Voigt fights for third in Tour stage

Popular German veteran Jens Voigt produced a typically gutsy display to almost steal an unlikely Tour de France stage win on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old RadioShack-Nissan cyclist produced an ironman performance to finish third in stage 10 behind French winner Thomas Voeckler.

Dropped on the fiendish 17km climb of the Col du Grand Colombier with about 50km left, Voigt looked out of the picture.

But the veteran, who has the outlook on life of a wide-eyed kid awaiting the next big adventure, just never gives up.

Voigt once said in a documentary that when he is suffering on the bike, he tells himself “shut up legs”.

The quote soon appeared on T-shirts.

Voigt used that fearless attitude to gradually peg back the four leaders and with 10km left, he was suddenly back among them.

Voeckler sprinted clear for the solo win, but Voigt also added to his lofty reputation.

“I realised, okay, it’s got to be major, what Stuey (O’Grady) would say, a ‘ball biter’,” Voigt told Fox Sports.

“Just go all-in, full-gas, make it or break it.

“It was just a little too hard for me in the end, I was missing a bit of freshness, but I’m pretty happy for the day.”

Voigt said he would listen to his legs and have an “official” day off in the tough 12th stage through the Alps – perhaps.

“I will listen to my poor, tired body,” he said.

“Well, let’s say I will be less aggressive.”