Ullrich pulls out of Giro

The 1997 Tour de France winner said his decision to quit the three-week race was not because of allegations implicating him in doping investigations being carried out in Spain.

The T-Mobile rider pulled out in the last few kilometres of the 221-km seven-hour 19th stage after speaking to his sports director Rudy Pevenage.

"I had planned to ride through to Milan, but I have also always pointed out that I wouldn't finish the Giro at any price," Ullrich was quoted as saying on the official T-Mobile team website.

Pevenage agreed with Ullrich's decision and insisted he is on track for July's Tour de France.

"Due to the tough race profile and the final two mountain stages in particular, we took the decision that Jan would pull out of the race and not overdo things," Pevenage said.

"Everything is going to plan. Jan was racing very actively and he impressed in the time trial. We are on the right track and we will continue to follow our race programme."

Ullrich made it clear his decision to quit the Giro was not linked to the Spanish doping investigation, although it did influence the timing.

"Even though there is nothing behind the allegations, it would have looked ill-timed if I had abandoned on Thursday but we couldn't let the reports coming out of Spain dictate our training programme," Ullrich said.

Ullrich has denied he is one of up to 100 athletes linked by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser to doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, one of five men brought in for questioning by Spain's Civil Guard earlier this week as part of an anti-doping operation.

Ullrich has told his T-Mobile team's website he has never worked with Fuentes.

After Friday's departure from the Giro, Ullrich, 32, will return to his home in Switzerland on Saturday to continue training for the Tour de France.

In June, he will study some of the key stages of the Tour and compete in a short stage race before the start of the French blue riband event on July 1.