Thomas Voeckler

French athlete, a professional cyclist who has participated in several Tours de France. In 2011, he finished fourth. Professional since 2001, he rides with Team Europcar. In 2003 he captured the Tour Luxembourg title and a year later the French championship. The young-looking cyclist often sticks out his tongue while racing, earning the nickname of "Chou-Chou."

The son of a physician mother and a psychiatrist father, he and his family moved to Martinique when he was six years old. There, his schoolmates conferred on him the nickname of "Ti-Blanc" for his pale complexion. On the island he received his first bicycle from his parents just before his 13th birthday and he fell in love with racing. His father, who had gone to France to buy the bicycle, disappeared a few months later on a solo voyage across the Atlantic Ocean (Autumn, 1992). Thomas says that his father's spirit motivates him to do his best.