Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong wrote one of the greatest stories in the modern history of Tour de France, even if both their names have a bad sound in the current cycling world for obvious reasons.
At the brink of new millenium, Ullrich finished runner-up five times, winning only once in 1997 at the Tour. Meanwhile Armstrong won even more impressive seven back-to-back editions between 1999 and 2005. On three occasions, it was Ullrich who came closest to the American, but never really threatened his victory. Armstrong's "the Look" from 2001 has since become legendary, even if the American put the story in context recently.
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But given the circumstances, it was common assumption among the public that the two stars of the "dark era of cycling" were enemies both on and off the bike. And maybe it was so those twenty years ago...
Since then a lot has happened in the lives of both riders, and eventually they found to have a lot in common. Last week, Ullrich even visited Armstrong in his home in Austin, Texas. The two now seem to get along quite well - something unimaginable in early 2000s.
Also read "It is incomparable" - Peter Sagan dismisses comparison between his own success and Tadej Pogacar's "We are not all like Pogacar or Remco" - Two promising Soudal - Quick-Step talents quit cycling due to pressures
