Gerolsteiner’s Levi Leipheimer won the 2005 Tour of Germany on Tuesday after holding the yellow jersey for the final five stages.

Italian Daniele Bennati (Lampre) won the 168km final stage from Bad Kreuznach to the former West German capital of Bonn to register his third stage victory but Leipheimer took the overall Tour win.

"This is the biggest success of my career," said the American. "This race has matured and is now one of the top three races so I am overjoyed to win it.

"It is also a great day for the team and we have proved that we are the strongest team here."

Bennati scores his third stage win

Photo: AFP

Leipheimer, sixth in this year's Tour de France, started the final stage 31 seconds ahead of Germany's T-Mobile rider Jan Ullrich and had no trouble retaining that cushion on the flat ninth stage to win the 1510km Tour.

Ullrich had started as one of the favorites but was always playing catch up and had to settle for second place.

"Just getting on the podium is an achievement after the setbacks I have had in training," declared Ullrich. "I would have loved to have won but I was 31 seconds short. I just have to be happy about the second place."

Gerolsteiner rider Georg Totschnig of Austria completed the podium finishing third one minute and 23 seconds behind teammate Leipheimer.

Stage result
1. Daniele Bennati, Lampre, 03:53:07
2. Baden Cooke, Francaise des Jeux
3. Fabian Cancellara, Fassa Bortolo
4. Luke Roberts, CSC
5. Steffen Radochla, Team Wiesenhof
6. Davide Vigano, Quickstep
7. Sebastian Siedler, Team Wiesenhof
8. Rony Martias, Bouygues Telecom
9. Sébastien Hinault, Credit Agricole
10. Marco Righetto, Liquigas-Bianchi

Overall Final
1. Levi Leipheimer, Gerolsteiner, 37:24:35
2. Jan Ullrich, T-Mobile, at 00:31
3. Georg Totschnig, Gerolsteiner, at 01:23
4. Jörg Jaksche, Liberty Seguros, at 01:29
5. Cadel Evans, Davitamon-Lotto, at 01:53
6. Tadej Valjavec, Phonak, at 03:53
7. Fabian Jeker, Saunier Duval, at 04:26
8. Marzio Bruseghin, Fassa Bortolo, at 05:07
9. Saul Raisin, Credit Agricole, at 06:03
10. Patrik Sinkewitz, Quickstep, at 06:30