Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Thomas Voeckler |
Nickname | Ti-Blanc Francis |
Born | Schiltigheim, Alsace, France | 22 June 1979
Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)[1] |
Weight | 71 kg (157 lb; 11 st 3 lb)[1] |
Team information | |
Current team | Retired |
Discipline | Road |
Role | Rider |
Rider type | All-rounder Climber Breakaway specialist |
Amateur teams | |
1999–2000 | Vendée U |
2000 | Bonjour (stagiaire) |
Professional team | |
2001–2017 | Bonjour |
Major wins | |
Grand Tours
Stage races
|
Thomas Voeckler (born 22 June 1979) is a French professional road racing cyclist. He rides for the Europcar cycling team.[2]
Voeckler has been called a "national hero," because he has done well in the Tour de France.[3][4] His nickname is le Chouchou which means Sweetheart.[5]
Voeckler has been a professional cyclist since 2001. He entered the 2004 Tour de France and earned the yellow jersey (maillot jaune) on Stage 5. He wore the jersey for ten days, which made him famous.
In 2006 he won the fifth stage in 2006 Vuelta al País Vasco. He also won the 2006 Paris–Bourges race.
In 2009, he won his first stage in a Tour de France. Voeckler went for victory on stage 15 with about 5 km to go.[6]
In the 2010 Tour de France he won Stage 15.
In the ninth stage of the 2011 Tour de France, Voeckler crossed the line second, taking the overall lead and therefore wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey). He kept the yellow jersey for 9 stages, but lost it on Stage 19. Voeckler finished the Tour in fourth place 3min 20sec behind the winner, Cadel Evans. This is his best career placement in the Tour so far. It was the best finish of any Frenchman in the Tour since Christophe Moreau came fourth in 2000.
In 2012, Thomas Voeckler earned more victories and top placements, including in the Spring Classics.
At the 2012 Tour de France, he was suffering from a knee injury and almost abandoned the race. However he won Stage 10, the first mountain stage of the race. He also won Stage 16 with four huge climbs including the Col du Tourmalet. On this stage he grabbed the polka dot jersey for best climber.[7] He kept the jersey from the Pyrenees to the finish.[8]
In the Ardennes Classic in 2013 Voeckler crashed and broke his collarbone.[9] By June he recovered and won stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné.[10] Voeckler continued his winning form by winning the overall titles of the Route du Sud and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.
Voeckler is known for displaying many different facial expressions while racing, especially when trying very hard.[11] He often sticks out his tongue.[12] In August 2011, Voeckler raced on his bike against a horse in an exhibition contest, and lost.[13]
Tour de France Maillot Grimpeur (Polka dot jersey) winners |
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1933 Trueba | 1934 Vietto | 1935 Vervaecke | 1936 Berrendero | 1937 Vervaecke | 1938 Bartali | 1939 Maes | 1947 Brambilla | 1948 Bartali | 1949 Coppi | 1950 Bobet | 1951 Géminiani | 1952 Coppi | 1953 Lorono | 1954 Bahamontes | 1955 Gaul | 1956 Gaul | 1957 Nencini | 1958 Bahamontes | 1959 Bahamontes | 1960 Massignan | 1961 Massignan | 1962 Bahamontes | 1963 Bahamontes | 1964 Bahamontes | 1965 Jimenez | 1966 Jimenez | 1967 Jimenez | 1968 Gonzalez | 1969 Merckx | 1970 Merckx | 1971 Van Impe | 1972 Van Impe | 1973 Torres | 1974 Perurena | 1975 Van Impe | 1976 Bellini | 1977 Van Impe | 1978 Martinez | 1979 Battaglin | 1980 Martin | 1981 Van Impe | 1982 Vallet | 1983 Van Impe | 1984 Millar | 1985 Herrera | 1986 Hinault | 1987 Herrera | 1988 Rooks | 1989 Theunisse | 1990 Claveyrolat | 1991 Chiappucci | 1992 Chiappucci | 1993 Rominger | 1994 Virenque | 1995 Virenque | 1996 Virenque | 1997 Virenque | 1998 Rinero | 1999 Virenque | 2000 Botero | 2001 Jalabert | 2002 Jalabert | 2003 Virenque | 2004 Virenque | 2005 Rasmussen | 2006 Rasmussen | 2007 Soler | 2008 Kohl, disqualified | 2009 Pelizotti, disqualified | 2010 Charteau | 2011 Sánchez | 2012 Voeckler | 2013 Quintana | 2014 Majka |