Gerdemann doesn't see himself as D-Tour favourite

Linus Gerdemann doesn't see himself as the favourite to win the Deutschland Tour, after his long injury-related break from racing. Although in the last few weeks he has won the Tour de l'Ain and the Coppa Agostoni, the Team Columbia rider says he is still not in top form.

"After my injury, I had a good recovery, but it needs more to become top form," he told Radsport-News.com. "I am certainly in good form, but not in the form where I could say, this is the best."

The 27 year-old sees himself as one of favourites, which includes Jens Voigt of CSC and Vladimir Karpets of Caisse d'Epargne. "I am happy just to be here and to be here in a good form. I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. And the competition here is not bad. I saw the starting list today and have to say, there are some good riders there."

The German crashed in the Tirenno-Adriatico time trial, suffering two fractures in his left leg and severely damaging the knee ligaments. The injuries were severe enough to cause him to miss the Tour de France and Olympic Games. (SW)