Jan Ullrich speaks again, this time with Cosimo Cito from Repubblica, who published a beautiful interview with the German champion. As Cito writes, "At 51, after hitting rock bottom, Jan Ullrich has found a posthumous grace. That of the betraying and guilty hero trying to redeem himself with the truth. A Tour won in 1997, one lost to Pantani the following year, a Vuelta ('99), an Olympic gold. Doping, drugs, alcohol addiction. Who is Jan Ullrich today?"

"My life has changed many times. I've focused on my family and personal health," Ullrich explained. "I still have some ideas to bring to cycling, but in a much more 'quiet' way than before and from a different perspective. I'm trying to use my time differently. I'm trying to put my mistakes behind me and look beyond."

What was cycling like during the era of his battles in the mountains with Armstrong and Pantani?

"Cycling at that time was heavily influenced by the pressure and expectations of many: fans, sponsors, TV, manufacturers. Doping was the world we had to move in, the sea we had to swim in, it was everywhere. Cycling has learned a lot from those years. Control systems are better now and more professionally organized, and cyclists are more aware, more sensitized and informed. I believe that unfortunate era in which I found myself living will never return."

The Galibier, the 1998 Tour. Pantani taking off, him evaporating in the rain. For many Italians, it's one of the most extraordinary sporting memories of their lives. And for him?

"You'll be surprised: on the Galibier in 1998, I experienced one of the most emotional moments of my career. It was an extremely tough day, and I had to face many physical and mental challenges in those minutes. When I reached the top, I experienced a mix of relief and pride. And even though I ultimately lost the Tour, that was a moment that showed me how far I had come as a rider and as a person. That defeat changed me for the better."

He talks a lot about Marco Pantani, and about Lance Armstrong, who from a rival has become a great friend he can count on. And he announces: "On May 17th and 18th, I've organized a ride with Lance, Mario Cipollini, Bradley Wiggins and other great riders from the past in Bad Dürrheim, in the Black Forest. A festival: the 'Jan Ullrich Cycling Festival', a gathering of amateurs and champions not seen for decades, unique in its kind. I'm thrilled."

Does he follow today's cycling?

"Of course. Pogacar, Van der Poel, and Vingegaard are all truly impressive. Tadej is the perfect cyclist. Van der Poel is a breath of energy, and Vingegaard has great consistency. A quality I appreciate in a rider is his versatility, the ability to be competitive on multiple terrains."