Tinkoff worried about Ullrich

By Susan Westemeyer

Team Tinkoff Credit Systems has expressed its interest in signing Jan Ullrich. Now the team is fearful for what the star rider might do if he fails to find a new team. "I am terribly worried about what might happen to Jan this year if he doesn't know if he will ever race again," team manager Omar Piscina said on the German TV show "Heimspiel". Piscinia drew parallels to the fate of former Tour winner Marco Pantani, who died of a cocaine overdose.

As Cyclingnews reported Tuesday, Ullrich resumed training. He told www.radsport-aktiv.de, "It is nice that other people think about me. But I am standing with both feet fully in life and am planning to ride again next year. I am very happy in my personal life, and my family gives me the best support in the world."