Jan Ullrich has pulled out of Sunday's World Cup race in Zürich following his disappointing performance in the 2004 Olympic Games.

"I had trouble sitting during the Athens time trial but hoped to make the race in Zürich," Ullrich wrote on his Web site. "Unfortunately, that is not possible.

"I will use the break to sit down with (coach) Rudy Pevenage and Mario Krummer (sporting director at T-Mobile) to discuss how we will finish the season."

The 1997 Tour de France winner flopped in the Olympic Games, finishing 19th in the road race and seventh in the time trial, after going into the Athens Games as one of the favorites.

Stephan Schreck will assume Ullrich's place on the T-Mobile team for the Zürich race.

Bennati to join Saeco
Italian Daniele Bennati will be leaving Phonak to join the Saeco team of compatriot Gilberto Simoni, the team announced on Saturday.

Bennati, 23, a former teammate of Mario Cipollini on Domina Vacanze, abandoned this year's Giro d'Italia with a virus. He plans to concentrate on the classics and the Tour de France.