
Jan Ullrich
The Best There Never Was
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Narrated by:
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Mark Meadows
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By:
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Daniel Friebe
About this listen
Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was is the first biography of Jan Ullrich, arguably the most naturally talented cyclist of his generation, and also one of the most controversial champions of the Tour de France.
In 1997, Jan Ullrich announced himself to the world by obliterating his rivals in the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. So awesome was his display that it sent shockwaves throughout the world of cycling and invited headlines such as L’Équipe’s ‘The New Giant’. He went on to become Germany’s first ever Tour winner, storming to victory in that edition by almost 10 minutes, a result that was greeted as an era-defining changing of the guard. Everyone agreed: Jan Ullrich was the future of cycling. He was soon also voted Germany’s most popular sportsperson of all time, and his rivalry with Lance Armstrong defined the most controversial years of the Tour de France.
Now, Daniel Friebe–who has covered twenty-one editions of the Tour de France–has gone in search of the man who was said in 1997 would go on to dominate his sport for a generation, but never quite managed it.
Just what did happen to the best who never was?
This is a gripping account of how unbearable expectation, mental and physical fragility, the effects of a complicated childhood, a morally corrupt sport and one individual–Lance Armstrong–can conspire to reroute destiny.
Daniel Friebe takes us from the legacy of East Germany’s drugs programme to the pinnacle of pro cycling and asks: what price can you give sporting immortality?
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2022 Daniel Friebe (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
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Jonathan Vaughters' story is the story of modern cycling. From his early years as a keen cyclist in his hometown in Colorado to his unflinching rite of passage as a professional rider with US Postal to his elevation as one of cycling's most resilient, ethical, and intelligent team bosses, the highs and lows of his career have mirrored those of the sport itself.
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Excruciating Listen
- By Brian I. on 09-15-19
By: Jonathan Vaughters, and others
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The Midlife Cyclist
- The Road Map for the +40 Rider Who Wants to Train Hard, Ride Fast and Stay Healthy
- By: Phil Cavell
- Narrated by: Phil Cavell
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Renowned cycling biomechanics pioneer Phil Cavell explores the growing trend of middle-aged and older cyclists seeking to achieve high-level performance. Using contributions from leading coaches, ex-professionals and pro-team doctors, he produces the ultimate manifesto for mature riders who want to stay healthy, avoid injury - and maximise their achievement levels.
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Exceptionally well put together.
- By Anonymous User on 07-25-23
By: Phil Cavell
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The Secret Race
- Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs
- By: Tyler Hamilton, Daniel Coyle
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Here is an explosive book that takes us, for the first time, deep inside a shadowy, fascinating, and surreal world of unscrupulous doctors, anything-goes team directors, and athletes so relentlessly driven to succeed that they would do anything—and take any risk, physical, mental, or moral—to gain the edge they needed to win. The Secret Race is a riveting, courageous act of witness from a man who is as determined to reveal the hard truth about his sport as he once was to win the Tour de France.
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Gripping and fascinating
- By Alan on 09-09-12
By: Tyler Hamilton, and others
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Three Weeks, Eight Seconds
- Greg Lemond, Laurent Fignon, and the Epic Tour de France of 1989
- By: Nige Tassell
- Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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For a race as long as the mighty Tour (three weeks of testing the limits of human endurance), to have the ultimate victory decided by a margin of just eight seconds almost boggles the mind. But that's exactly what happened between American legend Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon. After more than 2,000 miles in the saddle, it remains the smallest margin of victory in the Tour's 100-plus-year history.
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LOVED IT!
- By Ashley Green on 07-03-23
By: Nige Tassell
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The Death of Marco Pantani
- A Biography
- By: Matt Rendell
- Narrated by: Matt Rendell
- Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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On Valentine's day 2004, Marco Pantani was found dead in a cheap hotel. It defied belief: Pantani, having won the rare double of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in 1998, was regarded as the only cyclist capable of challenging Lance Armstrong's dominance. Only later did it emerge that Pantani had been addicted to cocaine since 1999. Drawing on his personal encounters with Pantani, as well as exclusive access to his psychoanalysts, and interviews with his family and friends, Matt Rendell has produced the definitive account of an iconic sporting figure.
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No holds barred
- By Michael on 02-05-25
By: Matt Rendell
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Pro Cycling on $10 a Day
- From Fat Kid to Euro Pro
- By: Phil Gaimon
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Plump, grumpy, slumped on the couch, and going nowhere fast at age 16, Phil Gaimon began riding a bicycle with the grand ambition of shedding a few pounds before going off to college. He soon fell into racing and discovered he was a natural, riding his way into a pro contract after just one season despite utter ignorance of a century of cycling etiquette. Now, in his book Pro Cycling on $10 a Day, Phil brings the full powers of his wit to tell his story.
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Greatest Cycling Book!
- By cyclephreak on 03-08-17
By: Phil Gaimon
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The Climb
- The Autobiography
- By: Chris Froome
- Narrated by: Patrick Doherty
- Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of the revealing, inspirational memoir from the British winner of the Tour de France. The Climb tells the extraordinary story of Chris Froome's journey from a young boy in Kenya, riding through townships and past wild animals, and with few opportunities for an aspiring cyclist, to his unforgettable yellow jersey victory in the 2013 Tour de France.
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Lengai
- By michael on 08-21-14
By: Chris Froome
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Descent
- My Epic Fall from Cycling Superstardom to Doping Dead End
- By: Thomas Dekker, Thijs Zonneveld
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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At age 20, Thomas Dekker was already earning €100,000 a year - as an amateur bike racer. The next year, he turned pro and his salary quadrupled then rose again to €900,000 as he established his position as a super-domestique among Europe's wealthiest superteams. The sport world marveled at Dekker's rise as the young racer set his ambitions on capturing cycling's biggest prizes for himself. Before long, though, Dekker found himself corrupted by money, dazzled by fame, and cracking under the relentless pressure to perform at a superhuman level.
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Brat on wheels
- By Tanner Schember on 02-10-25
By: Thomas Dekker, and others
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Chased by Pandas
- My Life in the Mysterious World of Cycling
- By: Dan Martin
- Narrated by: Matthew Biddulph
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Known, thanks to his racing style and attitude, for being one of road cycling's last romantics, Dan has always shied away from revealing too much about himself and his story. Now, having retired at the end of the 2021 season aged 35 and no longer bound by the constraints of the racing circuit, Dan feels the time is right to tell his story in the same forthright and honest manner that he rode his bike. This audiobook reflects Dan's generous and outspoken spirit, his resilience to pain, crashes, bad luck and, finally, his acceptance of destiny.
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Pandas
- By Soren on 11-13-24
By: Dan Martin
What listeners say about Jan Ullrich
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- John F
- 11-28-22
Incredible work and storytelling
If you are a cycling fan, this is your book. The levels of depth and color brought in for context are reminiscent of Hardcore History. Excellent book!
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- Gabe Jones
- 10-22-24
Fantastic Book
Written for posterity’s sake, this biography leaves few stones unturned. A must-read for serious cycling fans, especially those around in the ‘90s and ‘00s.
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- Louis M.
- 07-27-23
Great account and valuable insights of a (sport) hero and his era
This book offers a clear and documented perspective the Ullrich - Armstrong rivalry at the TDF. The author depicts the real personalities and motives of the actors, first and foremost Jan’s. As a young competitive cyclist and Triathlete amateur during the 90s I remember the excitement around pro cycling with Pantani, Ullrich and Armstrong, their raise to stardom and hard fall. The not so secret dirty cheating which had infected pro sports as well as the amateur‘s.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Keylor
- 06-24-22
One of the best cycling books ever
This is a wonderful book not just about cycling but about Germany and it’s complex identity both post-WW2 and post-unification. The detail and the care taken by Friebe is fantastic given Ulrich’s difficult life on and off the bike.
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- WA
- 10-26-22
Incredible
Incredible writing, research, tale. What on earth can Friebe sink his teeth i to next? I can’t wait.
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- Tyler Landry
- 06-09-22
Wonderful
Daniel does a great job telling a beautiful story, unbiased. Captivating and Interesting. Worth the listen
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kevin Hansen
- 05-10-23
A story long over due
Wonderful telling of a rider that has been to some reduced to a foil of another obscuring his athletic excellence.
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- Nate Halsan
- 01-18-23
Worth it
Rad history well told. I appreciate the context and the interviews and enjoy the reader as well.
Check it out.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-12-23
A story woven of many different threads
As an avid bicyclist, I enjoyed the historical perspective of bike racing in the 1980's through the 2010's with focus on the doping era. The author does a good job conveying the motivations of different racers. But you don't need to be biker to enjoy the other treads of the story: the unification of East and West Germany (politics, economics and sociology) and personalities of those racers at the top of their sport. The character with brought to life with great detail and compassion.
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-27-22
Suspected but now confirmed
Daniel has done a great job of giving a great overview of Jan’s life. I followed Jan and Armstrong close back in the day. But Daniel’s work was able to explain and layout what was really happening and why. I liked Jan before, but now have even more respect for him.
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1 person found this helpful