By John Bagratuni Jun 29, 2006, 3:36 GMT
Hamburg - It's a familiar ritual - Jan Ullrich is aiming for a second Tour de France title from Saturday onwards.
German cyclist and tour winner Jan Ullrich races through the rain during the 9th stage, a 30 km time trial from Kerzers to Bern, at the 70th Tour de Suisse Protour cycling race in Switzerland, on Sunday June 18, 2006 in Bern. EPA/ALESSANDRO DELLA BELLA
'My biggest desire is another Tour de France title,' he said. 'I will be ready for the Tour and feel I can win the Tour again.'
The now 32-year-old German won the world's most prestigious cycling race in style in 1997, but has failed to repeat this feat in the following years.
Ullrich came second to the late Marco Pantani in 1998 and was then unable to beat Lance Armstrong in 2000, 2001 and 2003 (He also came second behind Bjarne Riis in his 1996 debut).
The last two editions were even worse by Ullrich's standard, fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He did not compete in 1999 due to injury and in 2002 due to injury and a drugs-related suspension.
Twelve months ago Armstrong rode his last Tour before retirement for a unique seventh straight win, but a new challenger for Ullrich has arisen in Italian Ivan Basso.
However, like so often in the past Ullrich insists that he is in top form - even though there have been setbacks like in the past.
Ullrich appeared overweight in his season debut delayed until April due to knee problems. But he then gradually improved, beat Basso in a time trial at the Giro d'Italia and got a morale-boosting Tour de Suisse win in mid-June.
'It (the form) is very good. The Tour de Suisse was the right event for the final preparation and victory there the icing on the cake. But I hope I can improve even more,' Ullrich said.
'My good form came earlier than in the past and I could work on the fine-tuning, for instance looking after my injured knee and my back. The form came in January and February,' he said.
Ullrich's advisor and team manager at T-Mobile, Rudy Pevenage, even said that Ullrich's form is as good as 'in 1997 or 2003.'
But it remains unclear whether a report this week mentioning him with a Spanish doping affair will do some damage, even though Ullrich swiftly protested his innocence.
There are also doubts as some believe that Ullrich has wasted his big talent due to laziness in training.
'Jan gives the minimum to achieve the maximum. He doesn't love what he does,' said former American team-mate Bobby Julich.
Legendary is also the famous remark from team-mate Udo Boelts - 'Quael dich, Du Sau' which can't be translated, but in strong language urges Ullrich to give it all he has - when Ullrich struggled in the Vosges mountains en route to his 1997 title.
Ullrich has vowed to attack from Saturday's prologue in Strasbourg onwards, but the biggest test will come in the final week with two mountain arrivals in the Alps.
There, Basso's team boss Riis is convinced that the riding style will favour the Italian because he, like Armstrong, can accelerate on steep alpine ramps by using small gears.
'We know that Jan Ullrich can't do that because he pushes big gears and so we're convinced he'll struggle to stay with Ivan when he accelerates on the climbs in the Tour de France,' said Riis.
But, on the other hand, the Tour offers two time trials where Ullrich can beat his rivals.
In addition, possible hot weather conditions will also work in his favour, as everything needs to come together for any top rider if he wants to carry the famous yellow jersey to the Champs Elysees on July 23.
If Ullrich succeeds, that may even make him retire and spend more time with his partner Sara Steinhauser, whom he will marry later in the year.
'The ideal scenario would be stepping down with an extremely big and gigantic victory,' he said recently.
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