Jens Voigt borrows a child's size bike after crashing his own, Tour de France 2010

Today’s historic photo of the day is about one of the most iconic figures of cycling history – Jens Voigt. When he was riding for Saxo Bank team, he participated in the Tour de France 2010 edition as a domestique to his leaders, the Schleck brothers.

After completing his domestique duties on the mountainous stage 16, he crashed heavily on the descent of the Col de Peyresourde, and his bike became destroyed. After getting back up, he realized that all the team cars had passed and that he would not be handed a new bike. Desperate, he borrowed a bike much too small for him, from a children group’s car which was following the race. He rode on it for about 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) before reaching a policeman who had another bicycle which had been left for him by his team.

Jens Voigt borrows a child's size-bike at Tour de France — Jens Voigt borrows a child’s size-bike to finish stage 16 of the Tour de France 2010.

His teammate Andy Schleck finished the Tour in second place, but was later given the title since the original winner Alberto Contador tested positive to clenbuterol.

Voigt is now racing at the USA Pro Challenge, his farewell race. His team’s sponsors Trek and Bontrager gave him a bike, a new helmet, and a new pair of shoes – all are chrome-colored!

Jens Voigt and the Child’s Bike – cycling legend Jens Voigt tells the tale of when he used a kid’s bike for a portion of a Tour de France stage. Recorded on March 13, 2016, at the Trek bike shop on Charleston, SC.

Jens Voigt: I borrowed a child’s bike to drive down

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M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer, a former road racing cyclist (at the amateur level), and a science enthusiast. Also an animal lover! I write about cycling on this website, cycling-passion.com. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. Please consider supporting me on Patreon.

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