Cycling Profile: Thomas Voeckler
Thomas Voeckler is the French professional road racing cyclists and currently, rider for the Europcar cycling team. He was born in June 22, 1979 in Schiltigheim. He turned to professional life in 2001. He also recalled as le Chou-Chou (Sweetheart) because
of his young looks and he also ride with his style like sticking out his tongue in races.
In the season of 2003, Voeckler secured two stages and also grabbed overall leader’s jersey in Tour de Luxembourg. After seizing the French Championship, he took a part in Tour de France. He showed his good effort in the fifth stage after escape with other
five riders and he managed to build a lead of few seconds over the peloton and grabbed overall standing.
Voeckler able to hold his jersey for ten days due to this all the media attention all around him and Voeckler proved to be fastest from the other cyclists. He again showed his good effort Pyrenean climbs and managed to run away from the eventual winner Lance
Armstrong. Finally, in 15 stage he failed to retained the lead and grabbed runner-up spot. Thomas also lost the white jersey but on the other hand he was already national hero.
In the 2005 season, he only won the third stage of Four Days of Dunkirk. The 2006 season his good for the Thomas. He showed his good performance and won the fifth stage of Vuelta al Pais Vasco and he also secured runner-up spot in the first stage of Criterium
du Dauphine Libere. He also took the Paris-Bourges and overall Route du Sud.
In 2007 season, Thomas garnered a stunning victory in Grand Prix Plouay Ouest-France after beating the breakaway cyclists. He also took a part in the Paris-Nice race but failed to take a lead but secured overall Mountain standing title. He also grabbed the
yellow jersey in Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne.
In the early season of 2008 he took the overall lead in Circuit de la Sarthe. He also wrapped up the overall yellow jersey in Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan.
The 2009 season is good for Thomas because his took his first stage victory in Tour de France. He continues his good effort and managed to take the overall lead in Etoile de Besseges and he also took the second stage and overall standing in Tour du Haut
Var.
After slow start in 2010, Thomas able to break-away from the bunch and managed to gain a lead in French national road championship. After several unsuccessful attacks Thomas tried his best and finally he grabbed fifteen stage of Tour de France. The French
cyclists also took the first place in Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec.
In 2011, Thomas took several victories in this year, including the Tour de France, two stages (4, 8) of Paris-Nice, Four days of Dunkrik and Tour du Haut Var.
He also took the first stage of Tour Mediterraneen and second stage of Giro del Trentino.
In ninth stage of Tour de France, Thomas also faced a problem due to a crash because media support car injured two cyclists and Thomas crossed the finish line in second spot, taking yellow jersey. He wrapped up the leader’s jersey from the beginning of the
ten stages onwards.
There was a good chance that Thomas would win the overall standing in the final stage but he failed to retain his jersey and grabbed fourth place with 3 minutes and 40 seconds down to stage winner Cadel Evans.
If Thomas continues his good effort in the stages then there is possibility that he can win the next year Tour de France overall victory.
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