BERLIN -- Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, back after a series of injuries and a doping ban, will take part in his first race in Germany for 17 months on Monday.

Over a million spectators are expected to line the roads when Ullrich, who has not raced in his country since competing in the Tour of Rhineland-Palatinate in September 2001, enters the low-key around Cologne event.

Ullrich, whose six-month doping suspension ended last month, returned to racing earlier this month in the Tour de la Sarthe in France and is taking part in the Tour of Aragon in Spain.

"There's always a special atmosphere in Cologne and I'm really looking forward to it," said Ullrich, who is satisfied with his form.

The 1997 Tour de France winner has been away from racing for 15 months because of knee operations and a ban imposed on him after he tested positive for amphetamines.

The 29-year-old, still regarded as the only rider capable of beating American Lance Armstrong on the Tour de Drance, joined the German stable Team Coast in January after parting company with Team Telekom, Reuters reported.

Team Coast's license was temporarily withdrawn over non-payment of drivers' wages but ruling body UCI gave it back to them last month before confirming on Tuesday that the stable had the right to compete until the end of the year.