Jan Ullrich’s Telekom team has announced a hard riding squad to suport the 27 year old German in his assault on what he regards as the ultimate prize, “Every year that I don’t win the Tour is a lost year,” he announced at the team launch yesterday, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in such good shape and whatever happens I want to win my second Tour.” Jan spent the winter training in South Africa and is aiming to flex his competitive muscles for the first time in late Febuary.

Ullrich will be backed up by long serving German team stalwarts Erik Zabel, Rolf Aldag and Udo Bolts, with valuable tactical help provided by Armstrong’s previous right hand man Kevin Livingstone (who’ll be glad he opted out of signing with McCartney). Roberto Sgambelluri and Olympic track champion Robert Bartko also join the squad.

Here’s the full line up of those hoping to be looking ‘pretty in pink’ for 2001.

Rolf Aldag, Robert Bartko, Udo Bolts, Alberto Elli, Gian-Matteo Fagnini, Ralf Grabsch, Giuseppe Guerini, Jens Heppner, Torsten Hiekmann, Danilo Hondo, Kai Hundertmarck, Matthias Kessler, Andreas Klier, Andreas Kloden, Kevin Livingston, Giovanni Lombardi, Andrei Misurov, Jan Schaffrath, Stephan Schreck, Roberto Sgambelluri, Gerhard Trampusch, Jan Ullrich and Erik Zabel.