Ullrich: "I must convert strength into speed"

Satisfied with his performances last weekend, where he finished fifth at the GP Schwarzwald and second the following day at the GP Kanton Aargau/Gippingen, Jan Ullrich says all he needs now is a bit of fine-tuning.

"After both races on the weekend, I know the direction [I'm heading] is correct," he wrote on his personal website, janullrich.de. "Sure, I would gladly have won in Gippingen, but after the heavy GP Schwarzwald, my turbo was missing; perhaps I need to watch Erik [Zabel] more often, how he does his sprint."

Continued Ullrich: "Now I must sit in the saddle again in order to achieve a fine cross section. That means, I must convert the strength, which I have, into speed. I feel completely sure that I am a bit further ahead compared to the same time in previous years. I still have about three pounds too much on the ribs. That is intended - I still have the Tour de Suisse [to lose the weight].

Speaking about the Tour de Suisse, which begins this Saturday, June 11, Ullrich says he looks forward to the start, because, to be completely honest, he says he's over training: "I want to race now; in competition, it is easier to go to the limit."