Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich formally announced today that he is retiring from cycling. In a Hamburg press conference this morning, the 33 year old stated that he will no longer race competitively, but will become an adviser to the Austrian pro-continental Volksbank team.
Since July, Ullrich has been involved in a number of legal battles that have stemmed from the Operacion Puerto investigation in Spain. He was barred from entering last year’s Tour de France along with a number of other riders, and has had trouble obtaining a racing license ever since. He is also under investigation for fraud in his home country of Germany and has been forced to provide a DNA sample.
However, Ullrich vehemently denies any allegations of doping, and has never failed a drug test. He also denies ever having contact with Eufemiano Fuentes, the doctor at the centre of Operacion Puerto.
Speculation about Ullrich’s future had been building since the press conference was scheduled last week. Retirement was a widely predicted option, but there were rumours that he was about to make a comeback, possibly with Volksbank or the Italian team Acqua e Sapone. Ullrich said this morning :–
“I could ride again immediately, I could get a license, I am fit — as fit as last year and could immediately have a team. I have seven offers, including Pro Tour teams.”
“It has taken months until I was sure what I wanted, what would make me happy. Today, I want to officially announce that I will stay involved in cycling, but not as an active rider.”
On his new role, Volksbank manager Thomas Kofler was quoted as saying :–
“This is not an ordinary job for Jan Ullrich but a passion. He will use his experience to build the healthy basis for a secure future for the Volksbank team. Jan Ullrich fits wonderfully in our concept: We will keep on our path and go after the big goals with small steps. And who knows, perhaps we can nibble at some of the bigger teams in the foreseeable future.
“Ullrich’s charisma will help our riders outside of the races, too. I am optimistic and look forward to our joint future with one of the most colourful and popular personalities of the German-speaking cycling world.”
Ullrich, who is originally from the East German city of Rostock, turned pro in 1995 after winning the world amateur road race championship in 1993. Apart from one year when he rode for the defunct Coast and Bianchi teams, Ullrich spent his entire career with the German T-Mobile team.
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