Ullrich's last stand

At the Tour de France in July, the 31-year-old German was resigned to a subsidiary spot on the race's overall podium. "[Lance] Armstrong is unbeatable," Ullrich said after finishing third on the general classification (the German has won the world's toughest bike race once, in 1997, finished runner-up five times, and third once).

Where the Tour of Germany is concerned, however, Levi Leipheimer is no Lance Armstrong.

"I will give my maximum on [Monday's] time-trial," Ullrich said, looking to leapfrog from fifth overall -- 1 min 26 sec back of Leipheimer -- to the overall race crown.

Four weeks ago, in the Tour de France's final 55.5-km time-trial in Saint-Etienne, Ullrich roasted Leipheimer, distancing the American for 2 min 50 sec.

Of course, Leipheimer on Monday will have the added advantage of wearing the Tour of Germany's overall leader's jersey, an honour that -- in any race -- can transcend a rider's morale, cajoling once-in-a-lifetime performances.

"I was surprised when I saw that Ullrich was no longer in my wheel," a confident Leipheimer said, referring to Sunday's seventh stage, when the American dropped the German for 30 seconds on the final climb to the finish in Feldberg.

"Now, I think I have a real chance to win the overall race," Leipheimer concluded.