Thomas Voeckler fit for the Tour de France 2012
Team Europcar named its final squad for the most prestigious cycling race of the season, the Tour de France 2012.
The French team has been invited to the Tour through a wild card entry and is determined to make its mark under the leadership of Thomas Voeckler.
The cyclist abandoned his last two races, the Criterium du Dauphine and the Route du Sud because of a knee injury.
He was hopeful to make it through to mark his tenth appearance at the Tour de France and is delighted to find his name at the final team’s roster.
Voeckler told Ouest France, "I am hopeful for the Tour, I have an inflammation of the iliotibial tract, that is to say, the outside of the knee. I have to take a week off without cycling".
The injury forced him out of the French National Road Championships, which he won in 2004 and 2010.
Team Sports Director, Andy Flicklinger gave the insight of Voeckler’s injury, "Thomas's injury is not a concern. He noticed there was a slight twinge in his right knee during the stage to Morzine and he simply didn't want to take any risks".
He finished third during the most recent edition of the event behind Anthony Roux and Sylvain Chavanel.
"This is detrimental to the preparation for the Tour and that is disappointing, but I will be fresh, without being in top form because I have only three days of cycling in the legs before departure," Voeckler noted.
The 33-year-old is enjoying a good form with two first place finishes in his bag including the Brabantse Pijl and a stage 3 win at the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
He finished fourth during the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, fifth at the Amstel Gold Race, Four Days of Dunkirk and occupied the eighth position during the Tour of Flanders.
Voeckler rode brilliantly during the past edition of the Tour de France and occupied the fourth overall position after the final general classifications.
He held the yellow jersey for the ten consecutive stages of the three-week race, from stage 10-19 and is optimistic to continue his tremendous form at the 2012 edition of the French Grand Tour.
Final team squad for the coming race of the season, Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra), Anthony Charteau (Fra), Sébastien Chavanel (Fra), Damien Gaudin (Fra), Cyril Gautier (Fra), Vincent Jerome (Fra), Christophe Kern (Fra), Pierre Rolland (Fra) and Thomas Voeckler
(Fra).
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