Ullrich had 2 wins before the 1997 Tour; a stage in the Tour de Suisse and the national Road Race championship a week before the tour.
He became favorite in the 1997 Tour de France.
He started strongly, finishing second in the prologue behind Chris Boardman.
On stage 9, the first mountain stage which was won by Laurent Brochard, Ullrich worked for Riis.
Only on the last ascent when Richard Virenque attacked did Ullrich react.
Riis struggled to keep up and finished 30 seconds behind Virenque, Marco Pantani and Ullrich.
On stage 10 from Luchon to Andorra Arcalis, with Riis again falling back, Ullrich dropped back to the team car to ask permission to attack.
He returned to the lead group and pushed up the climb leaving Pantani and Virenque.
He finished a minute ahead which earned his first yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.
L'Équipe, greeted Ullrich with Voilà le Patron ("Here is the boss").
Ullrich won the Stage 12 time trial with three minutes between himself and the second placed rider, Virenque, who had started three minutes in front of him.

Marco Pantani attacked on the stage to the Alpe d'Huez.
Ullrich, who was nine minutes ahead of Pantani overall, limited his losses to 47 seconds.
Pantani attacked again on the Morzine stage and won, while Ullrich again limited his losses.
In the final time trial, won by Abraham Olano, Ullrich extended his lead over Virenque and the following day became the first German to win the Tour de France.
At 23, Ullrich was the fourth youngest winner of the Tour since 1947.
Two weeks later, he won the Hews Cycling Classic in Hamburg.
A further two weeks later Ullrich was beaten by Davide Rebellin in a sprint in the GP Suisse.
He was chosen "sports person of the year" in Germany in 1997.
Ullrich had 2 wins before the 1997 Tour; a stage in the Tour de Suisse and the national Road Race championship a week before the tour. He became favorite in the 1997 Tour de France. He started strongly, finishing second in the prologue behind Chris Boardman. On stage 9, the first mountain stage which was won by Laurent Brochard, Ullrich worked for Riis. Only on the last ascent when Richard Virenque attacked did Ullrich react. Riis struggled to keep up and finished 30 seconds behind Virenque, Marco Pantani and Ullrich. On stage 10 from Luchon to Andorra Arcalis, with Riis again falling back, Ullrich dropped back to the team car to ask permission to attack. He returned to the lead group and pushed up the climb leaving Pantani and Virenque. He finished a minute ahead which earned his first yellow jersey as leader of the general classification. L'Équipe, greeted Ullrich with Voilà le Patron ("Here is the boss"). Ullrich won the Stage 12 time trial with three minutes between himself and the second placed rider, Virenque, who had started three minutes in front of him.
Marco Pantani attacked on the stage to the Alpe d'Huez. Ullrich, who was nine minutes ahead of Pantani overall, limited his losses to 47 seconds. Pantani attacked again on the Morzine stage and won, while Ullrich again limited his losses. In the final time trial, won by Abraham Olano, Ullrich extended his lead over Virenque and the following day became the first German to win the Tour de France. At 23, Ullrich was the fourth youngest winner of the Tour since 1947. Two weeks later, he won the Hews Cycling Classic in Hamburg. A further two weeks later Ullrich was beaten by Davide Rebellin in a sprint in the GP Suisse. He was chosen "sports person of the year" in Germany in 1997.
Jan Ullrich