Voigt started 17 straight Tours de France, finished 14 of them, and won two stages along the way. He also won Criterium International five times.
Though his most famous race wins are years behind him, and his role was usually that of supporter not team leader, Jens Voigt has remained one of the most popular riders in the professional peloton, especially on U.S. soil where he's gained a cult following among cycling fans for his always-on-the-attack racing style. But the affable German, who coined the now famous phrase Shut Up Legs, has finally decided to call it a career. This week's USA Pro Challenge stage race in Colorado will be the last time the Trek Factory Racing rider pins on a number as a professional.
To commemorate the occasion, Trek outfitted Voigt with a custom bike, helmet, shoes and kit, as well as throwing several retirement parties and events that are part of the Farewell Jens Tour. We got an up close look at Voigt's custom chrome-colored Trek Madone race bike ahead of stage 3 from Gunnison to Monarch Mountain. Voigt didn't factor in the final outcome there, but a day later he attacked solo off the front and nearly pulled off a miraculous win in Colorado Springs. Alas, Voigt was caught inside the final kilometer, and had to settle for the most combative prize instead. Here's a look at the custom bike.
This custom Trek Madone took Trek's Project One team more than a week to complete.
It may look like real chrome, but it's just paint atop Trek's top-end composite frame material.
The brakeless seatstays have a colored timeline graphic that corresponds with some - but certainly not all - of Voigt's career highlights.
On the underside of the downtube is a list of all the teams Voigt rode for during a pro career that started way back in 1994. He's been onboard with Trek since 2011.
The bike is spec'd with a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting groupset, which includes this direct-mount front brake.
Colorful accents for one of the sport's most colorful characters.
The wolf sticker is a nod to Voigt's leader-of-the-pack persona.
Even the stem gets the chrome treatment.
Voigt's SRM power meter head unit is painted to match and bears the theme of the week, One Last Time for Jens.
The 53-39 Dura-Ace chainring matched nicely with the rest of the bike.
Voigt's two pet phrases, and the key mileage numbers for that day's stage.
Continue to Page 2 for more on Jens' Trek and full photo gallery »
The Souls Crushed Counter - a lot and counting.
The chainstay also bears the farewell tour mantra.
The Trek Madone comes stock with a chain catcher just in case.
On this day, Voigt's bike was outfitted with one of the new Shimano action cameras so we could see the expression on other rider's faces when the German started turning the screws.
Voigt's bike spins on a set of Bontrager Aeolous 5 composite wheels wrapped with Schwalbe One tubular tires.
Lucky number 21 for Voigt in his last race as a pro. Rumor has it he'll be doing color commentary for the Eurosport TV network in 2015.
In order to enhance aerodynamics, the rear brake is located under the chainstays, out of the wind.
Use the hash tag #FAREWELLJENS on Twitter and Facebook to say goodbye to the German strongman.
The timeline includes references to his children and teams raced for.
Trek sewed up a special kit for the special occasion.
Voigt's Bontrager Velocis helmet is painted to match.
Same goes for his Bontrager XXX shoes.
A one of a kind bike for a one of a kind rider. Farewell Jens. We'll definitely miss you.
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