In a twist of the past, Thomas Voeckler, once donning the coveted yellow jersey of the Tour, now receives accolades from the relentless jury of the prestigious Tour de France. The former French cyclist, currently navigating behind the scenes as a commentator for France Télévisions, was on standby on a motorcycle, accompanying the queen stage.
During an ascent of the Col de la Loze, fate played a trick on him when his motorcycle inadvertently crossed the path of the wearer of the yellow jersey, Jonas Vingegaard, and other fearless cyclists. Voeckler’s legacy was no longer on the bicycle, but his presence on the motorcycle would be remembered in a less glorious manner.
As a consequence of this unusual intertwining of destinies, Voeckler became the target of the jury’s wrath, receiving a one-stage suspension and a fine of 500 Swiss francs. This decision by the relentless jury did not happen in isolation; it followed a previous incident where two other motorcycles were penalized for interfering with cyclist Tadej Pogačar’s sprint on the slopes of the Col de Joux. Such motorcycles were prohibited from tracing their trajectory the next day.
In the peculiar case of Voeckler, his strategic stop just below the summit of the Col de la Loze, on a steep incline, resulted in congestion due to the enthusiastic crowd on the mountain. The obstruction caused a cascade of effects, affecting not only Vingegaard but also other notable cyclists such as Wilco Kelderman and even Thibaut Pinot. A situation that, without mercy, led to Voeckler’s suspension and the severe sanctions dictated by the itinerant court of the Tour de France.
Don’t miss the video that captures the entire situation: