Ullrich press officer: Jan is in good spirits

Jan Ullrich told German sport newsagency SID: " I am not even thinking about giving up without a fight. I am on my bike every day and do some additional power exercises." Ullrich also spoke with German tabloid Bild today saying: "My aim now is to release all of this pent-up frustration through cycling. If I manage to do that I will have a hell of a lot of energy."

Meanwhile Quickstep manager and president of the AIGCP (International Association of Professional Cycling teams), Patrick Lefevere told SID: "For the time being there will be no sports jurisdiction in relation with the Fuentes legal proceedings. "

Somehow it looks like parts of the German media are turning round. German daily newspaper Berliner Kurier published a story today in which the newspaper said: "Four months of Spanish doping scandal. Lots of speculation, supposing and suspicion. No allegation could have been proved so far."

Talking with Berliner Kurier, former T-Mobile manager Olaf Luwig said: "I am pretty sure Jan Ullrich will race again. Whether he will be able to reach his high-performance is another question." Ludwig explained: "These four months where both physical and psychological a heavy strain. First he has to catch up and put that away."

About the current deadlock of the Puerto affair, Ludwig said: "Everything is in limbo. That is the worst possible situation." According to Ludwig the situation can only be changed in Spain: On the basis of allegations this avalanche has been set of. But there has never been something concrete." Asked wheter all riders should be cleared, Ludwig said: That is a problem. Could somebody really equal this? And what about damages? Some surely will come and say they would have had won five races and lost a lot of money."

Asked about the signing of Ivan Basso by Discovery Channel, Ludwig stated: "Discovery does equate dropping of the case in Italy to a aquittal. What has been left of the code of ethics is another question. The one who is left with nothing is CSC boss Bjarne Riis, who terminated the contract with Basso."

When asked whether Discovery will be allowed to start at the Tour 2007 after having signed Ivan Basso, Ludwig concluded: "Well, there is much time before Juli..."