This week I’ve been re-reading Daniel Friebe’s biography of Jan Ullrich, The Best There Never Was. Ullrich was an interesting character. East German, and a somewhat reluctant standard bearer for cycling in unified Germany, he was a powerful rider, with masses of potential, who ultimately spent most of his career riding in Lance Armstrong’s long shadow. Ullrich won the 1997 Tour de France aged 23 but never went on to win it again.
In Friebe’s book, the bit that really stands out for me is the description of Ullrich’s off-season.
Ullrich took the concept of an off-season to extremes. He would kick back and completely relax off the bike in winter, swinging from his race-ready Tour weight of 73kg to ten or more kilos heavier over winter. This included — according to cycling legend — a penchant for microwaving jars of Nutella and drinking the contents like hot chocolate through a straw.
Ullrich’s off-season has got me thinking about my own approach to taking time away from running as we move into summer here in the UK. I think I may be Jan Ullrich, but in reverse.
