Thomas Voeckler: Rider profile

THOMAS VOECKLER

Date of birth: 22/06/79

From: Schiltigheim, France

Team: Europcar

Previous teams: none

Thomas Voeckler career profile

French darling Thomas Voeckler has established himself as a unique rider in the professional peloton, making his name through a career of daring performances and a reputation for bold, gutsy riding.

Until recently, these traits saw him winning the hearts of the French public more often than the bigger name races. Yet a memorable week in yellow in the 2011 Tour de France has lead his many fans and observers to believe there may lie an unlocked Grand Tour potential behind his ‘sweetheart' status and trademark stuck-out tongue.

Turning professional in 2000 for the Bonjour team, Voeckler has remained loyal to the team and its manager, Jean-René Bernadeau, throughout its various incarnations.

He burst to public recognition with a French national title and a ten-day stint in yellow in the 2004 Tour de France, defying the best efforts of Lance Armstrong to hold onto the jersey through the Pyrenees.

Voeckler's appetite for a breakaway is one of the most voracious of any rider, and not without good reason. Despite busy years for Bouygues-Telecom without matching the successes of 2004, a late attack from a break formed in the first kilometer gave him his first highly coveted stage win at the Tour in 2009.

His solo victory in 2010 into Bagnères de Luchon in the heart of the high mountains proved his attacking credentials and hinted at a climbing ability that was put to the test the following year.

Reportedly the sole reason for Europcar deciding to fill his team's sponsor void, Voeckler repaid their confidence with early season 2011 wins in the Tour Méditerrnéan, Tour du Haut Var, GP Cholet and two stages in Paris-Nice.

A memorable Tour de France stage in the Massif Central, which saw breakaway companions Juan-Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland scythed down by a television car, put Voeckler in yellow once more.

It took until the final day in the Alps for him to relinquish his jersey, yet his characteristic dogged performances in the mountains gave him a well-deserved fourth place on the GC and with it the tentative hopes of the French nation for the upcoming years.

In 2012, Voeckler took two stages of the Tour de France, including a repeat solo win in Bagnères de Luchon after a hard day in the Pyrenees which also put him in the King of the Mountains jersey.

Thomas Voeckler results

2013

Criterium du Dauphine; stage six

2012

Brabanste Pijl

Tour de France; stage 10

Tour de France; stage 16

2011

Tour de France; leader stages 9-18, fourth overall

4 Jours de Dunkerque; stage four

4 Jours de Dunkerque; overall classification

Giro del Trentino; stage two

GP Cholet

Paris-Nice; stage four

Paris-Nice; stage eight

Tour du Haut Var; overall classification

Tour Méditerranéen; stage 1

2010

GP de Québec

Tour de France; stage 15

French National Championships, road race

2009

Tour de France; stage five

Trophée des Grimpeurs

Tour du Haut Var; stage two

Tour du Haut Var; overall classification

Etoile de Bessèges; overall classification

2008

GP de Plumelec-Morbihan

Circuit de la Sarthe

2007

GP Ouest-France Plouay

Tour du Poitou-Charentes et de la Vienne

Paris-Nice; mountains classification

2006

Paris-Bourges

Route du Sud; overall classification

Route du Sud; stage one

Vuelta al Pais Vasco; stage five

2005

4 Jours de Dunkerque; stage three

2004

Tour de France; leader stages 5-14

French National Championships, road race

Route du Sud; stage four

A Travers le Morbihan

2003

Tour de l'Avenir; stage eight

Tour de Luxembourg; overall classification

Tour de Luxembourg; stage one

Tour de Luxembourg; stage 3a

Classic Loire Atlantique

Thomas Voeckler photos

Related links

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