Jan linked with Volksbank

The 1997 Tour de France winner has been linked with a move to the country after the general secretary of the Austrian cycling federation, Rudi Massak, said he would grant Ullrich a licence if he applied.

And it now seems early discussions have also taken place with regard to Ullrich joining Volksbank.

"It's true, we received an enquiry through an intermediary," team manager Thomas Kofler revealed to Vorarlberg online. "We discussed the proposal internally, though without considering the financials demands."

"Before concrete negotiations can take place, Jan has to be given the go-ahead by the World federation [UCI]," added Kofler, who admitted that a private backer had already been found.