Home favourite Jan Ullrich, third in last month's Tour de France, is tipped to win the Tour of Germany which starts in Altenburg on Monday. The nine-day, 1,530km event has been rescheduled from June to August to suit the UCI ProTour calendar.
T-Mobile team leader Ullrich said: "For me, it's not a build-up race for the Tour de France any more, so I can give it my best shot."
Quick Step's Patrik Sinkewitz is the defending champion.
Other contenders include Alexander Vinokourov (T-Mobile), Michale Rasmussen (Rabobank), Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto), and local favourites Joerg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros) and Jens Voigt (Team CSC).
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