At the turn of the millennium, the rivalry between Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong made headlines. However, their connection was not defined by great victories but by their shared struggles and eventual friendship.
“We used to be competitors, with respect for each other. I think we all know what happened after that,” Ullrich said in an interview with VTM during a cycling festival he organized in Bad Dürrheim. Ullrich is now 51 years old.
After retiring in 2007, Ullrich’s life took a difficult turn. A few years later, Lance Armstrong, once a seven-time Tour de France champion, faced his own downfall when he was banned from professional cycling. Despite their past rivalry, it was Armstrong who reached out to help Ullrich during his lowest moments.
“That brought us together,” Ullrich explained. “I had personal problems, and Lance helped me a lot during that phase.”
Ullrich has visited the United States several times since then. The two exchanged ideas, and a strong friendship developed. Ullrich said it was meaningful to him that Armstrong, once his biggest competitor, showed genuine interest in him as a person.
“That was a great motivation for me. It helped me break free from my vicious circle and overcome my struggles.”
