Cycling Profile: Thomas Lofkvist
Thomas Lofkvist is a Swedish professional road bicycle race that currently rides for UCI ProTour Team Sky. He is the youngest Swedish cyclists who started his career in FDJeux.com at the age of 19. He is the best time trial cyclists but now he has improved
his climbing abilities and won the Monte Paschi Eroica in 2009.
An amateur, Lofkvist was the European bike Champion and he took his first victory in 2003 after securing the time trial and overall standing of Circuit des Ardennes. Thomas also grabbed sixth place and wore the leader’s jersey in Tour de l’Avenir.
He turned professional in 2004 and won the Sweden National Time Trial Championship and he took part in Circuit de la Sarthe as he covered the 150 kilometres alone and showed his brilliant skills to take the fourth stage and finally wrapped up the overall
standing to wear yellow jersey. In Tour de’l’Avenir he took the tenth stage and secured the runner-up spot with the same timing of winner Sylvain Calzati.
In 2005 he grabbed 12th spot in Paris-Nice and made his debut in Tour de France at the age of 21. He also took the overall fourth spot in Tour de Pologne and secured overall fifth place in Tour Mediterraneen. In 2006, Thomas became the first Swedish
cyclists to win the Sweden National Road Race Championships and once again he was the youngest cyclists in Tour de France.
After winning the third Time Trial stage, the Swede grabbed second spot in Criterium International 2007 and also competed in Tour de France. He continued his efforts and finished second in the 14th stage of Vuelta a Espana. Thomas finished second
in Grand Tour like Vuelta a Espana and Tour de France at the age of 23 and fourth of his career.
In the 2008 season Thomas joined the T-Mobile team, currently known as HTC-Highroad. He took the runner-up spot in Deutschland Tour and also took points standing and Best Young Rider Title. He also grabbed overall third place in Tirreno-Adriatico and finished
fifth in Tour de Suisse ahead of Kim Kirchen. Thomas took the white jersey from Romain Feillu in the Tour de France and secured overall 41st spot. In this season, he also took third place in Cantons d’Argovie and fifth spot in Coppa Bernocchi.
On September 10, 2009 he took a part in Sky team and showed a good effort as he took first place in Monte Paschi Eroica. Thomas also took the fifth stage of Sachsen Tour and secured overall fifth place in Tour of California. Lofkvist also managed to take
overall fourth place in Tirreno-Adriatico. In the first attempt he took part in Giro d’ltalia and won the first time trial stage and secured overall 25th spot.
In 2010, Thomas managed to take the second spot in Strade Bianche and secured overall sixth place in Tour du Limousin. He also took overall 17th place with a difference of 20 minutes and 46 seconds behind Alberto Contador in Tour de France.
In the 2011, Lofkvist increased his performance and took part in Vuelta a Andalucia as he was able to grab sixth spot ahead of the other cyclists. He also finished tenth in Tirreno-Adriatico and if he continues to put in good performances, then there is
a possibility that he can win the Tour du Limousin next year.
Thomas is a brilliant rider with tremendous skills. He has proven himself over the past few years with some amazing victories to his name. He has a great future ahead of him and as he may well be on the way to becoming one of the highest rated cyclists for
the future.
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