Professional Cycling For the Fans - Jan sportin' the herps?

Phil mentioned that Ullrich has a cold sore on his lip. He seems to think that this is a possible sign that Jan may not be @ 100% in term of his overall health. What do you think?

Ullrich is sick - has the cold or something

I noticed that in a couple of pictures, he's got a big scab on his lower lip,

Or maybe he just got one from the sun. I sometimes get a cold sore from being in the sun so much, and racing in Europe has been one hot mutha. The temperatures have been pretty hot lately. Just because he has a cold sore doesn't mean all is lost.

Koffee

Is it really just too much sun???

Cold sores

What are cold sores?

Cold sores are a very common illness caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The disorder is characterised by groups of fluid-filled blisters which appear on red swollen areas of the skin or on the mucous membranes. The areas can be tender and painful. The blisters heal without scarring but have a tendency to recur.



There are two types of herpes simplex virus.


HSV-1, which is the most common type, usually causes cold sores (oral herpes). HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes. But both types can infect any area of the skin or mucous membranes.


Approximately 80 per cent of the adult population have antibodies against HSV-1 in their blood.


Around 25 per cent of the adult population have antibodies against HSV-2.



What causes the virus?

The virus can only be transmitted by close personal contact such as kissing. Most people will have come into contact with the virus between the ages of three and five but will not show any symptoms until after puberty.

HSV invades the cells of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, causing fluid-filled blisters to appear. The virus travels from the epidermis along the nerve paths to the roots of the nerves where it becomes inactive.

A weakening of the body's defences, due to a severe cold for example, can lead to a reactivation of the virus and a return of the blisters.

I got my first outbreak of cold sores when I was 15. I hadn't ever been on a date (catholic school upbringing), never shared any coke bottles or drinks with friends or families (paranoid family and cooties lectures from my mom), and hadn't shared a first kiss at that point with anyone. It was freaky- and as far as the doctors could tell, they just said sometimes they can come from stress of any kind. At that point, it was summer, so they just attributed the outbreak to the sun for me. I only really get them in the summer when they do happen.

Probably I did get them from some relative kissing me when I was a little kid or something, but they don't necessarily come out just because of a cold. Sheesh, they can come from any kind of stress on the body.

Koffee

yeah, if Ullrich is stressed and his body is fighting an infection i suppose it could really affect (effect?) his riding.

Now that I think of it... those podium girls look like they could be carriers....

;)

:D

Koffee

Now that I think of it... those podium girls look like they could be carriers....

LOL...!

In one of the shots of Jan in Stage 1 he looked a little heavy. Has he lost all the weight he put on during the off-season?

Oh yeah. He lost it all. Check out the pics I took of Jan from Lugano in the Tour de Suisse. He was all muscle and little else- and I couldn't stop staring (or dreaming about him that night and many nights thereafter... ;) ).

These pics: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=523425#post523425

Koffee

Oh yeah. He lost it all. Check out the pics I took of Jan from Lugano in the Tour de Suisse. He was all muscle and little else- and I couldn't stop staring (or dreaming about him that night and many nights thereafter... ;) ).

These pics: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=523425#post523425

Koffee


Owwww! My eyes!!

-mark

Owwww! My eyes!!

-mark

Ah crap my eyes! I should've listened to your warning..

Looks like the team released a report saying that Ullrich has a cold.

I noticed that in a couple of pictures, he's got a big scab on his lower lip,

I've seen that on his lower lip before. You certain it's not a birthmark? I've noticed it in several pics over the last few years.

I've seen that on his lower lip before. You certain it's not a birthmark? I've noticed it in several pics over the last few years.

yah - there was concern it was malignent melanoma last year. Some folks in the media started asking and Ullrich replied it was nothing and don't be worried.

If you've ever had chicken pox, you are susceptible to HSV-1 and 2. Also shingles.

Sun, stress and hormones cause outbreaks for me. HSV-1. Thank the gods! As for the infection affecting Ullrich's riding, possibly for a day or two. He's tough.

Owwww! My eyes!!

-mark

And ditto for us women when we're forced to be subjected to the pics of the women submitted by the men on the men's side...