Oscar Sevilla: "Ullrich is a victim"

By Monika Prell

Oscar Sevilla declared in an interview with Spanish radio Efe Radio that Jan Ullrich "has been a victim." The Relax-GAM was commenting on the retirement of the 1997 Tour de France winner and explained that "perhaps he was very weak or did not see the things clearly. Perhaps he has so much experience and rode for so many years in the elite ranks that he had no more joy and no more energy to go on."

He stated, "First of all, everyone is a person and merits respect, never mind if you are doing things that are good or bad.

"You admire him as sportsman, but when you know him, you admire him even more, because he is a wonderful person, a professional and a very good teammate," the 30 year-old said of his former teammate. "It's very sad [that he retired] when you look at his characteristics and his capabilities. It's a pity that he has to say goodbye, but the time has come and you have to applaud to him and respect him."