Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich (picture) is full of confidence for this year's race in July after solid performances in the French Circuit de la Sarthe and Spanish Tour of Aragon.

"The progress of my training can't be compared with last year. I am feeling much better and am looking forward to this summer with confidence," said Ullrich, who was 10th in the Circuit de la Sarthe and 19th in the Tour of Aragon.

"We had good weather in Tuscany in March. But what's much more important is I am bang on schedule with my Tour preparations," the German said on the T-Mobile team's website.

Team manager Walter Godefroot was also pleased with the 1997 Tour winner's form.

"Jan is in much better shape than last year. This is all very good news," he said.

"If you want to hold your own at the Tour de France, this is the usual build-up. Jan is right on track. Which is good," added Godefroot.

Ullrich showed signs of early form by finishing only 21 seconds off the pace in his first time trial of the season in La Sarthe. He also climbed well in Aragon, which finished on Sunday.

The 31-year-old who has finished second in the Tour five times, three of those behind American Lance Armstrong, was a disappointing fourth last year.

Ullrich plans to take a break from competitive racing until the Tour of Catalunya in May and will return to Tuscany to train.