Thomas Voeckler (born 22 June 1979) is a French professional  road racing cyclist. He rides for the Europcar cycling team.

Voeckler has been called a "national hero," because he has done well in the Tour de France. His nickname is le Chouchou which means Sweetheart.

Career

Voeckler has been a professional cyclist since 2001. He entered the 2004 Tour de France and earned the yellow jersey (maillot jaune) on Stage 5. He wore the jersey for ten days, which made him famous.

In 2006 he won the fifth stage in 2006 Vuelta al País Vasco. He also won the 2006 Paris–Bourges race.

In 2009, he won his first stage in a Tour de France. Voeckler went for victory on stage 15 with about 5 km to go.

In the 2010 Tour de France he won Stage 15. 

In the ninth stage of the 2011 Tour de France, Voeckler crossed the line second, taking the overall lead and therefore wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey). He kept the yellow jersey for 9 stages, but lost it on Stage 19. Voeckler finished the Tour in fourth place 3min 20sec behind the winner, Cadel Evans. This is his best career placement in the Tour so far. It was the best finish of any Frenchman in the Tour since Christophe Moreau came fourth in 2000.

In 2012, Thomas Voeckler earned more victories and top placements, including in the Spring Classics.

At the 2012 Tour de France, he was suffering from a knee injury and almost abandoned the race. However he won Stage 10, the first mountain stage of the race. He also won Stage 16 with four huge climbs including the Col du Tourmalet. On this stage he grabbed the polka dot jersey for best climber. He kept the jersey from the Pyrenees to the finish.

In the Ardennes Classic in 2013 Voeckler crashed and broke his collarbone. By June he recovered and won stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné. Voeckler continued his winning form by winning the overall titles of the Route du Sud and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.

Other
Voeckler is known for displaying many different facial expressions while racing, especially when trying very hard. He often sticks out his tongue. In August 2011, Voeckler raced on his bike against a horse in an exhibition contest, and lost.

Palmarès

2003
 1st  Overall Tour de Luxembourg
1st Stages 1 & 3
 1st Classic Loire Atlantique
 1st Stage 8 Tour de l'Avenir
 2nd Tour de la Somme
 3rd Grand Prix de Denain
2004
 1st  National Road Race Championships
 1st A travers le Morbihan
 1st Stage 4 Route du Sud
 2nd Clasica de Almeria
 18th Overall Tour de France
Held Maillot jaune  from Stage 5–14
Held Maillot blanc  from Stage 5–18
2005
 1st Stage 3 Four Days of Dunkirk
 Held  Mountains classification for Stage 2 Tour de France
2006
 1st Paris–Bourges
 1st Stage 5 Vuelta al País Vasco
 1st  Overall Route du Sud
1st Stage 1
 3rd Overall Étoile de Bessèges
2007
 1st  Mountains classification Paris–Nice
 1st  Overall Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne
 1st Grand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France
2008
 1st  Overall Circuit de la Sarthe
 1st  Overall Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan
 Held  Mountains classification from Stages 1–5 Tour de France
2009
 1st Stage 5 Tour de France
 1st  Overall Étoile de Bessèges
 1st  Overall Tour du Haut Var
1st Stage 2
 1st Trophée des Grimpeurs
 2nd Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise
 3rd Tour de Vendée
2010
 1st  National Road Race Championships
 1st Stage 15 Tour de France
 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
 3rd Overall Giro di Sardegna
2011
 1st  Overall Tour du Haut Var
 1st  Overall Four Days of Dunkirk
1st Stage 4
 1st Stage 1 Tour Méditerranéen
 1st Stages 4 & 8 Paris-Nice
 1st Cholet-Pays de Loire
 1st Stage 2 Giro del Trentino
 3rd GP Ouest-France
 4th Overall Tour de France
Held Maillot jaune  from Stage 10–19
2012
1st Brabantse Pijl
Tour de France
1st  Mountains classification
1st Stages 10 & Stage 16
1st Stage 3 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
4th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
5th Overall Four Days of Dunkirk
5th Amstel Gold Race
7th World Road Race Championships
8th Tour of Flanders
2013
1st  Overall Route du Sud
1st Stage 3
1st  Overall Tour du Poitou-Charentes
1st Stage 4 (ITT)
1st Stage 6 Critérium du Dauphiné
2nd Tour du Doubs
2nd Grand Prix de Wallonie
5th Dwars door Vlaanderen
8th Milano–Torino
 Combativity award Stage 4 Tour de France

References

Other websites

Team Europcar profile
Thomas Voeckler's profile on Cycling Base 

1979 births
Living people