Veteran German rider Jens Voigt said winning the Tour of Germany for the first time was the finest achievement in his long cycling career, surpassing even his three stage victories at the Tour de France.

The 34-year-old Voigt, riding for the Danish CSC team, cruised through the eighth and final stage of the Tour on Wednesday to maintain his 98 second lead over American Levi Leipheimer and collect the title.

Australia's Graeme Brown of the Rabobank team won the final stage - a 172.1km ride from Bad Krozingen to Karlsruhe - but it was Voigt's day and he was overcome with emotion afterwards.

"It was crazy to hear people shouting my name. This is one of the greatest days of my life," said Voigt. "This is without doubt the biggest race I have won so far. To win the Tour in my home country is something special - a dream come true.

"I made a lot of sacrifices for this Tour. There were no late night parties. I was just drinking apple juice but it was worth it."

Voigt had held the leader's jersey since Sunday after winning three Tour stages and defending champion Leipeheimer had little chance of overturning a one minute and 38 second deficit in the final stage.

Voigt delighted the home fans with victory in the nine-day Tour and made up for the disappointment of two years ago when he finished second behind Stefan Schumacher.

This time Leipheimer was second with Andrei Kascheckin of Kazachstan in third.

At 34 Voigt is nearing the end of his career and he refused to be drawn on whether he would now participate at the world championships in Salzburg, whichbegin on September 19.

"I do not know whether I will start at the worlds," Voigt admitted. "If my form continues I will go but I want to do well there and if I do not think I can then I will leave it. We will see how it goes."

Final Overall Standings
1. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 00:00:00
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, at 00:01:38
3. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 00:02:23
4. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel, at 00:02:33
5. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Lampre, at 00:02:57
6. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, at 00:03:42
7. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Sp), CSC, at 00:04:08
8. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery Channel, at 00:04:09
9. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), T-Mobile, at 00:04:36
10. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 00:04:38