View Full Version : NEWSFLASH: Jan Ullrich
from Eurosport.com
NEWSFLASH: Jan Ullrich has been fired by his team T-Mobile following his recent implication in the Operacion Puerto blood doping scandal, according to german news agency SID. The German 1997 Tour winner is said to be in denial, but directeur sportif Olaf Ludwig has confirmed the news.
I just read this on Yahoo! Sports. Man, when it rains...
pathdoc
07-21-06, 07:51 AM
Its hard to believe. Sad way to end a career.
Its hard to believe. Sad way to end a career.
ullrich was finished long ago. der kaiser would rather eat knackwurst and take ecstacy in the off-season than prepare for the next season. ullrich was the one racer who had the natural talent to possibly beat armstrong.
i'd say it is a pretty fitting end even tho i like the guy.
ed rader
Eurosport is taking pot shots at Jan as well:
The leaders whizz past some Mâcon vinyards, and a huge water tower. That water tower is truly the Jan-Ullrich-Off-Season of all water towers... a monumental girth.
....sad end to an all time great.....but for the coincidence of his career & lance's colliding , who knows........BTW, he woulda won this TDF by a week! (but I'm no apologist for dopers...rub 'em all out I say)
Eurosport - J.Stahl - 21/07/2006 16:42
T-Mobile sacked Jan Ullrich, their star rider of ten years, by fax for his involvement in Spain's doping probe, the rider said on his website on Friday. Ullrich, who was suspended from riding in the Tour de France, said that he was "disappointed" and that his lawyers would contest the decision.
"I am very disappointed about the fact the decision was not communicated to me personally but by T-Mobile's lawyers in a fax," Ullrich was quoted as saying. "The dismissal by T-Mobile is not acceptable for me."
"I think it's a shame that I have given so many years of good service and for all that I have done for the team, that I be seen as just a fax number."
According to German news agency SID, T-Mobile manager Olaf Ludwig confirmed that the Magenta had given the 1997 Tour de France winner the axe.
Ullrich's agent Wolfgang Strohband said on the rider's site that, "the termination is groundless."
The 32-year-old Ullrich, who has protested his innocence in the "Operacion Puerto" doping investigation, and T-Mobile are planning a meeting for next week to come to some sort of an agreement.
If an accord cannot be reached, Ullrich said he would be represented by Dr. Ulrich Theune, an attorney who promised, "The termination will not hold up."
The German rode for T-Mobile squad from 1995-2002, when it was called Telekom, then took one year riding with Bianchi in 2003, before returning to T-Mobile, where he has remained since 2004.
RoadToad
07-21-06, 08:58 AM
Basso next???
That was pretty heartless of T-Mobile to do it over Fax. I mean, cold man, very very cold.
/should have been a Text Message over his T-Mobile phone instead!
substructure
07-21-06, 09:08 AM
Got the axe by fax! How inconsiderate. Lowlife scum lawyer.
Remins me of a Full Metal Jacket quote:
"I'll bet you're the kinda guy that would <bleep> a person in the <bleep> and not even have the <Bobke expletive> common courtesy to give him a reach-around."
How pathetic.
OrionKhan
07-21-06, 09:08 AM
Basso next???
Probably not. He's just coming into his prime. Even if he did get canned, someone would probaby pick him up.
....sad end to an all time great.....but for the coincidence of his career & lance's colliding , who knows........BTW, he woulda won this TDF by a week! (but I'm no apologist for dopers...rub 'em all out I say)
ullrich's career also collided with riis in '96 and pantani in '98. ullrich hit the discos in the winter and got fat and his team didn't respect him. ullrich squandered his talent and now he's finished.
you think his bikes will sell :eek: ?
ed rader
Probably not. He's just coming into his prime. Even if he did get canned, someone would probaby pick him up.
Hehe... Astana-Wurth. :D
DrPete
Got the axe by fax! How inconsiderate. Lowlife scum lawyer.
Remins me of a Full Metal Jacket quote:
"I'll bet you're the kinda guy that would <bleep> a person in the <bleep> and not even have the <Bobke expletive> common courtesy to give him a reach-around."
How pathetic.
ullrich's dope bust hurt the team and he thinks he derves better than a fax?
sounds like another tyler hamilton crybaby to me.
ed rader
ullrich's career also collided with riis in '96 and pantani in '98. ullrich hit the discos in the winter and got fat and his team didn't respect him. ullrich squandered his talent and now he's finished.
you think his bikes will sell :eek: ?
ed rader
...more so than yours!....you seppo's will buy anything...look at 10/2 rubbish
...more so than yours!....you seppo's will buy anything...look at 10/2 rubbish
that means you'll prolly buy 5-6 or six of them in honor of your fallen hero :D :D :D .
ed rader
substructure
07-21-06, 09:50 AM
ullrich's dope bust hurt the team and he thinks he derves better than a fax?
sounds like another tyler hamilton crybaby to me.
ed rader
Oh, I'm not saying the team should hold on to him. I just think they should have went to him straight up and canned him.
voltman
07-21-06, 09:52 AM
...more so than yours!....you seppo's will buy anything...look at 10/2 rubbish
Oh no! Cancer research!
flipped4bikes
07-21-06, 09:54 AM
Oh, I'm not saying the team should hold on to him. I just think they should have went to him straight up and canned him.
Don't like Ullrich, but gotta agree with that. If you're firing someone on reasonable grounds, you really should just tell him face-to-face. It's never easy, but the honorable thing to do...
StalkerZERO
07-21-06, 10:02 AM
Excuse me but umm.....I dunno how it is in europe but shouldn't there still be due process in progress? I mean hes been implicated but not convicted of anything yet right? Yet they go and fire their star rider of 10 years.....by fax no less?
.......thats just not right! :(
Don't like Ullrich, but gotta agree with that. If you're firing someone on reasonable grounds, you really should just tell him face-to-face. It's never easy, but the honorable thing to do...
not doping and being responsible to your sponsors and team are the honorable things to do.
ullrich got what he deserved. fuggem.
ed rader
T-mobile's management were probably a bit scared to tell Ullrich to his face to be honest. The guy calls himself the 'crusher of souls' for pete sakes. Big German guy who's been off his meds for a few weeks. I wouldn't want to piss him off either by giving him the axe.
/ok, maybe not text message... T-mobile... so, phone call?
Greg180
07-21-06, 11:16 AM
not doping and being responsible to your sponsors and team are the honorable things to do.
ullrich got what he deserved. fuggem.
ed rader
+1 Ullrich lied to his team, team management and the people that write the checks. What comes around goes around...he owed them the truth when theyasked for it.
Excuse me but umm.....I dunno how it is in europe but shouldn't there still be due process in progress? I mean hes been implicated but not convicted of anything yet right? Yet they go and fire their star rider of 10 years.....by fax no less?
.......thats just not right! :(
He was fired. Not imprisoned. Seems to me that T-Mobile is pretty sure of his guilt.
I imagine the email went something like this:
Der Jan,
We are having a wonderful time here in France, Klodie looks good for
the top 5 maybe even a podium position if all goes well. We have
been enjoying the Croissants but miss der strudel
by the way, you're fired.
Regards from France,
Management.
I would imagine that the team management is in france right about now,
so an email almost makes sense. Doesn't make it any easier but it's
a thought.
It will be interesting to see exactly what the evidence is that pushed them
to the final decision, but given jan was probably going to retire this isn't
exactly shocking.
marty
StalkerZERO
07-21-06, 11:49 AM
I imagine the email went something like this:
I would imagine that the team management is in france right about now,
so an email almost makes sense. Doesn't make it any easier but it's
a thought.
It will be interesting to see exactly what the evidence is that pushed them
to the final decision, but given jan was probably going to retire this isn't
exactly shocking.
marty
lol omg! :D
USAZorro
07-21-06, 11:56 AM
Maybe Jan should call up the Liion King and see about starting a joint venture with him. Being the two most publicized cyclists in Europe for the past 10 years, you'd think it wouldn't be hard for them to turn their names to gold.
Excuse me but umm.....I dunno how it is in europe but shouldn't there still be due process in progress? I mean hes been implicated but not convicted of anything yet right? Yet they go and fire their star rider of 10 years.....by fax no less?
.......thats just not right! :(
I doubt that guilt or innocence has anything to do with it. Most people in the public eye have language in their contracts that allow the contracts to be voided if the person brings discredit to the employer or sponsors. He certainly did that. Whether he doped or not is another issue. I can't imagine what other reason he had for going to a Spanish doctor known for supplying these things when the team has competent medical support.
Since his contract was terminated based on a legal clause in the contract, having it communicated by a lawyer makes sense to me.
I give the UIC and the cycling teams credit for going after doping in a serious way. I wish Major League Baseball would do the same thing. Personally, I still think Roger Maris owns the "real" home run record. Who needs to have these sports sullied by cheaters. To me Ullrich is a cheater. His cycling accomplishements are meaningless to me for that reason. I won't miss him and I won't defend him. T Mobile did the right thing in the right way.
Marty, you forgot to add the part where they're able to enjoy the Croissants because he's not around to eat them all before anyone else gets any. I still like the alternative text message version. "Jan, U r axed"
substructure
07-21-06, 01:25 PM
I imagine the email went something like this:
I would imagine that the team management is in france right about now,
so an email almost makes sense. Doesn't make it any easier but it's
a thought.
It will be interesting to see exactly what the evidence is that pushed them
to the final decision, but given jan was probably going to retire this isn't
exactly shocking.
marty
Might not be anything massive yet. They don't want the team to be completely dismantled and sponsors running. Ask Vinnie.
i guess you can say ullrich got.........
DAS BOOT!
:eek: :eek: :eek:
ed rader
Maybe Jan should call up the Liion King and see about starting a joint venture with him. Being the two most publicized cyclists in Europe for the past 10 years, you'd think it wouldn't be hard for them to turn their names to gold.
now why would cipo align himself with a dope cheat when he's already a major celebrity?
and soon ullrich will be FFL (fat for life) :eek: .
ed rader
i guess you can say ullrich got.........
DAS BOOT!
:eek: :eek: :eek:
ed rader
Uh, that's German for "The Boat."
But he may have gotten one... :D
DrPete
Uh, that's German for "The Boat."
But he may have gotten one... :D
DrPete
oh really:eek: ?
i have always wondered why they would call a u-boat a boot :D .
ed rader
merlinextraligh
07-21-06, 01:53 PM
Getting fired by T Mobile is irrelevant. If Uhllirch can't beat the Operation Puerto allegation, his career is over. (particularly considering a 4 year ban from the Pro Tour) If he does beat it, he can find many teams to give him a contract.
Press release from the T-Mobile Website
Sevilla also sacked!
21.07.2006/ The Olaf Ludwig Cycling GmbH (OLC) has terminated, in exceptional circumstances and with immediate effect, the contracts of professional cyclists Jan Ullrich (32/Germany) and Oscar Sevilla (29/Spain). T-Mobile International AG have also set in motion a process, which would make any letter of intent regarding Jan Ullrich’s post-racing career non-binding.
In late June Spanish investigators submitted a document that provided clear evidence that Jan Ullrich und Oscar Sevilla had tried to boost their performance through the use of banned substances. Directly after their subsequent suspension, Ullrich and Sevilla declared their intent to prove their innocence. However, right up until the time their contracts were terminated by T-Mobile and the OLC, neither had brought forward any information to exonerate themselves.
„As Jan Ullrich and Oscar Sevilla didn’t make any moves to prove their innocence, terminating their contracts was the logical and necessary follow-up to their suspension,“ says Olaf Ludwig, T-Mobile Team manager. „We are all disappointed that we had to take this course of action. However, based on the information available, no other decision was open to us“, says Christian Frommert, director of Sports communication for T-Mobile International.
In early 2004 T-Mobile International agreed to pursue a working relationship with Jan Ullrich for the period after the 1997 Tour winner’s retirement from active bike racing. However, through the exceptional and immediate termination of Ulrich’s contract, which was set to run until the end of 2006, T-Mobile International also now distances itself from this agreement.
„We respect Jan Ullrich’s view, in a constitutional state he, the same as everyone else, is presumed innocent until there exists proof to the contrary,“ says Frommert. „But sport, and cycling in particular, places certain ethical, moral and contractual obligations on the riders “ For this reason we believe it was necessary for Ullrich to actively cooperate with us to prove his innocence, adds Olaf Ludwig.
Spanish investigators uncovered in May a Madrid-based doping network, which led to the arrest of sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes among others. Evidence uncovered in house raids, intercepted telephone calls and SMS records have clearly pointed towards the involvement of Jan Ullrich, Oscar Sevilla and Rudy Pevenage in the doping scandal. Pevenage, the former T-Mobile Team sporting director and long time mentor to Jan Ullrich already had his contract terminated by OLC in early July.
oh really:eek: ?
i have always wondered why they would call a u-boat a boot :D .
ed rader
:beer:
DrPete
Laggard
07-21-06, 04:29 PM
Man, he's not even proven guilty and the fat Jan jokes start flying. Sad.
I only wonder if Floyd will receive this treatment if he's found to be a doper. After all, he did recover a bit too quickly from that awful day, didn't he?
Man, he's not even proven guilty and the fat Jan jokes start flying. Sad.
I only wonder if Floyd will receive this treatment if he's found to be a doper. After all, he did recover a bit too quickly from that awful day, didn't he?
yep. i think they all dope at that level. if they are stupid enough to get busted they won't be spared my wrath :eek: .
ed rader
not doping and being responsible to your sponsors and team are the honorable things to do.
ullrich got what he deserved. fuggem.
Ditto
I say he's lucky they sent him a fax and not a summons to court for fraud.
AtlAllez
07-21-06, 09:51 PM
Man, he's not even proven guilty and the fat Jan jokes start flying. Sad.
I only wonder if Floyd will receive this treatment if he's found to be a doper. After all, he did recover a bit too quickly from that awful day, didn't he?
The guy is a mennonite, theres no way he's doping. He's the honest abe of the peleton.
fruitless
07-21-06, 10:10 PM
The guy is a mennonite, theres no way he's doping. He's the honest abe of the peleton.
. . .or at least he understands the wages-of-sin.:D
wagathon
07-21-06, 10:29 PM
Pretty dumb to go on about getting a fax instead of what? a letter with a wax seal on a tear-stained envelope. The guy would want to hear it first before the rags went to press with the scoop. If he's got a contract, the notice requirements will be spelled out there very well. As if how you're notified is the issue anyway. It's not like Ulrich has a 9-5 job and ever expected to be called into HR on Monday.
wagathon
07-21-06, 10:40 PM
Pretty dumb to go on about getting a fax instead of what? a letter with a wax seal on a tear-stained envelope. The guy would want to hear it first before the rags went to press with the scoop.
If he's got a contract, the notice requirements will be spelled out there very well. As if how you're notified is the issue anyway.
It's not like Ulrich has a 9-5 job and expected to be called into HR on Monday. Ulrich's fans spit on Lance in '04 but Ulrich is a great sportsman. I hope he can somehow come back to the sport but it sure seems like this year was his best shot at the Tour.
the fact that many of you see T-Mobile as an innocent victim of Jan's doping is completely laughable. they ****ing knew, now they cover their ass.
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