Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
Tour de France – Stage 7 – Revisited
Bonjour! It’s nearly July and for me, that means only one thing – Le Tour! See more….
Au revoir…. for a while!
Great end to this year’s Tour – more than most of us in this part of the world could have imagined. A few days on, the summer seems to have arrived in Britain and the country is gearing up for the Olympics at the end of the week. Looking back over the past few weeks having embarked on this project, it’s been a wonderful…
Stage 20 – Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Élysées
Stage 20 – The final stage began in glorious sunshine, with greetings between teams, team-mates, opponents and champions. The stage ended with the most heart-stopping race around the Champs-Élysées. A magnificent stage win for Mark Cavendish, helped by the brilliant gentleman in yellow. Wiggins a worthy winner and champion and Britain’s first. Here are my last drawings of this momentous event.
Stage 19 – Bonneval to Chartres
Stage 19 – Today’s stage was all about time. Good weather, flat roads and every man against the crosswinds, the road and the clock. The fastest man came out last, wearing yellow, and struck home in one hour, four minutes and thirteen seconds. His team mate three minutes and twenty-one seconds behind him, his closest rival three minutes and thirty-eight seconds further behind. We’re…
Stage 18 – Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde
Stage 18 – The beginning of the end perhaps? A stage that wove through classic French countryside. There were castles, bridges and viaducts, fields and donkeys. However, all of these things were overshadowed by a great team supporting its world champion. The Missile exploded past everyone to take the win. What a man and what a team! Here are the day’s drawings
Stage 16 – Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon
Stage 16 – Beautiful, dramatic scenery with griffon vultures, cattle and sunshine! A massive stage with four major climbs. Wiggins and Froome held off a great challenge by Nibali, Cadel Evans fell back but the star of the stage was Thomas Voeckler who had a magnificent ride to claim King of the Mountains and a fifth win for France – Majestic! Here are the day’s…
Stage 15 – Samatan to Pau
Stage 15 – The next stage in the foothills of the Pyenees – and yet another contrast! Beautiful sunshine, rolling fields of wheat and sunflowers – harvest in full swing. Today’s stage felt as gentle as the scenery compared to Sunday. Possibly the calm before the storm for the next climbing stages. The status quo maintained for yellow and green jersey and Pierrick Fedrigo…
Stage 14 – Limoux to Foix
Stage 14 – The Pyenees and what a contrast to yesterday? Dark overhanging trees, wet roads and misty skies. For the riders there were tremendous challenges, two hard climbs with steep descents, not to mention the astonishing action by someone to litter the road with carpet tacks, resulting in many punctures. Team BMC rallied round Cadel Evans whose bike was caught three times.Brad Wiggins…
Stage 13 – Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Le Cap d’Agde
Stage 13 – Bastille Day! What a terrific stage? Where the course leads to the Mediterranean coast, passing through Sète via a road with furious crosswinds. The last push towards the finish was electric, Wiggins showing his terrific pace right at the end. Andre Greipel powered past Sagan to take the win.I can’t wait for tomorrow when riders finally reach the Pyrenees – Wonderful! Here…
Stage 12 – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay Davezieux
Stage 12 – The longest stage of the tour, leaving the Alps and making its way to the Ardèche. Classic French scenery, sunflowers, wheatfields and red-tiled villages, along with extraordinary racing. Great battles to the finish line and David Millar won through. Here are my drawings
Stage 11 – Albertville to La Toussuire – Les Sybelles
Stage 11 – A gruelling day’s riding through remarkable mountain scenery. Tejay sprinted, Cadel fell away, Nibali led the ascent, Froome took off and Wiggins held on by 2 minutes to keep the yellow jersey. Pierre Rolland gritted his teeth to take the stage. Phew! My drawings even more ragged than usual! Here they are:
