Jan Ullrich retires

HAMBURG – Embattled German cycling star Jan Ullrich, a former winner and five-time runner-up of the Tour de France, announced his retirement from cycling here yesterday.

Ullrich was one of dozens of cyclists implicated in an alleged doping network in Spain last year, which forced him out of competing in last year’s Tour de France along with many other top cyclists. The 33-year-old, Germany’s only winner of the world’s most prestigious bike race, in 1997, claimed Monday he never once cheated in his career.”Today I’m ending my career as a professional cyclist.I never once cheated as a cyclist,” said Ullrich, who spent the latter stages of his career being dominated by American rival Lance Armstrong.Nampa-AFPThe 33-year-old, Germany’s only winner of the world’s most prestigious bike race, in 1997, claimed Monday he never once cheated in his career.”Today I’m ending my career as a professional cyclist.I never once cheated as a cyclist,” said Ullrich, who spent the latter stages of his career being dominated by American rival Lance Armstrong.Nampa-AFP