Jan Ullrich backs Florian Lipowitz for future Tour de France victories

From a German perspective, it was the defining moment of the cycling year. At just 25, Florian Lipowitz rode onto the podium of the Tour de France, finishing third overall in his first appearance at the sport’s biggest race. It was a result that placed him alongside the very best and reopened a conversation that German cycling has been waiting decades to have, marking the country’s first Tour podium since 2006, when Andreas Klöden finished second overall.

For Jan Ullrich, that podium finish is only the beginning. Speaking to SPORT1 at the Sportsman of the Year gala in Baden-Baden, Ullrich made clear that he sees no ceiling yet for Lipowitz.

“Florian still has something in reserve. I do not think he has reached his peak yet. He can still improve and the others are getting older as well. At some point they will decline,” Ullrich said.

It is a bold statement in an era dominated by riders like Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, who have set an extraordinary benchmark at the Tour. Yet Ullrich believes Lipowitz has both the sporting and personal foundations to close that gap over time.

Lipowitz also claimed the white jersey in France, confirming his status as the strongest young rider in the race. Ullrich described him as a “fantastic talent” and pointed to the wider context around him. “The foundation is strong. He has a good team, a good environment and he himself has a strong character,” the 1997 Tour winner explained.

Ullrich also revealed that he remains in regular contact with Lipowitz and is impressed by his commitment away from the spotlight. “He is training hard right up until Christmas,” he said. “He already told me he could not be here today because of training. He is already preparing for next year.”

That dedication matters, according to Ullrich, because the margins at the top of the Tour are so fine. “If a bit of luck comes into play as well, then he can definitely move even further forward,” he added.

Beyond individual success, Ullrich sees Lipowitz’s breakthrough as a catalyst for the sport in Germany. “It was wonderful to see Lipo on the Champs Élysées on the podium with Vingegaard and Pogacar. You can already see a small cycling boom,” he said. “I see it with my children. Of course something ignites when a German is riding at the very front.”

For Ullrich, the image of a German rider back among cycling’s elite felt familiar. This time, however, it also felt like a beginning rather than a memory.