Jan Ullrich on his lowest: "I once wanted to set a world record: I smoked more than seven hundred cigarettes in one day"

Jan Ullrich experienced high peaks in his life, but also deep valleys. In the four-part documentary series 'Jan Ullrich - The Hunted', the 50-year-old German talks candidly about the alcohol and drug problems after his career.

Things weren't going well for Ullrich, but he only completely collapsed when his family left him. The former rider was left alone in Mallorca, where he had moved after his career. Alcohol use continued to increase, later cocaine was added. "I once didn't drink anything for nine months, but then I drank another glass and after a while I lost control," Humo quotes. "I switched from wine to whisky. First a bottle a day, later two bottles. I numbed myself week in and week out."

"I was a top athlete and could put extreme strain on my body. That talent for suffering has made me a Tour winner, but unfortunately it also worked in the other direction. I could drink more and more whiskey, snort more and more cocaine. Many other people would have killed themselves, but my body held out. I came up with challenges myself. For example, I once wanted to set a world record: I smoked more than seven hundred cigarettes in one day. It's a mystery to me how I managed to hold out for so long."

Ullrich regrets all the lost years and blames it all on himself. "My problems were created by my own mistakes and weakness. I was at the top, fell all the way to the bottom and now I'm trying to stay in the middle. Happiness is also in the little things."