Miguel Indurain: "Although
at 33 he didn't have much cycling left in his legs, it is a shame he has had to retire in this manner. He has been the
classiest rider of the last decade, perhaps no more than Lance Armstrong, but certainly no less."
Eddy Merckx: ""He started when he was very young and was always
confronted with a lot of pressure. This meant that he became mentally tired. He could have reached more during his career.
Cycling is again losing a big name."
Oscar Sevilla: "Ullrich is a victim. It's very sad when you look at his
characteristics and his capabilities. It's a pity that he has to say goodbye, but the time has come and you have to applaud
to him and respect him."
Rudy Pevenage: "Without Operacion Puerto he would have won the last Tour de France
and after that he would have ridden a tour of honour at the Tour of Germany. That's how he painted his retirement. It all
came diferent. I assert that of 58 riders who were accussed two still are not on their bike. Jaksche and Jan. That is strange."
Wolfgang Strohband (Ullrich's manager): "I would rather have seen him back on
the bike," At the beginning I was against this decision, but I saw that there was no point in arguing."
Michael Boogerd: "I like to race with him. He never crooked; a friendly and respectable
colleague. It is a fact that they made it impossible for him to continue with his profession."
Jörg Jaksche: "It is sad that he retired. For me personally he made a lot possible.
Without Jan there would not be a Team Telekom or Gerolsteiner. Cycling in Germany would not be so big without Jan. It still
would be on a "distric league" level. The witch hunt went too far in Germany, they [the German press] couldn't turn
anymore. Maybe Jan should have fought longer but I can understand that he does not want to fight anymore."
Peter Becker (former Ullrich coach): "I would have liked it when he had continued racing.
One has to accept it, also when it is hard to take."
