Jan Ullrich May Turn to Armstrong for Help

Even if he was humiliated by his former team (T-Mobile) earlier last week, Jan Ullrich does not seek revenge. Before the sportive tribunals pronounced a decision in the "Puerto Operation", the German team decided to let the 1997 Tour de France winner go. But they didn't just do it anyhow. They sent Ullrich a fax, in which he was announced as no longer being part of the team. This way, after almost a decade of staying with T-Mobile, Ullrich was sent off the team through the back door.

And he could have claimed that it was illegal of his team to take such a decision, without any incriminating evidence against him. Since T-Mobile did not give a decent reason to fire him, why did they let him go? Well, that's exactly what he and his lawyer discussed with the team's officials earlier today. And, after hours of arguing on the matter, the former cycling champion decided not to contest their decision. After all, why compete with T-Mobile when they don't want you?

If found not guilty in the "Puerto Operation", Jan will have all the time in the world to chose a team for the next season. Until then, he has the right to feel disappointed on the way his former team treated him. A future move to Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel team is not to be ruled out either, since the American seems eager to take on his new responsibilities as a team manager in cycling. The German admitted that he had some talks with Lance, but no settlement has been reached.

"Not once in my career have I cheated the other riders. I have always said I will finish with a Tour victory. Unfortunately, this year I was prevented from doing so. That's why I will try to add another year", said Ullrich in a press conference. Before receiving the "firing news" from his T-Mobile team, he received another blow just hours before stepping into the Tour de France. Because of his alleged involvement in the "Saiz affair", the German was suspended by his team, along with teammate Oscar Sevilla.
Neither WADA, nor the Spanish judiciary system announced when the cyclists are going to be told their sanctions, but it should happen until the Spanish La Vuelta will get under way, in early September.