Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, sacked by T-Mobile in July following doping accusations, says he has been training hard for the new season in the hope that a team takes a chance on him.
'I am not giving up without a fight and have been cycling three hours every day and going to the gym,' Ullrich told today's edition of German newspaper Bild.
German rider Ullrich, now aged 32 and Tour de France victor in 1997, was sacked during this year's Tour after a Spanish investigation offered evidence that he had used blood-boosting drugs supplied by Spanish physician Eufemio Fuentes.
Ullrich protested his innocence and released a statement on his homepage explaining that he was no longer part of the Spanish investigation.
Italian team Tinkoff, backed by Russian beer millionaire Oleg Tinkov, are said to be willing to offer Ullrich a ride for next season.
However, Tinkoff are on the continental circuit, the second division of cycling, meaning Ullrich would be unable to compete in the Tour de France.
