Thomas Voeckler to climb the podium at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2012
Thomas Voeckler of Team Europcar is targeting the Liege-Bastogne-Liege as the next big goal of his new season.
The cyclist is enjoying a terrific season with his recent victory at the Brabantse Pijl and an eighth place finish at the Tour of Flanders 2012.
Voeckler yet again proved his strength as a classics specialist during the Amstel Gold Race. He was terrific during the 260.4 kilometre race and occupied an impressive 5th overall position.
Enrico Gasparotto of Team Astana finished first with a superb overall time of 6 hours, 32 minutes and 35 seconds.
Jelle Vanendert of Team Lotto Belisol, Peter Sagan of Team Liquigas-Cannondale and Oscar Freire Gomez of Team Katusha finished at the second, third and fourth positions.
He told L’Equipe, "I'm not overjoyed but I'm satisfied with my race, I was a little effected by Cunego's crash on the Cauberg. I didn't lose a lot of speed as I was able to pass him on the right, but I lost the slipstream of the first riders".
Voeckler is happy with his fifth place finish at the first Classic race of the season and is positive to build up on his current form for the later part of the season.
"To stand a chance, we should have been more than two, though. And then, with the headwind and thinking of the difficult finish, I didn't want to give everything. I held myself back, I raced a little against my nature".
The French started his professional pursuit with Team Europcar in 2001 and is continuing his ninth consecutive season with the side.
He has helped the team with numerous victories over the past years and is determined to pick up his second victory of the 2012 season at the Belgian event.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the 13th World Tour race of the season, scheduled on April 22, and Voeckler is eyeing the top podium spot at the race.
Winner of the race will be awarded with a 100 UCI points while the second and the third position holders will receive 80 and 60 points respectively.
The race started back in 1892 with Leon Houa as its first winner of the race. Eddy Merckx holds the honour of winning it for a maximum number of five times.
Philippe Gilbert succeeded during the most recent version of the race and the Belgian is determined make it his second consecutive victory at the race.
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