Having ridden the Giro delle Dolomiti Gran Fondo in Bolzano, Italy, earlier this month, Jan Ullrich lined out in his second-such event on Sunday. The 1997 Tour de France winner finished a solid 84th out of his age group in the Ötztaler Cycling Marathon in Sölden, a 238 kilometre slog with 5500 vertical metres of climbing.
When all of the 3888 male starters were considered, he finished 182nd. He’d have been placed higher had he not ridden it as a helper for his friend, the former slalom world champion Frank Wörndl. The latter was affected by stomach issues and after Ullrich hung back, he eventually told him to continue on at his own pace; he did so, and finished almost two hours ahead.
“At the beginning of Jaufenpass Frank noticed that it was really difficult for him,” Ullrich wrote afterwards on the website www.radsport-aktiv.de. “The descents were cold, and so were the drinks - they really upset his stomach. He told me to go ride ahead - the very generous captain who can lets his helper go on, if he [the leader] has a bad day ...
“So I could then still be flying a bit, especially on the downhills. The Ötztal is really a beautiful race. But a crazy affair: nearly 240 kilometers, 5500 meters - that's huge. Chapeau to the recreational riders. The last in the field are more than twelve hours in the saddle.”
A year ago, the German said that he was withdrawing from public life due to emotional burnout. It was interpreted by some as being the toll of many years of pressure, of allegations relating to his involvement in Operación Puerto and of scrutiny by investigators and the German press.
He returned to the bike and did more and more training, often with his friend and current RadioShack pro Andreas Klöden. He said that this greatly improved things for him, considerably boosting his mood, and has also helped him rediscover a love for the sport.
“What I will really remember from Ötztal are the faces of the riders on top of Timmelsjoch: Completely dead after 30 km ascent, but totally happy. That's cycling. And it is really fun again, this feeling I have long missed,” he wrote.
“The training is worthwhile to experience this. And I prepared quite seriously for six weeks with almost daily training, a total of over 4,000 kilometers. Even an ex-pro doesn't do The Ötzi just like that. It’s a really hard program, [because of] the route: Most slopes are over ten percent, and at the beginning of the Kühtai with 18 percent. Brutal. But beautiful.”
Ullrich was recently called before the Court of Arbitration for Sport under a UCI appeal, and a decision will be handed down at some point after September. He’s got little control now over what is decided, but he is remaining focussed on enjoying the sport and to extending himself in a different way than before.
“I'm looking forward to my next race - the "Charity Bike Cup" on 3 October,” he said. “Let's see what happens next year. Maybe a few meters of altitude less than the Ötztal, but again with pleasure. Because I want to convey above all that road cycling is a pleasure.”
The 37 year old added that he wanted to spend time with young people in the sport, and also to continue raising money for charity.