COMPIEGNE, France: Jan Ullrich criticized former teammates Rolf Aldag and Erik Zabel for "acting like saints" once they had admitting their doping past.
Ullrich, who won the Tour de France in 1997, was one of several riders kicked out on the eve of last year's race after being implicated in a Spanish doping investigation called Operation Puerto. A sample of Ullrich's DNA was later matched to one of the blood bags in the doping affair.
Several former riders of Team Telekom — including Zabel and Aldag — recently admitted they used EPO during the 1990s while riding with Ullrich, who has retired and denies any wrongdoing.
"To carry on working they need to confess their error," Ullrich said in an interview with sports daily L'Equipe. "It makes me laugh, because I know they spoke about my case while acting like saints."
Ullrich was particularly angry with Aldag.
“When I heard Aldag talking nonstop about me on radio or on television, I was really outraged by his attitude," Ullrich said. "He made a lot of money because of me. If he found it so dirty, why did he never give it back?"
Ullrich said he also threatened to publish his thoughts about Aldag in a book.
"I could not take it anymore." he said. "Ullrich was the only word on Aldag's lips. So, I sent him a text message saying that if I wrote a book, he would be the main protagonist.
"That must have got to him, because since he has never spoken badly about me."
Ullrich also poked fun at the world of cycling.
"I don't ride my bike anymore. Why? Because it's a sport full of doping," he was quoted as saying. "No, I'm joking."
The former Olympic champion says he just wants to be left alone.
"I've nothing to say, my career is over. I'm just Jan Ullrich, a normal citizen," he said.
Ullrich, who won the Tour de France in 1997, was one of several riders kicked out on the eve of last year's race after being implicated in a Spanish doping investigation called Operation Puerto. A sample of Ullrich's DNA was later matched to one of the blood bags in the doping affair.
Several former riders of Team Telekom — including Zabel and Aldag — recently admitted they used EPO during the 1990s while riding with Ullrich, who has retired and denies any wrongdoing.
"To carry on working they need to confess their error," Ullrich said in an interview with sports daily L'Equipe. "It makes me laugh, because I know they spoke about my case while acting like saints."
Ullrich was particularly angry with Aldag.
“When I heard Aldag talking nonstop about me on radio or on television, I was really outraged by his attitude," Ullrich said. "He made a lot of money because of me. If he found it so dirty, why did he never give it back?"
Ullrich said he also threatened to publish his thoughts about Aldag in a book.
"I could not take it anymore." he said. "Ullrich was the only word on Aldag's lips. So, I sent him a text message saying that if I wrote a book, he would be the main protagonist.
"That must have got to him, because since he has never spoken badly about me."
Ullrich also poked fun at the world of cycling.
"I don't ride my bike anymore. Why? Because it's a sport full of doping," he was quoted as saying. "No, I'm joking."
The former Olympic champion says he just wants to be left alone.
"I've nothing to say, my career is over. I'm just Jan Ullrich, a normal citizen," he said.