Ullrich’s season of discontent continues
- By VeloNews.com
- Published May. 3, 2002
German newspapers are reporting that Jan Ullrich is facing disciplinary action from his Telekom team after the cyclist was stripped of his driver’s license following a hit and run incident early this week. The 1997 Tour de France champion reversed his Porsche 911 into a row of parked bicycles and hit a railing in the center of the southwestern city of Freiburg early Wednesday and drove off, his manager Wolfgang Strohband confirmed. An eyewitness took the number of the car and contacted police who took a blood sample from the cyclist and subsequently withdrew his license.
The 28-year-old Ullrich was accompanied by Kazak teammate Alexandre Vinokurov and two young girls, according to the Bild newspaper.
Strohband said that the Telekom rider admitted consuming several glasses of wine and blamed the incident on the rider’s frustration at a long layoff with a knee injury.
“I did a stupid thing. I take responsibility and will take the consequences,” said Ullrich on his website. “I’m happy that no-one was injured and I will pay the damages.” But Telekom sporting director Rudy Pevenage said: “Such behaviour is not fitting for the leader of our team. We will have to discuss this with team director Walter Godefroot.”
Ullrich will compete in his first race this season, the Tour of Bavaria, on May 22.
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