Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich announced Saturday that he will spend three days in the United States as part of a business trip.

German Ullrich, who celebrates his 33th birthday on Saturday, confirmed the news on his homepage, www.janullrich.de, saying he had organized "various meetings" over the three days.

"Thirty-three has always been my lucky number and I am really looking forward to this day," Ullrich said. "I am confident that my plans for next year will come off."

Ullrich, who won the Tour de France in 1997, was sacked by T-Mobile in July after accusations that he was using blood-boosting drugs supplied by Spanish physician Eufemio Fuentes, the head of a doping ring.

Ullrich does not have a new team for next season, although the Italian-Russian Tinkoff team did register their interest. Still, he reportedly has been training hard in the hope of returning in 2007.