At the turn of millenium, the rivalry of Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong made the newspaper headlines, but their fates ultimately weren't connected by immeasurable glory. Rather it was the downfall that made the two gentlemen find a bond and ultimately build an unlikely friendship.
"We used to be competitors, with respect for each other. I think we all know what happened after that," Ullrich said in an interview with VTM at the cycling festival organized by the 51-year-old German in Bad Dürrheim.
Ullrich's life spiralled out of control after his forced retirement in 2007. Few years later, Lance Armstrong hit the rock-bottom as then 7-time Tour de France champion was completely banished from the cycling world. But in the end, it was the American who reached out with a helping hand towards his former rival when he was in the lowest point. "I think that brought us together. I had my personal life problems and Lance helped me a lot in that phase."
"I've also been to the United States several times. We exchanged ideas and a good friendship developed. It was a sign for me that someone who used to be my biggest competitor now came to see me. And that he showed interest in the person Jan Ullrich. That was a very big motivation for me, so that I got out of my vicious circle again and overcame all that."
Bradley Wiggins
Sir Bradley Wiggins' story doesn't concern dopping, but even the British knight went through many hardships that got the worst of the first British Tour winner and Olympic champion.
Ultimately, Wiggins received help from the same American corner as Ullrich before him. "He’s been one of my biggest supporters over the last twelve months. He inspired me to stop drinking and things like that. And to make sure I got my life on track. It’s been a gift from heaven."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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