Q&A : Thomas Voeckler

The French fans’ favourite on his last ever appearance in the Tour de France, his old Miguel Indurain poster and the glorious art of the attack.

- Mark Bailey

Cyclist: How emotional do you feel about your final appearance in the Tour de France this summer?

Thomas Voeckler: In my last year as a pro each race I take part in feels a little bit different because I know it’s the last time I put that number on my jersey. But once we start I have to forget about this because I want to keep concentrating on the race and I cannot think about the fact that it’s the last time I’ll race it. But it is emotional and it feels different, for sure.

Cyc: What’s your favourite memory from the 14 Tours you’ve ridden?

TV: There are too many different moments to say there is one that I remember more than another. I wore the yellow jersey for 10 days in 2004 and I wore yellow again for 10 days in 2011. Then I won a different jersey [King of the Mountains] and won two stages in 2012. I also remember my first stage win in 2009. I had a different kind of feeling after all of them. But if I had to keep only one memory I would say maybe the 2004 stage to Plateau de Beille [when Voeckler defended the yellow jersey through the Pyrenees]. But it is very close with the others.

Cyc: You’re known for your attacks on climbs and breakaways. Did you choose your riding style or did it choose you?

TV: As a cyclist you have to find a way to exist and to perform, and my way is – and always was – to get in front of the race on the climbs or in breakaways on flat stages. It’s not so easy because the teams with sprinters control the race on the flat but in the mountains or in the breakaways it is possible. Whether you wait and attack in the last 20km or get in the breakaway in the first 20km you have to get the right feeling and analyse the moment. It’s difficult but it makes cycling interesting.