Ullrich is upset that he wasn't heard: "I would have liked to be heard, just as was the case with Basso.
Nobody rang me up, nobody wanted to speak with me. I couldn't give my opinions, and give my side of the story to the federations.
I found that ridiculous."
About the Swiss federation ullrich said: "For eight months now, the Swiss federation has been purporting to
have exclusive material against me. It's being said that Jan Ullrich will be given a life suspension. But I ask myself, where
is this material? And why has no trial been brought against me?"
Although Jan Ullrich voluntarily has submitted a DNA sample to the German authorities he does not have confidence in the
Spanish investigation. As Cyclingheroes reported earlier, the author of the Puerto report is being investigated himself for falsifying the Puerto
documents.
Ullrich said: "The basis for the premature conclusions that have been drawn is a report that the UCI has obtained illegally
from Spain. This report has been falsified several times, there are differing versions. Apart from that, certain people's
own opinions and interpretations have gone into it. And the compilers of the report are now being legally investigated in
Spain," the Olympic Gold medal winner added.
About the fraud investgation in Bonn, Ullrich said: "An investigation is taking place against me in Bonn. Anyone who
has been through what I have been through in the last few months will understand that I can't comment on that. But Ullrich
insisted he is innocent saying :"I have got nothing to be ashamed about, and have never cheated or deceived anyone in my career."
Ullrich continued by saying: "It's a bit strange for me how German athletes, especially me at the moment, are being treated.
I feel like a criminal althoug i've done nothing wrong." It's not funny if they ask everywhere for your DNA sample." Looking
angry, the former road world champion said: "For me that is not funny, I gave one now because I cooperate with Bonn [the state
prosecution of Bonn] and because I want to phaseout this case fast."
Ullrich attacked the former German defence minister and nowadays president of the German Cycling Federation, Rudolf
Scharping by saying: "During my successful period, those where there as well, he was one of the biggest backslappers. He was
present at many races, during training camps he has often let himself phographed with me. He alsways had his own photographer
with him [Ullrich speaks about the time that Scharping was minister], weher camera teams where there, he used my popularity.
Ullrich continued by saying: "In my opinion it is very bad for German cycling to have such people as a president, who have
no passion, who jumped on the train of cycling when it was riding really good and fast, who do not love the sport, meanwhile
they are able to say and decide what happens here. People like that are the ones who will leave the sinking ship. They are
not good for cycling."
Ullrich reacted on remarks of Scharping that he had done great damage to German cycling saying: "Cycling was unknown in
Germany ten years ago. There was only one pro team and it had great trouble being invited to the Tour in '95," he said. "And
where are we now? We have three ProTour teams, many big names, many big races, such as the Deutschland Tour, and millions
of fans, with more fans every year. We have become one of the leading cycling nations. So, have I damaged cycling or helped
it?"
About his retirement and future
Ullrich is a man who always thry to think positive and as he continued with his statement he said: "I will stay with cycling".
Many people at the Hamburg Intercontinental hotel applaused but Ullrich continued saying: "but not as an active professional
rider." Ullrich said: "I will continue my involvement in cycling. I couldn't live without cycling. It's my passion and my
life." Ullrich will work as an advisor for the Austrian Volksbank team and will also help with finding new sponsors and the
German will work with a new youth team of Volksbank.
According to the German website radsport-aktiv.de, the contact with the Austrian team was established by Ullrichs brother
in law Tobias Steinhauser who is a friend of Volksbank co-manager Harald Moschner. The three man train every now and
than together. Volksbank would have signed Ullrich as a rider as well and was one of seven teams who were interested in Ullrich.
Two of the seven teams were Pro-Tour teams.
Ullrich will also work together with Terra-S, a company that developed a gel which prevent flat tires. Ullrich will also
work as an advisor for X-technology sports clothing.
At the end of his press conference Ullrich thanked his managemen, family and fans for their support over the years: "A
big thank you to you my dear fans, because without you my great successes would not have been possible. You were
with me during the good and the bad times. You showed me that that you sticked with me and you gave me a lot." Ullrich invited
some of his fans to the press conference, like Mister Mehl of the German Tourgott forum. Fans of the German Tourgott
Forum organized a petition demanding that Ullrich would be allowed to race again at www.freie-fahrt-fuer.ulle.de. The petition was signed by over 6000 Jan Ullrich fans from all over the world.
