In the 1990s, tennis player Boris Becker and cyclist Jan Ullrich were considered two of the greatest German sports heroes. More than 20 years later, after several scandals, there is not much left of the glory of the past for both of them. Becker’s enthusiasm for his friend Ullrich’s sport continues to this day, as he now emphasized.
The 55-year-old is following the current Tour de France with great interest, which will go down in history as one of the most exciting Tour of France ever due to the gripping duel between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar for overall victory.
“I’m absolutely fascinated by the Tour de France. I’m good friends with Jan Ullrich. I knew my way around better than I do now, I admit. But I’m fascinated by the sport,” said the three-time Wimbledon winner Becker in conversation with “Eurosport”.
Becker enthusiastic about tour heroes: “Real heroes!”
The mountain stages in particular, with their extreme climbs and sporting challenges for the participants in the Tour de France, still arouse great enthusiasm in Becker, as he explained: “You can hardly get up there in a car, let alone on a bike. These are incredible athletes, real heroes in terms of willingness to perform. I am fascinated by these great cyclists!”
The Tour de France 2023 runs until next Sunday. Then, traditionally in the capital Paris, the 21st and final stage of the world’s largest cycling race will take place.
Jan Ullrich was the only German to date to win the “Big Loop”, also known as the Tour, 26 years ago and thus wrote German cycling history. He has been a good friend of Becker for many years and was even an invited guest at his wedding to his then partner Lilly 14 years ago.