Jan Ullrich wants to unpack in a documentary. The 1997 Tour de France winner now explains what the four-part series is supposed to be about. About doping as an active player, about his excesses after his career and about the help of his eternal rival Lance Armstrong. The documentary is scheduled to be released next year.
Cycling fans are still waiting for Jan Ullrich to confess to doping. The 49-year-old was convicted many years ago, but has always refused to admit his transgressions. That should change now. In the "Amazon" documentary about his life, which will be released in 2023, the native of Rostock finally wants to make a clean sweep.
In an interview with "Sport Bild", Ullrich described the work on the four-part documentary as "mega-emotional". It goes "really deep in," he promised. The "suppression" in recent years should now become a "processing". "Things come up that I didn't really remember anymore," explained the 1997 Tour de France winner.
Ullrich did not reveal exactly what that means. However, he said: "It's not always easy, of course tears flow sometimes, but I expect a lot from it for the rest of my life." The 49-year-old added that he hoped it would be "a great relief" to see the film in the form of a film. The exclusive contract for the documentary had already been reported several times because Ullrich apparently agreed not to talk about the events and revelations discussed there outside of the filming.
Ullrich went through several deep valleys, especially after the end of his active career, and turned to drugs and alcohol several times. One person who has regularly helped him overcome these apparent dependencies is, of all people, his former rival Lance Armstrong, whom "Ulle" has long referred to as a friend. "After our careers, we both went through a lot and could understand how the other was doing. And then when I needed help, Lance was actually there the next day. You realize: I'm really important to him, that's not just the way it is blah blah, there's something behind it," Ullrich described his relationship with the American.
Ullrich's goals for the future are rather modest after his turbulent past. He wants to "spend a lot of time with family, children and my girlfriend" in the future. In addition to the documentary, he is also working on a biography and for the next year on two events where fans can go on a bike tour with him.
Ullrich also did not want to rule out a return to the big cycling stage. "Cycling has been my life and that's why it still revolves around that. I have a clue about that. I certainly won't be the sporting director of a team again. But if someone needs me - I'm open to everything," he said.
