Voeckler to miss French Champs
Thomas Voeckler will miss the French cycling championships next weekend because of a swollen right knee, his Europcar team announced on Monday.
Voeckler has been told to rest his troublesome knee for eight days, but the soon-to-be 33-year-old said he was confident he would be fit in time for the Tour de France, which starts on June 30.
The two-time former France champion (2004, 2010), who finished third last year, said: "I'm hopeful for the Tour. I've got a week's rest, without any cycling.
"It goes against preparations for the Tour, but I'll be fresh without being on top form because I would only have three days of cycling in my legs before the start.
"I'm also keeping things in perspective, seeing as I've been largely spared injuries in my career."
Voeckler pulled out of the Route du Sud on Saturday, having last week also withdrawn from the Criterium du Dauphine because of pain in his knee.
The Europcar leader wore the race leader's yellow jersey in last year's Tour de France for 10 days but eventually slipped to take fourth place in the overall standings.
