Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was is the first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France.'Magnificent' – Matt Dickinson, The Times'A superlative biography as well as social and sporting history' – ObserverIn 1997, Jan Ullrich announced himself to the world by obliterating his rivals at the Tour de France and becoming Germany’s first ever winner. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich would dominate the future of cycling. But he never quite managed it.This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual – Lance Armstrong – can conspire to reroute destiny.Acclaimed journalist Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany’s drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price are you willing to pay for immortality?
About the Author
One of the most experienced and well-respected British journalists covering cycling, Daniel Friebe is the long-serving European Editor of Procycling Magazine and a veteran of fourteen Tours de France. He is the author of Mountain High, Mountain Higher and Jan Ullrich: The Best That Never Was. Daniel's writing on sport has appeared in publications including the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, SPIN World Cricket Monthly, Channel 4 Test Match Magazine, Outdoor Fitness and FourFourTwo. Daniel is fluent in French, Italian and German, and getting there in Spanish and Portuguese.