Head-On Crash Leaves Cycling Legend Jan Ullrich Hospitalized
Disregarded Pedestrian: Motorist Fails to Notice Walking Individual - I was not hit by the driver
Grab a cuppa, 'cause this yarn's a doozy! On a fateful Friday, the bonkers world of Jan Ullrich (51), ex-Tour de France champ, took a wild swing when a car accident cut his training ride short. It all went down in his hometown of Merdingen, Baden-Württemberg, when a dude behind the wheel didn't spot ol' Jan, hit him head-on, and left him with a bunch of owie's.
Now, Ullrich's spilled the beans from his hospital bed on his podcast, "Ulle & Rick" (with Rick Zabel). He remembers the day vividly: "I wanted to wrap up one more lap, stretch my legs a bit." Cruisin' along the main road near his gaff, Ullrich recalls a driver popped up, turned, didn't see him, and bam! They nailed him on the left side.
A Moment Stuck in Time
Ullrich estimates he was motorin' along at about 25 to 30 km/h when the wreck happened. "You tense up, bracing for the impact – and then you're flat on your back," he recalls. Neighbours rushed out to help, and Ullrich' lucked out – the driver was shaken up but saw that Ullrich was the real deal dealing with a smash.
What gotta give you the heebie-jeebies, though? Ullrich's missus, Elizabeth (41), was drivin' by just a few minutes later and lost her marbles when she spied the scene. The couple hooked up in 2018 on Mallorca.
A Host of Injuries and Cautious Medication
Yikes! The docs had a right scare when they checked out Ullrich. They found he'd busted his kneecap and ribs, popped a lung, and had some other bumps and bruises. But ngawd, everything's alright now. Ullrich gave the good news on Wednesday from Freiburg Hospital.
The pain's been a real beast, though. In the podcast, Ullrich shed light on a sensitive topic: his past struggles with the vice, which peaked in 2018. When queried by Rick Zabel (31) if he had to be extra careful with painkillers and medicine, Ullrich confirms the convo's kicked off. The docs are working on the dosage.
"Jan Ullrich Cycling Festival" Moves Forward
Despite the crash, the "Jan Ullrich Cycling Festival" set to take place in Bad Dürrheim, Baden-Württemberg over the weekend (17/18 May) is still a go. Armstrong – Ullrich's former US sparring partner – will be in attendance, but he won't be on two wheels, Ullrich announced.
- Jan Ullrich
- Cycling accident
- German Cyclist
- Merdingen
- Auto accident
- Rick Zabel
- Baden-Württemberg
- Tour de France
PS: Here's a tad more fun facts: Ullrich's misfortune happened on May 9, 2025. He's still in hospital, but on the mend. Historically, he's had some serious health struggles linked to his vices and mental health issues after retiring from pro racing. This hospital stint reminds us bikers face hazards even years post-career, especially on the open road. Cheers!
- In a podcast episode, Jan Ullrich discussed his recent accident while cycling, stating that he was hit head-on by a car in Merdingen, Baden-Württemberg.
- The cycling legend, Jan Ullrich, shared details of his accident, indicating that he was traveling at 25 to 30 km/h when the collision occurred, leaving him with injuries such as a broken kneecap, ribs, and a punctured lung.
- During the podcast, Jan Ullrich addressed the sensitive topic of his past struggles with vices, revealing that discussions about painkillers and medication are now a focus for his medical team.
- Despite being hospitalized due to the accident, the "Jan Ullrich Cycling Festival" scheduled in Bad Dürrheim, Baden-Württemberg over the weekend (17/18 May) is still proceeding, with Lance Armstrong, a former sparring partner of Ullrich, expected to attend but not participate in cycling events.
