Voeckler: nine out of ten riders don't like me...

[bassplayer88]

Just read this article and was very suprised to hear of Voeckler's experiences.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voeckler-nine-out-of-ten-riders-dont-like-me

Since his epic TDF this year with his unique climbing style (monkey climbing a stick) I have been a bit of a fan.


Just wondering what the rest of the forum thought with your wealth of knowledge and opinion?

 

[roundabout]

wah, wah, wah, they hate me because I attack.

yeah, sure, that's the reason...

 

[bassplayer88]

wah, wah, wah, they hate me because I attack.

yeah, sure, that's the reason...

so what do you think the reason is then? (please excuse lack of knowledge)

 

[DominicDecoco]

There's a interview with him in the latest CSM where he comes out as a bit of an arrogant tit tbh.

 

[Kvinto]

ohh, what a heart-rending story, no one likes Titi...

OK, i don't like him too

 

[bassplayer88]

There's a interview with him in the latest CSM where he comes out as a bit of an arrogant tit tbh.

Fair enough. Ive always thought he came across pretty well in interviews (down to earth) but come to think of it ive only ever seen one: During his miracle spell in yellow during tdf 2011..

 

[bassplayer88]

Would love some solid reasons for why he is disliked. I thought the forum would generally be behind the guy, he does tend to make races exciting, is that not what people like on here?

 

[barmaher]

I think he plays to the cameras, he has very little tactical nous and he comes across as trying too hard to be a "normal guy taking on the hotshots of world cycling".

But I like watching him cycle. He was one of the few interesting stories in the Pyrennees in TdF 2011.

 

[Nick C.]

Some of the anecdotes he relates are flat out wierd, Boonen slapping him on the back, Cipo dictating the attack zones in the Giro.

 

[cineteq]

Since his epic TDF this year with his unique climbing style (monkey climbing a stick) I have been a bit of a fan.

Johnny Hoogerland is one of those 9/10 riders.

 

[theyoungest]

Would love some solid reasons for why he is disliked. I thought the forum would generally be behind the guy, he does tend to make races exciting, is that not what people like on here?

He's cool to watch because he attacks a lot, but once he gets into an attack he's not very useful for his co-escapees... sitting on and pretending he's exhausted, and then jumping away when the breakaway is almost caught. His wins are always because he's the smartest, not the strongest. Add to that his endless lust for the camera, I can imagine he gets on his colleagues' nerves.

 

[roundabout]

so what do you think the reason is then? (please excuse lack of knowledge)

Because he hogs the camers with his stupid grimaces and acts to skip turns in breaks.

But of course when he attacks at the end or heaven forbid wins a stage people think of him as an aggressive attacking rider winning against the odds.

 

[bassplayer88]

Johnny Hoogerland is one of those 9/10 riders.

Ahh I see your point, in the unwritten gentlemans guide to the peloton one is meant to wait for riders mowed down by TV cars in any given break. Its been a standard since 1904 I believe....

 

[bassplayer88]

He's cool to watch because he attacks a lot, but once he gets into an attack he's not very useful for his co-escapees... sitting on and pretending he's exhausted, and then jumping away when the breakaway is almost caught. His wins are always because he's the smartest, not the strongest. Add to that his endless lust for the camera, I can imagine he gets on his colleagues' nerves.

Well exaplained, thanks

 

[shalgo]

I used to find Voeckler incredibly annoying. He got way too much attention for hanging on to the Yellow in 2004, and had no real results to justify that attention. He made faces for the camera all the time. He seemed to place himself at the head of the peloton just to get camera time. He made pointless attacks that always failed.

My opinion of him started to change in 2010, especially after his win on stage 15 at the Tour and his great win at the GP Quebec. Suddenly his "pointless" attacks were working. He seemed to have matured as a rider.

His 2011 Tour saga seemed bring back some of the unnecessary drama surrounding him, but he is nevertheless now an entertaining rider to watch.

 

[thehog]

Because he hogs the camers with his stupid grimaces and acts to skip turns in breaks.

But of course when he attacks at the end or heaven forbid wins a stage people think of him as an aggressive attacking rider winning against the odds.

I’m with you. I prefer races where there is no attacking.

 

[rickshaw]

Camera Hog....?

I always attributed his "camera face time" to being a big FRENCH rider in FRENCH races which are being shot by FRENCH camera men for FRENCH audiences. And what about his initials, TV?

too obvious?

I've also picked up the impression that T.V. is a soloist in a team sport. He rides for himself.(full stop) His solo face time is also why he gets paid what he does and has some job security.

I personally got tired of "the face" during his first 10 day stint in yellow.

 

[wirral]

Because he doesn't follow the script. Team leaders are not supposed to get into breakaways with 100km to go. He makes other teams work hard on flat stages on stage races when they wanted a nice easy day.

Reminds me of Robert Millar relating a story of Hinault telling him to stop attacking and Millar telling him he'll attack when he wants to. Millar was also not well liked.

 

[Christian]

Say what you will about his funny faces ... the guy single handedly saved an entire team (what's that like 60 jobs) so kudos for that

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Entertaining rider with limited talent. Give us 20-30 more of his type and racing would be a great deal more fun to watch.

 

[roundabout]

I’m with you. I prefer races where there is no attacking.

Right, because I wrote that I prefer races with no attacking.

 

[Angliru]

Because he hogs the camers with his stupid grimaces and acts to skip turns in breaks.

But of course when he attacks at the end or heaven forbid wins a stage people think of him as an aggressive attacking rider winning against the odds.

I thought I was the only one who thought he was playing to the cameras with his over-dramatized faces of suffering.

 

[El Pistolero]

Haha, good job Boonen.

 

[Angliru]

Say what you will about his funny faces ... the guy single handedly saved an entire team (what's that like 60 jobs) so kudos for that

Yes, he definitely deserves high marks for that. He could've gotten a higher salary had he signed elsewhere.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I can see why he'd be a "controversial" figure in the peloton, but I don't see why I, as a fan, should really be all that interested in the peloton's views. I want entertainment and Voeckler, precisely because of his showboating and annoying (to his colleagues) attacks, is entertaining. Plus, the previously mentioned stuff about him being primarily responsible for saving an endangered team.

Similarly, I doubt if Hoogerland is all that popular a guy to have in a break with you. You know he's going to pull some idiotic attack at a point where the break's interests are best served by continuing to work together. But he's entertaining to watch, so really, why would I care if the other riders are happy about his presence?