Columbia's Judith Arndt successfully defended her title as winner of the Thüringen Rundfahrt Sunday riding into the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage and keeping the lead on the final stage.

Arndt won the Tour by less than a second in the 2007 edition with the difference between her and Amber Neben coming down to a countback seconds in the time trial times.

"It think for me it was easier than last year as it didn't come down to one tenth of a second," said Arndt. "But for the team it was the same hard job as they had to chase down every attack on the last day with only three of them."

Attacks were plenty during the race with Cervelo using their number to try to get away. Finally Arndt and Trixi Worrack broke away from the peloton in the final kiometers and bridged to a two person breakaway. They finished together with Worrack taking the stage and Arndt finishing second and winning the race overal.

"It is a very important race and the girls did a great job to keep it together," said Team Director Petra Rossner. "Judith had a great time trial to get into the lead on Saturday but she really needed the team on the final stage."