Jan Ullrich insists Florian Lipowitz can win the Tour de France: “At some point Pogacar and Vingegaard will decline”

Jan Ullrich believes Florian Lipowitz has not yet shown his full potential and could eventually fight for Tour de France victories, arguing that even the current era’s dominant riders will not remain at their peak forever.

Speaking to Sport1 at the Sportsman of the Year gala in Baden-Baden, Germany, the former Maillot Jaune winner said his younger compatriot's breakthrough third place at his debut Tour de France earlier this summer should be seen as a starting point rather than a ceiling. Ullrich stressed that development, patience and timing would be key as the German continues his rise.

According to Ullrich, Lipowitz “still has something in reserve” and “has not yet reached his peak”, adding that improvement is still possible while rivals inevitably move in the opposite direction.

“He can still improve and the others are getting older too. At some point they will decline,” Ullrich said, referring to the current benchmark riders Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.

Ullrich was clear that Lipowitz’s Tour podium was not a one-off. He highlighted the overall structure around the 25-year-old, pointing to a solid team environment and personal characteristics that matter at the very top of the sport. “The foundation is good. He has a good team, a good environment and he himself is a strong character,” Ullrich said.

That combination, in Ullrich’s view, explains why Lipowitz was able to back up his overall podium with the white jersey as best young rider. For the 1997 Tour champion, those signs suggest a rider capable of handling long-term pressure rather than just producing a single standout performance.

Ullrich also revealed that he remains in regular contact with Florian Lipowitz, and was particularly struck by his mindset after the Tour de France. Rather than easing off, Lipowitz has already turned his focus towards the future.

“He is training diligently right up until Christmas,” Ullrich explained. “He already told me that he cannot be here today because of his training. He is already preparing for next year.”

That attitude feeds Ullrich’s belief that further progress is realistic. “If a little bit of luck is added to that, then he can definitely move even further forward,” he said.

Beyond individual ambition, Ullrich also framed Lipowitz’s Tour de France podium as an important moment for German cycling more broadly. Seeing a German rider on the final podium in Paris alongside Pogacar and Vingegaard, he suggested, has already begun to shift perceptions.

“It was really nice to see Lipo on the Champs-Elysees on the podium with Vingegaard and Pogacar. You can already recognise a small boom in cycling,” Ullrich said, adding that he notices the same effect closer to home. “I see it with my children. Of course something like that sparks interest when a German is riding right at the front.”

For Ullrich, that renewed visibility only strengthens the case that Lipowitz’s Tour de France story is far from finished.