Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was

by Daniel Friebe

Overview

The first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France. This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual – Lance Armstrong – can conspire to reroute destiny. Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany’s drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price can you give sporting immortality?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781509801589
Publisher:	Pan Books (UK)
Publication date:	06/22/2023
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Daniel Friebe was born in Coventry in 1980. He is the author of Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal, Mountain High and Mountain Higher, and has collaborated with Mark Cavendish on Boy Racer, At Speed and Tour de France. Since 2016 he has been part of ITV’s Tour de France presentation team. He is also one of three co-hosts of the award-winning The Cycling Podcast. Daniel currently lives in Berlin.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

Part 1

1 Arcalís 9

2 One in 17 Million 17

3 Diplomats in Tracksuits 32

4 Over the Rainbow 51

5 The Apprentice 65

6 Eureka! 74

7 The New Giant 87

8 Hunger Games 103

9 The Truth Will Set You Free 117

Part 2

10 Lance 125

11 Promises 134

12 Reality Check 156

13 Untouchable 174

14 Love and Other Drugs 198

15 Little Man of Dreams 220

16 Reboot, Reinvention 236

17 Sliding Doors 246

18 After the Love Has Gone 259

19 A Message to You, Rudy 289

20 The Vanishing 303

21 Checkmate 315

22 Storming Fort Knox 336

23 Nadir 364

Epilogue 395

Acknowledgements 407

Notes 411

Selected Bibliography 419

Picture Credits 423

Index 425