Ullrich parts ways with Krohme

By Susan Westemeyer

Jan Ullrich has laid off his personal physiotherapist Birgit Krohme, the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has reported. She was considered part of Ullrich's inner circle, along with his brother Stefan, a mechanic with Team T-Mobile, and Rudy Pevenage. The newspaper concludes from this move that Ullrich is giving up hope of returning to racing. He met Krohme in South Africa in 2001 and made her his personal physio after his doping suspension in 2003.