DXchulo

Why does PEZ hate Jan Ullrich? Here's their latest:

Yeah, let's conveniently forget about that knee injury and pretend he was sitting around eating ice cream all spring.

This article bashes him too: https://pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=3960

They seem to take a shot at him whenever they can. I understand Jan has had a troubled past, but he came into this year in good shape and had some bad luck with a knee injury. How can you bash him for that? Quit living in the past, PEZ.

bigskymacadam

i'm pulllin' for the jan. i wish the'd give 'em a break too, but any press is good press. he'll use it to his advantage. (i hope). this is our big hype! who's in contention? who'd legs are there? who got sick? etc. i love it.

Guest

PEZ should be PUTZ.

Koffee

roadwarrior

Does Pez suck monkey balls???

jfmckenna

It seems to me that every year Ullrich takes a bashing from people. I am quite sick of it too given the guys incredible accomplishments as a racer.

botto 

well, from what i've been hearing, you won't have to worry about that next year.

catbus

Hopefully, this will be the scene in July...

timmhaan

jan takes more beef for coming in second than anyone else. just think of all the riders who over the years barely break top 20. nobodys hard on them. i guess that just comes with 2nd place. it's a rough position to be in.

2Rodies

I think that is more because Jan is perceived to have so much talent, and that the he seems to show up to the tour every year out of racing shape. For 99.9% of the pro's out there a podium is as good as win at the tour, but Jan is supposed to be more talented than LA. Weather it is true or not the perception of Jan is of a rider who doesn't work hard enough then pays the price during the race. If you look at Jan in '03 he showed up in 'racing' form and nearly took the title from Lance. His drug problems and perceived lack of discipline out of season have added the stereotype that he is immensely talented but somewhat lazy.

botto 

He showed up fit, and Armstrong was in his worst TdF form of his 7 wins.

There's no somewhat's about it. He is lazy, or completely unmotivated if that suits you better

2Rodies

Hey I'm trying to be objective here! My personal feelings are much like yours. I feel that there are guys who just put in the work and that's how they get the results, Jan in my book isn't one of those guys. My best friend is the most talented cyclist I personally know. He really doesn't eat or train like you would expect he would based on his ability on the bike. Some people are just gifted, I told him the other day that I bust my butt, sacrifice beer and desert just to be 90% of him when he's having an average day. My guess is that there is some of that feeling in the peleton toward Jan. Most of these guys live the life and never see the top 10 of the Tour GC while Jan can come in fat, dumb and happy and still score a podium. Believe me I'll bet if you asked Vino, or Landis if 5 TdF podiums would be something they'd feel proud about they'd tell you hell yes.

TYB069

Despite the fact that there are really only a handful of riders out there that have resumes similar to his, everyone says he can't cut it, he needs to train harder, he is lazy, doesn't have the will to win, etc. I think all that pressure is getting to him. Maybe he is starting to believe it and thats why he comes to the tour out of form or can't/won't win the big races.

2Rodies

I don't buy that explanation. He's paid a boat load of money to win the Tour. Michael Schumacher is the highest paid (salary) athlete on the planet, yet he tests more than the Ferrari test drivers. He puts in max effort and has been rewarded with 7 world championships, more wins, more poles etc etc. Lance is also and extremely gifted athlete and he put in the time, lived the life and was rewarded with 7 consecutive TdF's. What gets people all riled up about Jan is that he perceived to be even more talented than Lance and if had put in the effort he'd have beaten Lance instead of the other way round.

webist

First, I think Jan is a great rider and in the top miniscule percentage of the best who ever rode a bike. The history of cycling will always include mention of Jan as one of the greats. I also think, however, that we have already seen his best.

lala

He's an easy target.

I heart Jan.

wabbit

i get peeved at the food jokes, like photo captions 'Here's jan grabbing his food bag" or showing him eating his energy bar like he's Henry the VIII eating one of those big lamb chops. What's he supposed to do... fast during a week long stage race??

DocRay

Yep. that's the perception in Europe, he's lacking the disicipline he needs to win. He's already started making excuses for the Giro next week.

jbhowat

Excuses like the fact that he's not in it to contest the GC? He's said that since he knew he was doing the Giro. He's not going to be stupid and try a double.

Voodoo76

You sacrifice Beer????

2Rodies

Yep! This has been my abuse week, since I just finished my 'A+++' race of the season, I've gone off the hook! Beer, icecream, I even ate a doughnut! I know this sound nutty but I'm 44 competing for the most part with 20 somethings so I can't spot them anything! I get two weeks off in September too!

theworm86

I think people overlook the big picture. We praise Armstrong endlessly for his motivation, work ethic, and his ability to make sacrifices. But at what expense does that come? To win he had to become an ultra-obsessive dick who rarely saw his kids and wife, etc. I bet Jan is a much more well adjusted, mentally stable person whose self worth isn't completely and utterly entwined with his palmares, yet we knock him constantly for not living up to his "potential."

pigmode

Aren't you engaging in the same type of theorizing about both *men*? If we must have heroes, we need not have them for dessert.

wabbit

i think theworm is right... lance was willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING to win seven tours and have his name in history. it's true, his marriage ended, he never saw his kids, and who knows what kind of toll it took on him physically. Lance has even said he doesn't think he'll live very long. His entire life was about winning the tour. It's not a question of better, but they're two different guys with different goals.

And it also seems sometimes that jan does have bum luck. Last year he was doing pretty well but had a crash just before the tour... he suffered like hell and made it to the podium. The year before, he caught a cold from his kid just before the tour, but remember he was in great form and won the tour of switzerland. It was just bad timing to get a cold and it's not like doing a grand tour is good for a cold. He does seem to have bad luck with injuries and accidents.

2Rodies

I'm not sure about the his being a dick part but if you've ever read anything about LA the ultra-obsessive/competitive/combative personality has been with him since childhood.

As for Jan being well adjusted, well we don't know that for sure do we. None of us know the man. All we can say for sure is that he has consistently come to the Tour in less than race condition. For a professional who gets paid millions of dollars to win one race a year I think we can objectively say that is unacceptable. In 2003 Jan came to the tour in his best condition since winning it in 97. He came in second and nobody citied him. Had he had a better team things might have been different for him.

RockyMtnMerlin

Well say what you want about Armstrong, there are lots of rumors out there. But to say Jan is well adjusted and mentally stable might be a stretch. Lets see, DUI - busted; ecstacy - busted; split from girlfriend and their baby - busted. Personally I think it anyone who works as hard and has such a horrible travel schedule as the top pro bike riders and IS normal should be saluted.