Alex Zülle (born 5 July 1968) is aSwiss former professionalroad bicycle racer. During the 1990s he was one of the most successful cyclists in the world, winning the 1996 and 1997Vuelta a España, taking second place in the1995 and the1999 Tour de France. He was world time-trial champion inLugano in 1996. He admitted doping with EPO and raced for the three most notorious doping teams in 1997-9.
Zülle was born and brought up inWil in the canton ofSt. Gallen, son of a Swiss father, Walter Zülle and Wilhelmine, fromBrabant,Netherlands. As a child he wanted to be a skier but at 18 he was injured in an accident. He began cycling in the Netherlands for rehabilitation before giving up because it was too windy.[1]
His father, having bought cycling equipment, persuaded him to give cycling another go when they returned to Switzerland. After several years as a successful amateur, Zülle turned professional in 1991. He approached the former sporting director of the Swiss team, Helvetia,Paul Köchli, but Köchli signedLaurent Dufaux instead.[1]
Zülle then approachedManolo Saiz, but was rebuffed because, among reasons, he did not contract riders who wore earrings. Eventually, Saiz softened and Zülle rode forONCE as a stagaire or apprentice in theVolta a Catalunya. He attacked frequently and finished third. Saiz relented and Zülle signed his first professional contract in September 1991.[2] He remained with ONCE until 1997.[3] Most of its riders were Spanish. Zülle spoke only Swiss-German when he joined but at the end of theVuelta a España he answered journalists in Spanish.[4]
In 1998, Zülle joined Festina. The team was banned from the1998 Tour de France amid doping allegations which later became known as theFestina affair. Five Festina riders including Zülle admitted takingEPO.[5] Zülle said he took it to satisfy his sponsors. He also said he was deprived of his spectacles during the police interview.[6] On 28 November 1998, Zülle'shaematocrit was found to be 52.3%, 2.3% over the limit.
OverallGrand Prix Guillaume Tell
OverallVuelta a Asturias
OverallVuelta a Burgos
OverallParis–Nice
Points classification
Time trial,UCI Road World Championships
OverallVolta a Catalunya
Points classification
Giro d'Italia
Tour de France
Vuelta a España
/
Tirreno–Adriatico
/
Critérium du Dauphiné
Volta a Catalunya
