February 26, 2007

Today, cyclist Jan Ullrich announced his retirement. "The big German," in the words of cycling broadcaster Paul Sherwen, won the Tour de France in 1997 and was a five-time runner-up. Last year, it finally appeared Ullrich would have a chance to win again with Lance Armstrong retired. Instead, he and dozens of other top riders were banned on the eve of the Tour because of alleged involvement in a doping scandal. That's how his career ended. "My world broke together a little, honestly," said Ullrich, who was fired from the T-Mobile team. The director of German cycling essentially said good riddance in his farewell to Ullrich.

Ullrich always stayed in the saddle--even on the toughest climbs he didn't rise out of his seat. He enjoyed disco dancing in the off-season and often reported to the Tour overweight. He even was banned one year when he tested positive after taking Ecstasy at a club. Like Adrock of the Beastie Boys, Jan had the uncanny ability to look totally different every time you saw him. I saw his picture on the Web today, and I still wouldn't recognize his face if I passed him on the street and he was wearing the German champion's kit.

There was something tragic about Jan. A few years ago, he trailed Armstrong by just a minute before the climactic individual time trial. It rained all day during that stage, and Jan wiped out on a curve. He finished second again.