Making his way to winning the Tour de France in 1997, the German former professional road bicycle racer Jan Ullrich’s journey reveals a riveting tale of controversies and redemption. The plot of his life story has been so fascinating that it is about to roll onto the screen in the upcoming documentary ‘Der Gejagte’- ‘The Hunted’.
Finding a new purpose in life, Ullrich has broken his silence about his involvement with blood doping which had a detrimental impact on his otherwise illustrious career. His fans and the cycling community await to watch the documentary that is set to go on air on November 28 on Amazon Prime. This documentary will be exhibiting the cyclist’s path to recovery.
Ullrich unravels the untold truths through the documentary
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It was in 2018 that Ullrich battled with his cocaine and alcohol addiction that took hostage of his life. The cyclist even admitted that consuming two bottles of whiskey a day had been a cakewalk that in turn, had a near-fatal impact on him. Following this, Ullrich separated from his wife, which came with a threat of being cut off from his children, further adding to his struggles.
However, apart from his victory, the cyclist made the headlines with his infamous blood-doping ring as the proof emerged centered on Dr Eufemiano Fuentes. Then, Ullrich’s bitter rivalry with opponent Lance Armstrong took an unexpected turn. Armstrong’s influence and realization of his life’s precarious state prompted Ullrich to seek professional help.
Ullrich shared a glimpse of his journey in an interview with Cycling News. His idea to try his luck in the documentary reveals his resilient nature, “The general attitude was: If you don’t do this, how will you survive in a race? Without help, the widespread perception at the time was that it would be like going to a gunfight armed only with a knife.” The cyclist used this documentary-making experience as a cathartic means to confront his past.
A journey of redemption with a renewed purpose
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In his journey towards recovery, the two cycling legends have reconciled and, to revive their friendship, have resumed riding together in Mallorca this summer. Ullrich shared that it was because of the internal conflicts that restricted him from making the confessions. It was in 2006 that Ullrich had the choice of revealing the truth or remaining silent, and he chose the latter as he got petrified about the consequences that may lead to dragging others down with him.
While making confessions, the cyclist even shared his experience about substance abuse, “The mix of whiskey and cocaine made my heart colder. It brings up all the evil qualities in you. It turns you into a monster in a very short time. If you no longer have a heart, you are no longer human.” However, the documentary has played a crucial role in the cyclist’s healing process. In this process, Ullrich got the opportunity to reconnect with his teammates and friends and renew his passion for cycling.
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Overcoming his doping past and struggles with substance abuse, Jan Ullrich embarks on a path of self-reflection, grabbing the chance at personal redemption. The documentary serves as a glimpse of the complexities associated with the life of athletes marking a significant journey of the cyclist as he finds his new self.
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