Ullrich Was Fired By T-Mobile Fax-Like

Jan Ullrich received another blow yesterday afternoon. After confronting with a great deal of problems due to the "Puerto affair", the 1997 Tour de France winner was announced that he is no longer part of the T-Mobile team. And that would have been ok if the team's officials would have done it in style. But, after more than 10 years with the Germans, Ullrich was announced the decision by fax.

And that's truly a pretty ridiculous way to say good-bye to one of the few champions that brought you on the wings of success. Even if Ullrich is guilty - although he repeatedly stated that he is innocent - that doesn't mean that his contribution to the world of cycling has been damaged. Just like Pantani was not less of a champion when he was discovered using banned substances.

"I am very disappointed about the fact the decision was not communicated to me personally but by T-Mobile's lawyers in a fax. I think it's a shame that I have given so many years of good service and for all that I have done for the team, that I be seen as just a fax number", said a pretty disappointed Jan Ullrich. On the other hand, the German - and his representative - thinks that T-Mobile's decision has no grounds, since Ullrich hasn't been proven guilty until now.

Along with Ullrich, Spaniard Oscar Sevilla was also fired by the T-Mobile team. Still, things have a very good chance of not staying the way they are right now, since the German ace and his lawyer, Dr. Ulrich Theune, will have a further meeting with the T-Mobile officials. If an agreement will not be reached, there's a pretty good chance of T-Mobile being sued by the 32-year old cyclist.

Jan Ullrich has spent his last 12 professional years inside the T-Mobile team. From 1995 to 2002, the team was called Telekom. He then moved to Bianchi for one season, but came back to Rudy Pevenage's team - that changed its sponsor to T-Mobile.