, as well as that TT in Branson, called one of the hardest in the world.

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