Thomas Voeckler Photo Gallery
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Thomas Voeckler having a great day in stage 18 of the 2011 Tour de France
To this writer, easily the most exciting rider of the first two decades of the 2000s was Frenchman Thomas Voeckler.
Voeckler took wild chances, going on long, seemingly hopeless breaks. He would descend dangerous mountain roads at incredible speeds without fear. All this while making terrible faces, often with his tongue stuck out. His competitors ignored him at their risk.
He proved his ability and daring in the 2004 Tour de France. Participating in a successful break (while wearing the French champion's jersey) in the fifth stage gave him the yellow jersey. He kept it for ten stages, finally surrendering it to Lance Armstrong after a hard day in the Alps.
Voeckler kept on winning. In 2007 he sneaked away in the GP Ouest-France, coming in alone, two seconds ahead of Thor Hushovd.
2011 was his best year. After a terrific spring campaign, he took the yellow jersey in the ninth stage of the Tour de France. He didn't surrender it until stage 19's Alpe d'Huez mountaintop finish.
Though he was in late thirties, long after most racers have retired, in 2016 he won two big stage races: The Tour of Yorkshire & the Tour La Provence.
The 2017 Tour de France was his final race.
Major victories:
2003: Tour de Luxembourg (winning two stages along the way), Classic Loire Atlantique
2004: Champion of France. GP Plumelec-Morbihan; Yellow (stages 5-14) and White Jersey (stages 5-18) of Tour de France
2006: Route du Sud, Paris-Bourges
2007: Tour du Poitou-Charentes, GP Ouest-France, KOM Paris-Nice
2008: Circuit de la Sarthe, GP Plumelec-Morbihan
2009: Tour du Haut Var, Etoile de Bessèges, Trophee des Grimpeurs, TDF stage 5
2010: Champion of France, TDF stage 15, GP Cycliste de Québec
2011: Tour du Haut Var, 4 Days of Dunkirk, Cholet-Pays de Loire, Tour de France GC 4th plan (yellow jersey stages 9-18)
2012: Brabantse Pijl; Tour de France KOM
2013: Route du Sud, Tour du Poitou-Charentes
2016: Tour la Provence, Tour of Yorkshire
Professional Teams:
2000-2002: Bonjour
2003-2004: Brioches La Boulangère
2005-2008: Bouygues Telecom
2009-2010: BBox Bouygues Telecom
2011-2015: Europcar
2016-2017: Direct Energie
Nicknames: Ti-Blanc, Francis
Thomas Voeckler riding the 2005 Paris-Roubaix
Thomas Voeckler wins stage nine of the 2005 Tour de France.
Voeckler finishing stage seven of the 2010 Tour
Voeckler (right) on a break in stage 15 of the 2010 Tour de France
It's early in the 2011 season as Voeckler takes the lead in the first stage of the Mediterranean Tour.
Part of the unusual team presentation ceremony of the 2011 Tour de France. Voeckler waves from his chariot.
Voeckler and Vanendert going deep in stage six of the 2011 Tour.
Voeckler in yellow with teammate Pierre Rolland in stage twelve of the 2011 Tour.
Still in yellow on a yellow bike in stage 14 of the 2011 Tour.
Stage 19, his last day in yellow in 2011.
Checking out the route of the 2012 Tour of Flanders
And actually racing the 2012 Tour of Flanders
Racing the 2012 Amstel Gold race with Peter Sagan
Voeckler climbing in stage 6 of the 2012 Dauphiné.
Thomas Voeckler is the King of the Mountains after stage 10 of the 2012 Tour de France. That's Bernard Hinault behind him.
Thomas Voeckler descending in 2012 Tour stage 16.
2012 Tour de France stage 20: Dotted bike, jersey, shorts and helmet.
Voeckler riding for France in the 2012 Mens' World Championship Road Race
Voeckler in stage 3 of the 2013 Besseges stage race.
Voeckler descending in stage two of the 2013 Dauphiné
Voeckler descending in stage 16 of the 2013 Tour de France.
Voeckler riding for France in the 2013 World Championships.
Thomas Voeckler on the attack at the 2014 Amstel Gold Race.
Voeckler headed to the start of stage one of the 2014 Tour de France.
Voeckler on the attack in stage two of the 2015 Besseges Tour.
Voeckler has a perfectly flat back while time trialing in stage one of the 2015 Tour de France.
It's a hot day in the mountains. Thomas Voeckler climbs in stage eleven of the 2015 Tour.
2016 Tour of Yorkshire. Thomas Voeckler wins stage three.
In his last Tour. Voeckler heads to the start of 2017 Tour de France stage seven.
Final meters of a long career. Voeckler rides stage 21 of the 2017 Tour de France.