Ullrich happy for Basso

By Susan Westemeyer

Jan Ullrich said that he was pleased to learn that no proceedings will be held against Italian Ivan Basso. "I have kept in contact with Ivan in the last weeks, which haven't been easy for either of us. Now, as one of his biggest professional rivals, I am happy that the charade is over for him," Ullrich wrote on his personal website.

"I hope that he can begin his preparations with ease and will find a good team that will make up to him for what happened in June," the German continued. "Months of hard training and the pain would otherwise be for nothing, because the press has found him guilty based on rumours and a witch hunt. His acquittal can give all of us hope."

Meanwhile, Ullrich's manager, Wolfgang Strohband, contrary to earlier reports, said that Ullrich still plans to continue his career. He will be in a training camp "soon", Strohband told the German press agency dpa, and he is currently has "several contacts to Pro Tour teams."