Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 16 – Graus to Sallent De Gállego
Hola! Stage 16 of La Vuelta was the last Pyrenean stage and most would be glad of that! However, the sun returned and shone on a beautiful mountain landscape cloaked in pine trees and green pasture. New star Warren Baguil led the way alongside Sky’s Rigoberto Uran both diving for the line together. The Frenchman won by a split second. Here are my drawings:
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 15 – Andorra to Peyragudes
Hola! Stage 15 of La Vuelta continued through Andorra and the Pyrenees to make a unique border crossing to Peyragudes in France to honour the Centenary Tour. The atrocious conditions of yesterday took its toll on many and there were 21 retirements including Luke Rowe, Phillipe Gilbert and Tony Martin, many suffering from the extreme cold. Today’s gruelling stage continued where yesterday’s left off,…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 14 – Baga to Collada de la Gallina
Hola! Stage 14 of La Vuelta arrived in Andorra to climb the Pyrenees. What a contrast to yesterday? The riders hit the mountains, the rain and the cold in one almighty blast. They battled slippery roads uphill but even more dangerously, the descents – whilst being desperate for warmth. Several riders retired with hypothermia, whilst others clung on to the wheels of their team-mates…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 13 – Valls to Castelldefels
Hola! Stage 13 of La Vuelta continued through the hills and coast roads in the province of Barcelona. A lovely, sunny and hot day with crosswinds from the sea, the riders took in good climbs and descents through the dramatic landscape in and around Sitges with another uphill finish at Castelldefels. The stage was won by French rider Warren Barguil. Checking behind him as…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 12 – Maella to Tarragona
Hola! Stage 12 of La Vuelta came from east to west into Catalunya, passing through the Costa Dorada town of Cambrils. Sunshine and flattish coastal roads made for a good stage. The sharp uphill finish saw Edvald Boasson Hagen make a bid for the win but he was overtaken in a burst for the line by Philippe Gilbert, the road-race world champion, taking his first stage win of…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 11 – Tarazona to Tarazona
Hola! Stage 11 of La Vuelta was the individual time trial. After a much-needed rest day, the teams flew north to the province of Zaragoza. The stage was based around the landscape and town of Tarazona, including the corrida and a third category climb. The mighty thighs of Fabian Cancellara powered him round the course at a pace that proved to be impossible to…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 10 – Torredelcampo to Güéjar Sierra
Hola! Stage 10 of La Vuelta surprisingly is the first official climbing stage of the race. What have the riders been up to the previous nine you might ask! The course looked hot and dry the only relief being through leafy streets in Granada. A huge crash at the start saw some drop out, but the main contenders battled the stage, with the remarkable…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 9 – Antequera to Valdepenas de Jaen
Hola! Stage 9 of La Vuelta took a turn inland taking a course through typical Andalusian landscapes. Red and gold earth stretching between houses with terracotta rooftops, juliet balconies and pot geraniums. The course was back to rolling with a fearsome kick uphill to the finish. Exciting nip and tuck racing all the way, but the win went to Daniel Moreno who left everyone…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 8 – Jerez de la Frontera – Estepona
Hola! Stage 8 of La Vuelta returned to the sea and the mountains, crossing the coast of the Costa del Sol and turning inland to climb Alto Peñas Blancas in Estepona. Riding in glorious sunshine, the climb was dominated by Igor Anton but he was passed at the finish by four or more riders and the win went to Leopold Konig. Here are my drawings:
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 7 – Almendralejo to Mairena de Aljafare
Hola! Stage 7 of La Vuelta turned south and crossed into the heat of Andalucia. Riders coped with temperatures touching 38 degrees as they left the countryside for the tree-lined town of Mairena de Aljarfare on the outskirts of Seville. The race was a much closer affair than Stage 6, with a nip and tuck race between the two leaders Gilbert and Stybar to…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 6 – Guijuelo to Caceres
Hola! Stage 6 of La Vuelta explored further inland, into the plains of bull-fighting country. Certainly the theme carried over into the race with an incredible performance by Tony Martin. As the world time-trial champion, he set a blistering pace and led the stage by a great distance for 170km. In spite of huge effort, the peloton could not keep up. The sting came…
La Vuelta 2013: Stage 5 – Sober, Lago De Sanabria
Hola! Stage 5 of La Vuelta turned away from the sea and travelled inland through rolling countryside, fields and pine trees. Orange roofs gave way to dark grey and for the first time in this race there was rain. Sunshine prevailed by the end as riders came into Lago de Sanabria to a sprinters’ finish! Here are my drawings:
