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SportsJan Ullrich returns to Tour de France as official guest for first time in nearly 20 years
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Jan Ullrich, Germany's only Tour de France winner, has returned to the race as an official guest for the first time in nearly two decades, marking an emotional comeback after his 2006 doping scandal. The 52-year-old, who was sent home by his T-Mobile team before the 2006 Tour start in Strasbourg, spoke publicly about his subsequent depression and the relief of confessing. Ullrich described his 'life's backpack' as extremely heavy and expressed happiness at being back, noting that his children were impressed by the public's continued interest. He praised modern cycling's improved anti-doping measures and controls. The article highlights his 1997 victory and his recent appearance on German broadcaster ARD, where he discussed his recovery and the current German contender Florian Lipowitz.
Source report
He is back! Jan Ullrich (52) was considered a persona non grata at the Tour de France for many years. Now, for the first time, he has returned as an official guest — essentially a comeback after 20 years.
In 2006, before the start of the Tour de France in Strasbourg, the doping scandal surrounding Germany's only Tour winner began. His then-team T-Mobile sent its top star home, marking the start of a nearly two-decade-long decline.
Ullrich was last on the sidelines of the race in 2017, when he met with a BILD reporter on the stage from Düsseldorf to Liège. He was there privately and still in the midst of his major crisis.
In recent years, the man from Rostock has been on the road to recovery. Speaking on ARD, he said:
"Great, great, I'm extremely happy to be here. My first visit as a guest at the Tour de France. We have a German contender in Florian Lipowitz, my children are here, everyone is nervous and excited."
Thirty years ago, Ullrich made his debut at the world's biggest race, finishing second right away.
"It's something very special to join such a team. Erik Zabel won a stage right away, Bjarne Riis wore the yellow jersey. There was a good atmosphere in the team."
The Dane then went on to win the Tour.
This is how BILD reported on Jan Ullrich's Tour victory in 1997. Photo: BILD
Twenty years ago came the aforementioned exit before the start in Strasbourg.
"It was so hard for me that I fell into a depression for many years. I never thought I would reveal that to the general public; I wanted to deal with it myself. I constantly bottled it up and got huge problems. But I got new motivation when things were going extremely badly for me. Friends advised me to come clean, and that was the best decision."
Today, he sees cycling — "his" favorite sport — on a good path.
"It was a dark era back then. Things have improved across the board. There are more controls, the penalties are higher, which I think is good."
He himself does not regret his (very late) confession.
"It's incredibly liberating. The backpack of life was extremely heavy back then. I'm back at the Tour, the kids are here. They were impressed and said more people want my autograph than Pogacar's."
Source
BILD - SportWestern
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Jan Ullrich Returns to Tour de France as Official Guest After Doping Scandal