French rider Thomas Voeckler has decided to retire after the next Tour de France which will start in Dusseldorf, Germany. The Direct Energie leader has confirmed his choice on social networks.

"Barring anything unforeseen, the end point of my sporting career will be the Champs-Elysées in 2017. No regrets, but not without emotion…thank you all", he tweeted. 

In Thursday's L'Equipe, he explained his choice to leave the peloton after 17 years at the top level. "It was a tough decision to make – I was losing sleep over it. And then, one day, it appeared to me so clearly. I said to myself, ‘you’ll do one last Tour and then you’ll stop’."

Since his start in the pro peloton, he has raced for general manager Jean-René Bernaudeau. He rveelaed that he was close to joining Quick-Step in 2004 and Cofidis in 2011.

His breakthrough came at the 2004 Tour de France. After escaping during the 5th stage, Voeckler gained significant time and earned the yellow jersey. Remarkably, he defended his jersey for ten days, even on stages suited to his strengths. 

He won four Tour de France stages and the King of the Mountains classification (2012). He won also La Route du Sud twice and Tour du Haut-Var.