Former tour winner Jan Ullrich confesses in Lance Armstrong's podcast: »Was almost dead»

Jan Ullrich (archive)

Photo: Guido Kirchner / dpa

Germany's former cycling hero Jan Ullrich spoke to his former rival Lance Armstrong about what was probably the most difficult phase of his life.

“You know my story, three years ago I felt really bad.

You visited me and I was on the same path as Marco Pantani - almost dead, «said the 47-year-old Ullrich on Mallorca in the presence of Armstrong and his former teammate George Hincapie and team boss Johan Bruyneel in Armstrong's podcast» The Move «.

The Italian Pantani died in 2004 of a cocaine overdose.

“I slept three years and needed the time to myself.

But now my brain is clear again, my body is fit.

I have a few ideas and can tell you more next time, ”said Ullrich.

In autumn 2018, Ullrich had admitted drug problems in a statement and, according to his own statements, underwent treatment.

A few weeks earlier, Ullrich had been temporarily taken into custody after a dispute on Mallorca with his neighbor at the time, the actor and director Til Schweiger.

“We've all been through shitty times, and all in different ways.

But the most important thing is: we're here, "said 50-year-old Armstrong.

Armstrong and Ullrich, who also rode a bike lap together on the Balearic Island, fought thrilling duels at the Tour de France at the beginning of the 2000s.

Ullrich's involvement in the Fuentes doping scandal

In 1997 Ullrich won the Tour of France.

Due to his involvement in the doping scandal surrounding the Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, he was excluded from the tour in 2006 and found guilty of doping in 2012.

On February 26, 2007, Ullrich declared his active cycling career over.

While Armstrong caught up with his doping past after his career, Ullrich suffered a crash in health.

mfu / dpa