The future of French cycling was paying homage to a legend of recent French cycling in the breakaway on stage 16 of the Tour de France.
Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step), who has impressed greatly with his performances in the Classics and stage races in the past two years, imitated Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie) while riding out the front with his teammate Tony Martin.
The eccentric Voeckler is known for his animated riding style, which Alaphilippe mimicked while trying to hold Martin's relentless pace in the break - sticking his tongue out and wobbling his head like the 37-year-old does.
Alaphilippe dug into the impressions box on stage 15 as well, getting the full Voeckler head wobble on while riding alongside Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) in the breakaway.
There are worse people for Alaphilippe to look up to than Voeckler - the 2012 King of the Mountains at the Tour, who wore yellow for nine stages in 2011 on his way to fourth overall.
-
-
Six tips to nail the Rapha Festive 500 on Strava
The Rapha Festive 500 returns to Strava in 2021, so here are our top six tips to complete the distance challenge
By Luke Friend •
-
Mark Cavendish agrees contract extension terms with Deceuninck - Quick-Step
Patrick Lefevere says the deal is done to retain the sprinter for 2022
By Jonny Long •
-
Mark Cavendish: ‘The Tour de France is not a bike race, it’s a world sporting event’
The British sprinter shares his thoughts on the pressure of the Tour
By Alex Ballinger •
-
‘You can clearly say Mark is the best sprinter there ever was,’ says Michael Mørkøv as Cavendish equals Tour de France record
Mørkøv guided his team-leader to his 34th Tour de France victory, as Cavendish matches Eddy Merckx’s records
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Tour de France 2021: Mark Cavendish says third stage win was down to ‘old school, textbook’ lead-out
The Brit took another victory in this year’s race, having been dropped on this stage back in 2015
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Patrick Lefevere to discuss new contract with Mark Cavendish after Tour de France
The British sprinter has won two sprint stages in the first week of the 2021 race
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Five talking points from stage six of the Tour de France 2021
Cav wins again to put himself in pole position for green
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Five talking points from stage four of the Tour de France 2021
Cavendish is back, the rider protest, and the right kind of drama - don't miss these moments
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Mark Cavendish sprints to Tour de France 2021 stage four victory
The Manxman beat Nacer Bouhanni to victory in Fougères to take his 31st Tour win
By Richard Windsor •
-
Mark Cavendish is not going for Eddy Merckx's record at the Tour de France, according to his trainer
The Manxman was a surprise pick for the Belgian squad as Sam Bennett was not fit enough to race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
