The former Tour-de France winner Jan Ullrich wants to become an integral part of the cycling world again, but excludes a certain job.
“I am partially on the road as a TV expert. This is also the direction in which I tend in the future. What I do not see for myself is an activity as a sporting director because I have other projects much more fun,” the 51-year-old told the “SID”. “I rather see myself working with children and young people who still need help to stay up and to absorb cycling fever”.
Jan Ullrich had been publicly talking about his doping past for the first time in the past few months, and the native of Rostock has left behind alcohol and drug skills. In cycling, he is at least no more undesirable person.
“The mix is just good. I found my identity and it is connected to cycling. I feel comfortable on this terrain, so I’m an expert,” said Ullrich.
Another cycling boom? That says Jan Ullrich
The tour triumph of the native of Rostock has now been for 28 years – a time when a lot has happened. “Cycling has become significantly more modern and today youth drivers train as intensely as we do,” stated Ullrich. “Training and nutritional technology is ahead of us today. It is insane to see that. Of course, the material has also gotten much better.”
Ullrich considers a renewed cycling hype, as he triggered it with his great triumph on the 1997 France tour in 1997. “If you have someone like Boris Becker and Steffi Graf in tennis or Sven Hannawald and Martin Schmitt in ski jumping, then you can see that it doesn’t matter which sport it is. If someone wins a big title that you have not thought possible, it can also trigger a big boom in Germany.”