The guys riding the Tour de France for T-Mobile just can’t seem to be able to rid themselves of the omnipresence of Jan Ullrich, no matter how hard they try.

On Monday afternoon, Andreas Klöden was just telling the press that he is beginning to adjust to his new role as a team leader. Fielding questions from the press, Klöden seemed at ease and even confident. Then, a fax from Ullrich’s manager Wolfgang Strohband landed on the table of the team hotel’s reception. Team spokesman Christian Frommert brought the note out to the terrace overlooking the little village of Sigoya and the majestic French Sea-Alps, the media instantly lost interest in poor old Klöden and scrambled for copies of the letter.

It was the first sign of life from Ullrich since he had been suspended from the team more than two weeks ago. Ullrich declared that, contrary to media reports, he was by no means in hiding but was in his home in Switzerland and participating in public life. Furthermore Ullrich declared that he had sent a statement to team director Olaf Ludwig last week, addressing the allegations against him.

Earlier this weekend, Frommert said, that Ullrich had missed a deadline imposed upon him by the company to make a statement concerning his guilt or innocence of charges raised in Operación Puerto, the ongoing investigation of athletes, trainers and doctors in Spain. Commenting on Ullrich’s new note, Frommert conceded, however, that the team had indeed received a declaration by Ullrich. Yet that letter had not been the declaration of innocence for which the team had asked. Instead, Ullrich had written that the burden of proof was not on his shoulders, but upon those making the charges. Such a statement, said Frommert, did not fulfill the requirements of the company and could not deter T-Mobile and Ludwig from further legal action.

In his new public statement Ullrich reasserted, that he does not think that he has to prove his innocence. In any state of law, Ullrich wrote, even he has the right to a presumption of innocence.

Frommert suggested that the issue was not a strictly legal matter and had over-riding commercial concerns as well. The corporation, Frommert said, cannot wait for a verdict from a civil court or a sports court to protect itself and its image.

“The media aren’t going to stop writing about Ullrich until the courts have settled the case either”, Frommert said.

After failing to do so on the Tour’s second rest day, the T-Mobile riders that are still actually in France are hoping to take back at least a bit of the spotlight tomorrow. Before the Ullrich note stole the show, Klöden had asserted that he has by no means given up the hope of winning the Tour and that the yellow jersey remains his goal.

Klöden said that his legs were in fine climbing form but conceded that the reason was dropped in the final climb on Stage 11 to Pla-de-Beret, was that he was suffering from leg cramps.

“Probably I just haven’t had enough races this year and my muscles aren’t used to the stress.” Klöden’s preparation this year had been less than perfect – he had missed five weeks of training do to a broken shoulder. “This was my first real hard mountain stage for more than a year.”

By the next one, up to L’Alpe d’Huez today, Klöden hopes that his legs have adjusted to the intensity.

Despite having been overshadowed by Ullrich for most of his career, Klöden still says that he is riding this Tour for his friend Jan. Ullrich, Klöden related, is sending him text messages and e-mails every day, encouraging him and giving him tips.

“It means a lot to me,” said Klöden.

Nonetheless, Klöden seems to be getting used to the thought that Ullrich won’t come back. Klöden’s contract with T-Mobile expires at the end of the season and before Ullrich was expelled, Klöden had said that he would most certainly leave the team. Now he doesn’t seem so certain.

“We will have to rethink everything after the Tour”, he said. Klöden seems to be struggling, but his emancipation from Ullrich is definitely under way.