Tinkoff interested in Ullrich

By Susan Westemeyer

Italian team Tinkoff Credit Systems is interested in Jan Ullrich, at least under certain conditions. Director Sportif Omar Piscina spoke last week with Ullrich's adviser Rudy Pevenage. "But the team is only interested when Ullrich's situation is cleared up and Jan can ride races," Piscina told the German press agency dpa.

As reported to www.express.de, Tinkoff allegedly offered Ullrich a salary of 3.8 million Euros per year. Furthermore, it says that Tinkoff has long been in negotiations with Ullrich's manager, Wolfgang Strohband, although his only comment was, "That's just speculation, I don't want to say any more about it."

The team has already signed Danilo Hondo and is reportedly in negotiations with Tyler Hamilton. The sponsor is not interested in the riders' pasts, according to Piscina, who told the dpa, "Tinkoff has an idea that everyone deserves a second chance."

Tinkoff Credit Systems will be a Professional Continental team in 2007, and hopes for invitations to the Grand Tours and the Spring Classics.