“He was tied to the bed, unconscious”
Lance Armstrong experienced “the very worst” with Ullrich
Lance Armstrong (50) talks about his friend Jan Ullrich (48) in a documentary film. The American tells what the worst encounters with him were.
In 1997, Jan Ullrich (48) wrote sports history. He was the first German to win the Tour de France. After the ascent, the total crash of the bike hero soon followed. Involvement in doping scandals, drug problems, driving drunk in Thurgau, failed marriage – that’s how he made the headlines.
25 years after his great victory, “ARD” is dedicating a five-part documentary film to him. In “Being Jan Ullrich” his career is rolled out and companions have their say. Among them Lance Armstrong (50). Ullrich’s bitter rival dominated cycling around the turn of the millennium before his seven Tour victories were stripped of him for doping. “He scared me like no other,” says the American.
Strong and scary at the same time
Nevertheless, the rivalry has turned into a close friendship after the end of their careers. Armstrong stands by Ullrich in good times and bad.
He gives insights into this friendship in the Doc. He tells how he visited Ullrich in a rehab four years ago. Out of sheer desperation, his friends had secretly organized this.
“I saw a man in a place no human being had ever seen before,” Armstrong said. The German had a “strong” and at the same time “uncanny” effect on him. “We all know some crazy friends. But I had never seen anyone in such a condition.”
Long way ahead
Little did Armstrong know then that years later he would find his friend in an even worse state. After a stopover, Ullrich rioted and was thrown off the plane in Cancun, Mexico.
Left to his own devices, he ended up in a hospital. When Armstrong found out about this, he did not hesitate for a moment and immediately traveled to Mexico. “He was tied to the bed unconscious. It was the worst of all, »he describes this visit.
After all these impressions, it’s no wonder Armstrong believes that Ullrich still has a long way to go. He will definitely continue to accompany him so that the German can eventually lead a stable life again. (bir)