Thomas Voeckler
Encyclopedia
Thomas Voeckler is a French professional road racing cyclist who rides for the cycling team.
region of France but later moved to Martinique
, where he was nicknamed "Ti-Blanc" (petit blanc) due to his small stature and pale complexion. He is also known as le Chou-Chou ("Sweetheart"), perhaps because of his young looks and his habit of sticking out his tongue in races.
In 2003, Voeckler captured two stages and the overall title in the Tour de Luxembourg
. The following year, he suddenly rose to international prominence in the world of cycling. After seizing the French championship, the lightly regarded Voeckler entered the 2004 Tour de France
. After escaping with five other riders during the fifth stage, Voeckler gained significant time against the peloton
, and earned the yellow jersey (le maillot jaune). Remarkably, he defended his jersey for ten days, even on stages not well-suited to his strengths. With the maillot jaune on his shoulders, and intense media attention all around him, Voeckler only rode stronger. He survived the dreaded Pyrenean
climbs, seconds ahead of the eventual winner, Lance Armstrong
. Voeckler finally surrendered the jersey to Armstrong on stage 15 in the French Alps. Voeckler then also lost the white jersey (le maillot blanc
, held by the best rider under 25) to Vladimir Karpets
. But by then Voeckler was already a national hero.
The 2005 season was busy as Voeckler rode many races, including some not considered a fit for his style of riding. His only win that year came in Stage 3 of the Four Days of Dunkirk
.
In 2006 he won a fifth stage in Vuelta al País Vasco. At the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Voeckler finished second on Stage 1. He also won the 2006 Paris–Bourges. In 2007 garnered a stunning win at the Grand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France
, in which he beat the favorites with a late breakaway. For 2008, Voeckler's early season was highlighted with an overall win at the Circuit de la Sarthe
. In 2009, he gained his first stage win in a Tour de France. Voeckler went for victory with about 5 km to go, having been part of a breakaway group for most of the race.
. Voeckler bested Le Mével in the sprint to take his second national championship jersey. His form then continued into the 2010 Tour de France
where, after several unsuccessful attacks, he was first over the finish line during Stage 15.
, notably taking two stages at Paris-Nice, and winning the overall lead in the Four days of Dunkirk
as well as the Tour du Haut Var
.
In the ninth stage of the Tour de France, Voeckler led a breakaway, survived a collision caused by a media support car that injured two other riders, and crossed the line second, taking the overall-time lead and therefore wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey). He held on to the yellow jersey daily from the beginning of Stage 10 onwards, carrying it through all the Pyrenean mountain stages and into the Alps, but he was unable to retain it at the end of Stage 19, the queen stage finishing at Alpe D'Huez
. Voeckler finished the Tour in fourth place 3min 20sec behind the winner, Cadel Evans
, in the general classification – his best career placement in the Tour so far. His fourth-place finish in the general classification was the highest of any Frenchman in the Tour since Christophe Moreau
's fourth-place finish in 2000.
Voeckler's 2011 salary from Europcar is 420,000 euros a year, which makes him the second highest-paid French cyclist after Sylvain Chavanel
.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Biography
Voeckler has been a professional cyclist since 2001. He rides for , formerly known as Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Bouygues Télécom, Brioches la Boulangère, and Bonjour. He comes from the AlsaceAlsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
region of France but later moved to Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, where he was nicknamed "Ti-Blanc" (petit blanc) due to his small stature and pale complexion. He is also known as le Chou-Chou ("Sweetheart"), perhaps because of his young looks and his habit of sticking out his tongue in races.
In 2003, Voeckler captured two stages and the overall title in the Tour de Luxembourg
Tour de Luxembourg
Tour de Luxembourg is an annual stage race in professional road bicycle racing held in Luxembourg. The Tour de Luxembourg is classified as a 2.HC, the highest rating below the ProTour, by the Union Cycliste Internationale , the sport's governing body. In 2006, the Tour was part of the UCI Europe...
. The following year, he suddenly rose to international prominence in the world of cycling. After seizing the French championship, the lightly regarded Voeckler entered the 2004 Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
. After escaping with five other riders during the fifth stage, Voeckler gained significant time against the peloton
Peloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
, and earned the yellow jersey (le maillot jaune). Remarkably, he defended his jersey for ten days, even on stages not well-suited to his strengths. With the maillot jaune on his shoulders, and intense media attention all around him, Voeckler only rode stronger. He survived the dreaded Pyrenean
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
climbs, seconds ahead of the eventual winner, Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
. Voeckler finally surrendered the jersey to Armstrong on stage 15 in the French Alps. Voeckler then also lost the white jersey (le maillot blanc
Maillot blanc
Numerous cycling stage races award a white jersey to signify the current leader and overall winner of a certain competition. The most prominent of these is perhaps the Tour de France, where the jersey is known as the maillot blanc and is awarded to the best-placed rider under 26 years of age...
, held by the best rider under 25) to Vladimir Karpets
Vladimir Karpets
Vladimir Alexandrovich Karpets is a Russian road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam , most notable for winning the white jersey for best young rider in the 2004 Tour de France. Karpets is a two-time Olympian. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, Karpets competed in the men's team pursuit and...
. But by then Voeckler was already a national hero.
The 2005 season was busy as Voeckler rode many races, including some not considered a fit for his style of riding. His only win that year came in Stage 3 of the Four Days of Dunkirk
Four Days of Dunkirk
The Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
.
In 2006 he won a fifth stage in Vuelta al País Vasco. At the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Voeckler finished second on Stage 1. He also won the 2006 Paris–Bourges. In 2007 garnered a stunning win at the Grand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France
2007 GP Ouest-France
The 2007 edition of the GP Ouest-France was held on September 2 in and around the French village of Plouay in Brittany. Several laps of a circuit were completed for a total of 226 kilometres of racing. Although no significant breakaway was able to last, a late break by Thomas Voeckler proved...
, in which he beat the favorites with a late breakaway. For 2008, Voeckler's early season was highlighted with an overall win at the Circuit de la Sarthe
Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)
The Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire is an early-season short road bicycle racing stage race held annually in Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
. In 2009, he gained his first stage win in a Tour de France. Voeckler went for victory with about 5 km to go, having been part of a breakaway group for most of the race.
2010 season
After a somewhat slow start to 2010, Voeckler went on to win the French national road championship. He was able to break away from the bunch along with Christophe Le MévelChristophe Le Mevel
Christophe Le Mével is a French road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . He signed with them for the 2011 season, after they sought to add a leading French rider to their roster.-Palmares:...
. Voeckler bested Le Mével in the sprint to take his second national championship jersey. His form then continued into the 2010 Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
where, after several unsuccessful attacks, he was first over the finish line during Stage 15.
2011 season
In 2011, Voeckler has enjoyed his finest year as a professional. He recorded eight spring victories prior to July's Tour of France2011 Tour de France
-Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in...
, notably taking two stages at Paris-Nice, and winning the overall lead in the Four days of Dunkirk
Four Days of Dunkirk
The Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
as well as the Tour du Haut Var
Tour du Haut Var
The Tour du Haut Var is an early-season two-day road bicycle race in the Provence region of France. From 2005 to 2008, it was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2009, the race was changed to a two-day 2.1 event.-Palmarès:...
.
In the ninth stage of the Tour de France, Voeckler led a breakaway, survived a collision caused by a media support car that injured two other riders, and crossed the line second, taking the overall-time lead and therefore wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey). He held on to the yellow jersey daily from the beginning of Stage 10 onwards, carrying it through all the Pyrenean mountain stages and into the Alps, but he was unable to retain it at the end of Stage 19, the queen stage finishing at Alpe D'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
. Voeckler finished the Tour in fourth place 3min 20sec behind the winner, Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...
, in the general classification – his best career placement in the Tour so far. His fourth-place finish in the general classification was the highest of any Frenchman in the Tour since Christophe Moreau
Christophe Moreau
Christophe Moreau is a French former professional road racing cyclist. For many years Moreau was the primary French contender for the general classification in the Tour de France: he finished in the top 12 in the GC five times and finished the race as best Frenchman in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005...
's fourth-place finish in 2000.
Voeckler's 2011 salary from Europcar is 420,000 euros a year, which makes him the second highest-paid French cyclist after Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel Albira is a French professional road bicycle racer. His brother Sébastien Chavanel is also a cyclist.Chavanel started his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau's team Bonjour, which became Brioches La Boulangère in 2003...
.
Major results
2003- 1st
Overall Tour de LuxembourgTour de LuxembourgTour de Luxembourg is an annual stage race in professional road bicycle racing held in Luxembourg. The Tour de Luxembourg is classified as a 2.HC, the highest rating below the ProTour, by the Union Cycliste Internationale , the sport's governing body. In 2006, the Tour was part of the UCI Europe... - 1st Classic Loire AtlantiqueClassic Loire AtlantiqueClassic Loire Atlantique is a road bicycle race held annually in the French department of Loire-Atlantique. Since 2005, it is organized as a 1.2 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2011, it was upgraded to a 1.1 event.-Winners:-External links:...
- 1st Stage 8 Tour de l'AvenirTour de l'AvenirTour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...
2004
- 1st National Road Race Champion
- 1st A travers le Morbihan
- 1st Stage 4 Route du SudRoute du SudThe Route du Sud is a road bicycle race held annually in Southern France. It was first held in 1977 and since 2005 it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- 18th Overall Tour de France2004 Tour de FranceThe 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
- Held Maillot jaune from Stage 5–14
- Held Maillot blancMaillot blancNumerous cycling stage races award a white jersey to signify the current leader and overall winner of a certain competition. The most prominent of these is perhaps the Tour de France, where the jersey is known as the maillot blanc and is awarded to the best-placed rider under 26 years of age...
from Stage 5–18
- Held Maillot jaune
2005
- 1st Stage 3 Four Days of DunkirkFour Days of DunkirkThe Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
- Held
Mountains classification for Stage 2 Tour de France2005 Tour de FranceThe 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
2006
- 1st Paris–Bourges
- 1st Stage 5 Vuelta al País Vasco
- 1st Overall Route du Sud
- 1st Stage 1
2007
- 1st Mountains classification Paris–Nice
- 1st Overall Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne
- 1st Grand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France2007 GP Ouest-FranceThe 2007 edition of the GP Ouest-France was held on September 2 in and around the French village of Plouay in Brittany. Several laps of a circuit were completed for a total of 226 kilometres of racing. Although no significant breakaway was able to last, a late break by Thomas Voeckler proved...
2008
- 1st Overall Circuit de la SartheCircuit de la Sarthe (cycling)The Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire is an early-season short road bicycle racing stage race held annually in Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Overall Grand Prix de Plumelec-MorbihanGrand Prix de Plumelec-MorbihanGrand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in May around Plumelec, in the region of Brittany, France. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, also being part of the Coupe de France de cyclisme sur route.-Name of the race:-...
- Held Mountains classification from Stages 1–5 Tour de France2008 Tour de FranceThe 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
2009
- 1st Stage 5 Tour de France2009 Tour de FranceThe 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
- 1st Overall, Étoile de BessègesÉtoile de BessègesThe Étoile de Bessèges is an early-season five-day road bicycle racing stage race held annually in Southern France, around Bessèges. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour and features as one of the first stage races of the European season.-Palmarès:...
- 1st Overall Tour du Haut VarTour du Haut VarThe Tour du Haut Var is an early-season two-day road bicycle race in the Provence region of France. From 2005 to 2008, it was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2009, the race was changed to a two-day 2.1 event.-Palmarès:...
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Trophée des GrimpeursTrophée des GrimpeursThe Trophée des Grimpeurs, called Polymultipliée until 1970, is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in August in the region of Val-d'Oise, France, between Argenteuil and Sannois. Between 1980 and 2002 it was a criterium...
2010
- 1st National Road Race ChampionFrench National Road Race ChampionshipsThe French National Road Race Championship is a cycling race where the French cyclists decide who will become the champion for the year to come. The event was established in 1899, a professional championship was established in 1907 and the women's championship was not established until 1951....
- 1st Stage 15 Tour de France2010 Tour de FranceThe 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
- 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec2010 Grand Prix Cycliste de QuébecThe 2010 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec was the first edition of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, one-day professional bicycle road race held in Québec City, Quebec, Canada. It was held on September 10 as the penultimate event in the 2010 UCI ProTour...
- 3rd Overall Giro di SardegnaGiro di SardegnaGiro di Sardegna is a stage road bicycle race held on the island of Sardinia, an Italian region. The race returned in 2009 after 11 years. It is now rated 2.1 and is part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
2011
- 1st Overall Tour du Haut VarTour du Haut VarThe Tour du Haut Var is an early-season two-day road bicycle race in the Provence region of France. From 2005 to 2008, it was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2009, the race was changed to a two-day 2.1 event.-Palmarès:...
- 1st
Overall Four Days of DunkirkFour Days of DunkirkThe Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe... - 1st Stage 4 Four Days of DunkirkFour Days of DunkirkThe Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
- 1st Stage 1 Tour MéditerranéenTour MéditerranéenTour Méditerranéen is a professional road bicycle racing event held in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tour Méditerranéen is a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event...
- 1st Stage 4 Paris-Nice2011 Paris–NiceThe 2011 Paris–Nice was the 69th running of the Paris–Nice cycling stage race, often known as the Race to the Sun. It started on 6 March in Houdan and ended on 13 March in Nice and consisted of eight stages, including a time trial...
- 1st Stage 8 Paris-Nice2011 Paris–NiceThe 2011 Paris–Nice was the 69th running of the Paris–Nice cycling stage race, often known as the Race to the Sun. It started on 6 March in Houdan and ended on 13 March in Nice and consisted of eight stages, including a time trial...
- 1st Cholet-Pays de LoireCholet-Pays de LoireGrand Prix Cholet-Pays de la Loire is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in March in Cholet, France. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- 1st Stage 2 Giro del TrentinoGiro del TrentinoThe Giro del Trentino is an Italian cycle road race. It is run typically mid-to-late April over four stages in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy....
- 4th Overall Tour de France2011 Tour de France-Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in...
- Held Maillot jaune from Stage 10–19
- Held Maillot jaune