Surreal Ullrich Gossip [Archive]

botto

10-10-06, 04:23 AM

Surreal because the pie in the sky speculation of Ullrich riding for Disco has gone from bike chat sites to appearing in the reputable press.

http://www.as.com/articulo/deporte/Discovery/le/lanza/oferta/Ullrich/dasmasA00/20061010dasdaimas_10/Tes/

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/oct06/oct10news2

roadwarrior

10-10-06, 04:39 AM

Well, if Ullrich has anything left, riding for Bruyneel and Lance maybe, finally, will give him the impetus to win one more grand tour. And bring some excitement to Disco...but it's a new young team.

Personally, I've always felt that Ullrich's recent racing problems were with his handlers/tacticians/etc.

domestique

10-10-06, 04:50 AM

WHAT!? I know Lance and Ullie had a decent friendship but I could never see them joining forces. Especially with just signing Levi (although he's not that talented).... I just don't see Disco. signing Ullie after the present doping scandal.

I could ONLY see them signing him if his salary wasn't too high and he was on a strict leash when it came to his "doctors" and "trainers".

Snuffleupagus

10-10-06, 06:48 AM

I could ONLY see them signing him if his salary wasn't too high and he was on a strict leash when it came to his "doctors" and "trainers".

I think it's fairly clear disco has the best "doctors" in the business...Ulle shouldn't need any outside help to aid with his cancer treatments and endocrine deficiencies :rolleyes:

Jonathan Drake

10-10-06, 10:15 AM

Does anybody know if the Discovery Channel is on German TV?

Snicklefritz

10-10-06, 10:27 AM

I thought Disco signed Levi so that he could lead at the TdF. If they do pick up Ullrich, then what
is Levi's role going to be? Is that going to piss Levi off?

Dubbayoo

10-10-06, 10:44 AM

I thought Disco signed Levi so that he could lead at the TdF. If they do pick up Ullrich, then what is Levi's role going to be?
To carry Jan's jockstrap

Is that going to piss Levi off?
Sure, but it's Der Kaiser for Christ sakes. He could out-TT Levi pedaling with one leg.

I can't really see this happening personally but its good reading.

shakeNbake

10-10-06, 11:13 AM

He could out-TT Levi pedaling with one leg.

he could outclimb levi just by sitting on the saddle and farting.

Snicklefritz

10-10-06, 11:56 AM

To carry Jan's jockstrap

Sure, but it's Der Kaiser for Christ sakes. He could out-TT Levi pedaling with one leg.

I can't really see this happening personally but its good reading.

oh yeah, I don't disagree with you at all. What I am wondering is, did Levi join Discovery
with the notion that he would lead the team at the TdF? If Disco were to hire Ullrich, if
I were Levi, I would want out...if that topic wasn't discussed in advance.

botto

10-10-06, 12:10 PM

oh yeah, I don't disagree with you at all. What I am wondering is, did Levi join Discovery
with the notion that he would lead the team at the TdF? If Disco were to hire Ullrich, if
I were Levi, I would want out...if that topic wasn't discussed in advance.

one would hope that LL realizes that he'll never win the TdF. Disco hired him to have an american who could win a stage, or finish in the top 10, nothing more. he's also more than capable of winning 7-10 day stage races.

JU is different, but let's not get ahead of oursleves just yet.

PolishPostal

10-10-06, 12:20 PM

Snicklefritz

10-10-06, 12:32 PM

briscoelab

10-10-06, 12:34 PM

Levi wasn't hired to ride as lead for the tour.... just to win some stages and play support.

botto

10-10-06, 12:41 PM

shakeNbake

10-10-06, 12:46 PM

Meh, I was excited there for a while.

1slowbastard

10-10-06, 01:38 PM

This was just posted at www.thepaceline.com

Johan Bruyneel, in response to recent news that the Discovery Channel Team is possibly signing Jan Ullrich: "I am currently not in any negotiations with Jan Ullrich to become a part of the Discovery Channel (team). Although I believe Jan is a world-class rider, our roster for 2007 is nearly complete and Jan will not be a part of our team."

This doesn't mean he won't be part of the team. Bruyneel is not in 'currently' in negotiations because no contract negotiations can take place until the rider is officially cleared, according to cyclingnews.

Namenda

10-10-06, 01:46 PM

This was just posted at www.thepaceline.com

Johan Bruyneel, in response to recent news that the Discovery Channel Team is possibly signing Jan Ullrich: "I am currently not in any negotiations with Jan Ullrich to become a part of the Discovery Channel (team). Although I believe Jan is a world-class rider, our roster for 2007 is nearly complete and Jan will not be a part of our team."

Reading between the lines...of course he's not currently in negotiations with Jan. He can't make an offer til the smoke clears. As he goes on to say, the roster is incomplete, meaning they are still looking for at least one rider. And Jan won't be a part of the team...he'll be the team.

flythebike

10-10-06, 02:38 PM

he could outclimb levi just by sitting on the saddle and farting.

ORLY? Ask Jan what happened at the Tour of Germany in 2005 then?

Hipcycler

10-10-06, 03:33 PM

This was just posted at www.thepaceline.com

Johan Bruyneel, in response to recent news that the Discovery Channel Team is possibly signing Jan Ullrich: "I am currently not in any negotiations with Jan Ullrich to become a part of the Discovery Channel (team). Although I believe Jan is a world-class rider, our roster for 2007 is nearly complete and Jan will not be a part of our team."

Me thinks he denies too much.
Something like this often times means that exactly the opposite is happening.

shakeNbake

10-10-06, 03:42 PM

ORLY? Ask Jan what happened at the Tour of Germany in 2005 then?

That's because he doen't have to carry the extra weight of a male penis. You see, Der Jan's penis is bigger, so it gives him a weight handycap. But he had a penis reduction surgery earlier this year.

domestique

10-10-06, 03:42 PM

Anyone know of anything with Landis? IF he is cleared and can ride (1. from the investigation 2. from his hip surgery) has any team talked about signing him?

I guess it is still too early

Dead Roman

10-10-06, 03:43 PM

Sure der Jan is kinda old, but, if he is riding for disco its almost certain he will dominate at the tour next year (if he is still able to ride).

flythebike

10-10-06, 07:54 PM

That's because he doen't have to carry the extra weight of a male penis. You see, Der Jan's penis is bigger, so it gives him a weight handycap. But he had a penis reduction surgery earlier this year.

Thanks for explaining that to me. I've heard that is popular out there in California. Especially LA.

BTW Handicap is spelled with an i.

Ask Levi's wife if he's still packing. She is damn sexy. That would tend to indicate he still has his dangle.

Jan recently proved he is capable of reproducing, and then promptly left the mother of his child. Maybe he should get that thing lopped off. He's clearly not mature enough to be responsible with it.

Snicklefritz

10-10-06, 11:36 PM

Thanks for explaining that to me. I've heard that is popular out there in California. Especially LA.

BTW Handicap is spelled with an i.

Ask Levi's wife if he's still packing. She is damn sexy. That would tend to indicate he still has his dangle.

Jan recently proved he is capable of reproducing, and then promptly left the mother of his child. Maybe he should get that thing lopped off. He's clearly not mature enough to be responsible with it.

didn't Jan get married recently? Was that to the mother of the child or someone else?

botto

10-11-06, 01:59 AM

didn't Jan get married recently? Was that to the mother of the child or someone else?

somebody else - tobias stenhauser's (sp?) sister.

roadwarrior

10-11-06, 03:29 AM

BTW Handicap is spelled with an i.

I always like to keep my caps close by so they are handy...

;)

YMCA

10-11-06, 04:40 AM

Disco didn't sign Levi to win the Tour. They'll have about 5 guys on the line next year that have a chance and will start working for a true leader after the race gets rolling. Just like the Vuelta this year.

Ullrich on the other hand would be the automatic GC chief from the start. Don't see it happening though.

jrennie

10-11-06, 07:24 AM

They'll have about 5 guys on the line next year that have a chance

Do you mean to say that disco has 5 Tour GC capable riders?? Maybe if Lance came back, levi and george found some "enhancers", Da kaiser joined the team and Floyd returned after being cleared they might have five.:rolleyes:

shakeNbake

10-11-06, 09:30 AM

Thanks for explaining that to me. I've heard that is popular out there in California. Especially LA.

BTW Handicap is spelled with an i.

Ask Levi's wife if he's still packing. She is damn sexy. That would tend to indicate he still has his dangle.

Jan recently proved he is capable of reproducing, and then promptly left the mother of his child. Maybe he should get that thing lopped off. He's clearly not mature enough to be responsible with it.

Chill. It was a joke. Here, read "Der Jan"s blog:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=31414033

And thanks for the grammer corraction!

flythebike

10-11-06, 11:39 AM

Chill. It was a joke. Here, read "Der Jan"s blog:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=31414033

And thanks for the grammer corraction!

I'm internet/bike guy literate. So I have seen this blog. IMHO it is a great piece of fiction. But it paints Jan out to be a far better cyclist then he actually is.

He is a superior time trialist. And he has a big engine for climbs. But Lance Armstrong showed time and time again that by using a technique of pace changing on the climbs, you can put many minutes into him and beat him again and again.

Therefore, in my opinion, it is time to stop idolizing Jan Ullrich. As his personal foibles demonstrate he isn't worthy of worship, and he is a far from perfect cyclist as well.

timmhaan

10-11-06, 11:46 AM

I'm internet/bike guy literate. So I have seen this blog. IMHO it is a great piece of fiction. But it paints Jan out to be a far better cyclist then he actually is.

He is a superior time trialist. And he has a big engine for climbs. But Lance Armstrong showed time and time again that by using a technique of pace changing on the climbs, you can put many minutes into him and beat him again and again.

Therefore, in my opinion, it is time to stop idolizing Jan Ullrich. As his personal foibles demonstrate he isn't worthy of worship, and he is a far from perfect cyclist as well.

true - however, if you use the lance armstrong argument you can say that he put time into everyone using the technique. take armstrong out of the equation and ullrich was still better than almost everyone else. but, of course, the alleged doping kinda puts a damper on that, doesn't it. so, i guess i do agree with you.

Snicklefritz

10-11-06, 12:38 PM

Not to hijack this thread, but what is this "pace changing" thing on the climbs that Armtrong used? and why did it make people burn out?

timmhaan

10-11-06, 12:49 PM

Not to hijack this thread, but what is this "pace changing" thing on the climbs that Armtrong used? and why did it make people burn out?

climbing is hard enough with a steady rhythm. changing the pace will make it more difficult for those who are trying to hang on. it was well known that a key weakness of ullrich was his inability to accelerate on climbs - he simply couldn't match armstrongs acceleration. so, armstrong took advantage of that time and time again.

daytonian

10-11-06, 01:00 PM

Acceleration changes made difficult by Ullrich's diesel slow cadence and diet of strudel weeks before the Tour. Didn't work with Basso in 05'.

flythebike

10-11-06, 01:08 PM

Not to hijack this thread, but what is this "pace changing" thing on the climbs that Armtrong used? and why did it make people burn out?

To put it another way, Armstrong could do intervals on climbs, whle Ullrich could 'only' ride at his (large) threshold. Armstrong could go over threshold and recover, while Ullrich could not. This also had to do with the slow cadence used by Ullrich, and the high cadence prefered by Armstrong.

Obviously it takes incredible fitness to make this technique work. In his prime, it only kept Ullrich only one step down from the winner, but the last time he was 2nd was in 2004. Those days are gone now.

Notice that I don't even have to mention his culpability in Operation Puerto to bring Ullrich down to earth. That only adds fuel to the fire. Doping aside, he was a very good rider, but I don't think that you can call him great. At least not great a la Kelly, Lemond, Fignon, Indurain, Hinault, Eddie and the like. Those guys were all dominant at something for a period of time (I realize Fignon is a bit of a strech - indulge me for 1989's sake). Ullrich? Dominant? At what? Really, tell me if I'm missing something.

Of course I say this in the domain of pro cycling, acknowledging that these guys are on another planet from me to begin with. I don't compare myself to them, ok? Ullrich, non-doped, would have to give me quite a handicap for me to beat him.