In July 1997, the German cyclist Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France. Now, 25 years later, he looks back at his childhood with competitive sports, his search for a father figure, his greatest cycling triumph, and the darkest moments of his life.

Family members, teammates such as Bjarne Rijs, and rivals such as Richard Virenque and Lance Armstrong offer their perspective on Jan Ullrich's greatest triumph.

Jan Ullrich becomes the golden child of cycling. In 1997, he wins the Tour de France and ascends to the ranks of sport's elite. Red carpets greet him, television broadcasters vie for his attention.

Jan Ullrich's career ends with a bang in 2006, with investigations into doping and a suspension. The Tour cannot allow the favourite to ride. In contrast to others such as Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich does not succeed in making a comeback.