Ullrich, back in training after missing four weeks with a knee injury, will make his comeback at the 22-26 May Tour of Bavaria.

The Italian race starts on 11 May and ends on 2 June.

Ullrish's team, Telekom, issued a statement to say they did not want to take any risks by having Ullrich make an early comeback at the Giro.

Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France winner, will also compete at the 3-9 June Tour of Germany.

Pantani cleared to race

Meanwhile, Italian Marco Pantani has been cleared to race in the Giro after the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) anti-doping commission decided not to recommend suspension.

Pantani is under investigation because an insulin-filled syringe was allegedly found in his hotel room during one of a series of police raids at the hotels of the 10 competing Giro squads during last year's race.

Under Italian law against doping, Pantani could face criminal charges and as a consequence could be suspended by the Italian Cycling Federation.

But before this can happen, the anti-doping commission would have to prove that Pantani used the syringe. As a result they have decided to carry out further investigations.

"The case involving Pantani is much more complicated than the other riders already deferred for suspension," said Giacomo Aiello, head of the investigative arm of the Italian Olympic Committee, after the hearing.