Jan Ullrich visits Tour for the first time since 2006 exclusion

Former champion Jan Ullrich returned to the Tour de France as a visitor on Saturday, 20 years after being excluded from the famous French race in connection with doping allegations.

Ullrich is the only German to win the Tour with his success in 1997. He was kicked out of the 2006 race shortly before start because of his link to Spanish doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

Ullrich was declared not welcome by organizers of the French race in the aftermath but they have now lifted the ban after Ullrich finally admitted to substance abuse in recent years.

"I am extremely delighted. It is my first visit as a guest, as a fan so to say at the Tour. And then such an epic stage like today in the Vosges mountains," Ullrich told broadcasters ARD.

Ullrich, who was there with his sons, was celebrated by a large number of German fans watching the stage.

He admitted he had a hard time admitting to doping in public but said that in retrospect "it was the best thing I could do."

Ullrich spoke of "a dark era" at the time but said that cycling has learnt from it and introduced more drug tests and tougher sanctions.

The 2000 Olympics champion said that he wouldn't mind competing these days if he was younger, citing improved bikes, equipment and nutrition and admitting that he had trained in a wrong way in the past.

Ullrich added he believes that Florian Lipowitz can reach the final podium again like last year when he came third. "The fight is open and exciting," he said.