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Ullrich out

Injury forces Telekom captain out of Tour de France

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Posted: Sunday June 20, 1999 06:10 PM

Jan Ullrich, who finished second in last year's Tour de France, is still suffering from a right knee injury. Alex Livesey/Allsport

BERLIN (AP) -- Jan Ullrich, the 1997 winner, said Sunday he will definitely miss the Tour de France due to his knee injury, the latest setback for a Telekom team already reeling from injuries and accusations of systematic doping use.

Ullrich, captain of one of cycling's premier teams, had withdrawn from the Tour de Suisse 10 days ago because of sharp pain in a right knee injured during a spill three weeks ago.

"I'm very sorry, but I will not ride the Tour de France," said Ullrich from the Freiburg University clinic where he is being treated.

The 25-year-old German had, until Sunday, repeatedly expressed hopes of being fit for the Tour de France, which kicks off July 3. Last year, he finished second at cycling's premier event.

The defending champion, Italy's Marco Pantani, also has said he won't compete this time around after being expelled from the Tour of Italy because he was found to have unusually high levels of red blood cells.

Ullrich will be replaced by Erik Zabel as the team's leading rider, but the 28-year-old is not likely to give the team its third champion in four years. Zabel, however, may salvage some prestige for the team with stage wins.

Team Telekom has been jolted in recent weeks by other injuries and accusations that performance-enhancing drugs have been systematically given its riders.

Riders Rolf Aldag and Jens Heppner will also miss the Tour de France with injuries and 1996 tour winner Bjarne Riis of Denmark is not likely to be on the squad after some disappointing performances.

Training records reportedly showing that at least some Team Telekom riders were systematic given performance-enhancing drugs, including EP0, have been circulating through the German media in recent months.

Der Spiegel magazine, ARD TV's "Monitor" newsmagazine and a leading German doping expert, Dr. Werner Franke, all claimed to have seen the training records, which are being carried around by a former Team Telekom aide.

Team Telekom has denied the charges and gained a restraining order on Der Spiegel repeating its accusations, but the negative publicity has had an effect on the riders.

"It has a clear impact on the team's morale. I'll have to have some individual talks," said Team Telekom head Walter Godefroot.

 

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