Thomas Voeckler

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 Pais 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 Criterium du Dauphine. 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.
Palmares
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 Pais Vasco
1st Overall Route du Sud
1st Stage 1
3rd Overall Etoile de Besseges
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 Etoile de Besseges
1st Overall Tour du Haut Var
1st Stage 2
1st Trophee des Grimpeurs
2nd Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise
3rd Tour de Vendee
2010
1st National Road Race Championships
1st Stage 15 Tour de France
1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec
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 Mediterraneen
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 Liege-Bastogne-Liege
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 Criterium du Dauphine
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