Cycling: Jan Ullrich scuffles past prison after an accident

The former cycling hero Jan Ullrich was sentenced to a suspended sentence in Switzerland in 2014 for a traffic accident caused by him under the influence of alcohol and valium as well as at a very high speed.The only German Tour winner will not have to go to prison.

On Thursday, the Weinfelden District Court in Canton Thurgau sentenced the 43-year-old to 21 months imprisonment for suspended sentences of four years and a fine of 10,000 francs (8700 euros).The court thus remained above the demands of the defence and public prosecutor’s office, which had each demanded 17 months’ probation.Ullrich had been accused of “willful gross violation of the traffic rules as well as multiple willful driving in a qualified state of disability”.

“I made a mistake three and a half years ago that I regret very much.Apart from that, I have said everything else,”explained Ullrich in his closing remarks before the pronouncement of the verdict.According to the Swiss daily Blick, the judge called what had happened “bad and reprehensible”in the ruling statement.

Ullrich can “talk about luck that no more has happened.The limit values are the same for everyone – no matter whether it is a top athlete or’ normal person’,”said the judge:”It must have been clear to you that if Valium is taken for a longer period of time, it can have a strengthening effect.It’s a good thing you cared about the victims to this extent.We wish you all the best for the future and hope that we won’t see you again.”

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Born in Rostock, Ullrich, who is now living in Mallorca, can now draw a line under the affair as hoped for:”I’m glad when it’s finally over,”said the 1997 Tour winner when he arrived at the court in the pouring rain in a black jacket, white shirt and blue jeans at noon.

Ullrich had an appointment on 19.The accident caused an accident in the Swiss canton of Thurgau on May 2014, under the influence of alcohol and at an excessive speed, in which two people were slightly injured.The 21st.On July 1,2015, the court in Weinfelden dismissed a first indictment and ordered a new trial.

Two new expert opinions have now had a positive effect on Ullrich.On the one hand, the former Tour de France winner drove at a slower speed than assumed in the first procedure (at least 132 km/h) and thus fell well below the 140 km/h threshold.At this threshold and thus more than 60 km/h above the permitted speed, Ullrich would have threatened a prison sentence.He would then have been charged with a serious felony.

In addition, a medical report had shown that a painkiller taken by Ullrich did not have a significant influence on the ability to drive.