Tristan Redman

France's new obsession

DSK is old news. France has a new obsession: Voeckler-mania.

Frenchman Thomas Voeckler is wearing the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey just a few days from the finish line in Paris. And the French are dreaming that maybe - just maybe - he could win the whole thing on Sunday July 24.

He'd be the first French champion for 26 years and, in this cycling-mad country, that's a big deal. Think tens of thousands under the Arc de Triomphe. Think a Legion d'Honneur medal at the Elysée Palace.

Voeckler, or Monsieur Panache, as he's known, may have all this ahead of him. But two gruelling Alpine Stages and a punishing time trial stand between him and victory on the Champs Elysées.

Does he really stand a chance of winning it? Probably not. 

So why do the French care so much? Because it's good to dream, and Voeckler is what they love.