Former cycling star - Jan Ullrich: "I suddenly had panic attacks"

Jan Ullrich (49) had huge problems coming to terms with his past for a documentary.

"Jan Ullrich - The hunted": Ex-Tour winner reports panic attacks

"It was incredibly difficult. There were a lot of tears and sleepless nights, I suddenly had panic attacks," said the former Tour de France winner in Munich at the presentation of the documentary "Jan Ullrich - The Hunted", which can be seen from 28 November.

In it, Ullrich wants to be "open and honest about everything". According to him, he wants the "viewers to be able to put themselves in his shoes".

Jan Ullrich on private problems & alcohol

In Munich, he also talked about his personal problems with alcohol and drugs. "Five years ago I had my huge crash, it really was a matter of life and death, I lost almost everything, including almost my life," said Ullrich, who was only ready for the documentary afterwards. "The decisive point was this crash, I fought my way out of it with my last ounce of strength and help."

>> Jan Ullrich then and now: The story of the Tour de France winner

Ullrich had previously suppressed everything. "I couldn't bear my past myself," he admitted.

Tour de France victory triggers cycling boom

Ullrich triggered a cycling boom in Germany with his Tour victory in 1997. In 2006, the Sydney Olympic champion was suspended by his team shortly before the start of the Tour of France because he had links to doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) banned Ullrich for two years in 2012.

Ullrich had often denied doping allegations with the sentence: "I never cheated on anyone." In the meantime, however, he has hinted at a comprehensive doping confession. "That I never cheated anyone was wrong. I was focussed on my opponents, but of course the fans are also part of it," he said in the documentary.

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