Thomas Voeckler: Inside the world of pro cycling’s mountain battles
As the Tour de Yorkshire continues this weekend, the defending race champion and former Tour de France King of the Mountains winner Thomas Voeckler tells Telegraph Men about the pain endurance, smart tactics and covert mind games of cycling’s mountain duels
The mountains are my friends
Mountains are good for a racer like me – a pretty good sprinter, not so good at time trials but with not much weight (Voeckler is 5ft 9in tall and weighs 66kg). Every rider has to find their place in the peloton. When you get to the mountains, if you have good legs and a great mentality, this is the place where you can fight and make your different moves.
I have won the polka dot (King of the Mountains) jersey in the Tour de France (in 2012) and I have been on lots of attacks and breakaways in the mountains but I have never said to myself: ‘Ah, the mountains are magical! I would like to be in the front of the race in this kind of stage!’ It is just the place where I knew I could make a difference.
Racing in the mountains is a psychological battle
When you look around as you are riding, you try to see different little signs of suffering in other riders so you know when to attack. With body language, maybe I am not a good example because when I am suffering on the bike you really can see I am suffering! But sometimes you see riders drop their head or they have different body language. You learn about each rider during the other stages and then try to see the little differences as the race changes each day.
Be careful not to lose the mind games
In the peloton you have some guys at the front who try not to show if they are in good shape or if they have good legs. It is a game. They have all their data and know how they are riding so you have to concentrate in case they go on the attack without you expecting it.
Mountain stages are quiet
When you are fighting in the mountains you don’t really talk to the other riders. You cannot talk a lot to each other because it is not like a flat stage where you have time to ride along at 30kph, discuss tactics and maybe exchange a word or two during the race. In the mountains your focus is completely on your physical effort.
Tick off one climb at a time
On a long day I will often say there are four or five different races in one day so you look at each of the mountains like a different finish line. It is sometimes best not to think about what is ahead, just stay relaxed and concentrate on what is next.
The fans really do help you fight the pain on tough climbs
When you are suffering in the mountains, thanks to the atmosphere of the fans you are able to go a little bit further in suffering. For example, when I came to the Tour de Yorkshire for the first time I was really impressed by how the people were screaming and shouting my name on the road. I will never forget how it felt to win the race last year. I felt like I was at home in France. It really made me feel as if I was at a race in my own country.
Take your chances when they come
On the morning of a race you always have a plan for when you will attack on the climbs but 90pc of the time it changes during the day. You are obliged to have a plan but it is a sport in which you cannot say it will happen like this or not. You just don’t know. When you see the road book and you can see a really high first category climb in the last 20km you can say: ‘I am a good climber, I will go well.’ But maybe you have to change your plan.
Don’t expect a rest on the descents
Sometimes when you get to the top of the mountain you think maybe you can relax but you have to focus on the downhill too. You quickly have to think about the road that you have to take. Maybe you have to go hard in the downhill and go on the attack.
Try to save your energy
If you want to go far, go slow. When you are racing in the mountains, go slow at the beginning and you will be better later in the day. Know that it is not normally the distance which is difficult; it is the pace which you give to your effort. So take your time and go slow at the beginning.
Always keep a souvenir to remember
I am retiring this year but I still keep one of the polka dot jerseys I won at the Tour de France in 2012 at my home. As a professional rider, when you win a jersey, whatever kind you have, you always have to give one of them to a partner or sponsor. But I always managed to keep one of each shirt I have won. For the memories.
Thomas Voeckler was speaking at Richmond Hill Primary School, a Yorkshire Bank Bike Library in Leeds. For more information visit www.ybonline.co.uk/bikelibraries
