Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
Stage 21 – Still so many People and bikes!
This drawing brings back lovely memories from last year’s Tour de France. It was a long, hard race as always – and as always, so many people are out to support and cheer the riders. This was at Stage 21 – the last ride of the race into Paris – and it was packed….
Tour de France 2019: Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Élysées
Bonjour! Stage 21 – So here we are! The last stage of this year’s race. It’s been amazing – Today’s stage is the final piece of the puzzle with celebrations for the GC riders and one last burst for the sprinters. Where do they get their energy from? I imagine that the mountain climbers just sit quietly at the back after their effort. Paris…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens
Bonjour! Stage 20 – It was ‘all change’ at the top of the General Classification at the start of the day. After three weeks’ intense and astounding racing, the top three were now Egan Bernal, Julian Alaphilippe and Geraint Thomas, in that order. The last Alpine stage would determine the outright winner, with one last climb at the finish in Val Thorens. The weather…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Tignes
Bonjour! Stage 19 – WELL! This was the stage of all stages! The race changer for many reasons, but primarily for the remarkable ride of Ineos’s Egan Bernal – what a star he is! It’s hard to know where to begin really – the heartbreak of Thibaut Pinot’s retirement is a start. One of my favourites and vying with Alaphilippe for the Yellow Jersey,…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire
Bonjour! Stage 18 – First day in the Alps! There were significant and notorious climbs today, including the Col du Izouard and the Gol du Galibier. The scenery was breathtaking at times and strangely surreal at others, with the grey, mauve and ochre earth giving great colour. In the race, the day belonged to Colombia – a lovely surprise in this ever-surprising race. The win…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap
Bonjour! Stage 17 – The course followed on from yesterday’s stage, starting at the breathtaking Pont du Gard and working its hot path to Gap. This was a hilly transition stage, taking the race to its closing and decisive mountain stages in the Alps, before heading for Paris. There was a lot at stake for all teams and their riders. Mitchelton-Scott’s Matteo Trentin broke…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 16 – Nîmes to Nîmes
Bonjour! Stage 16 – The last sprinters’ stage in the south. The route scorched through the countryside around Nîmes; scorched being the operative word, it was very, very hot. Shade from trees was a blessing and water bottles were everywhere! The sprint finish was simply stunning, with a Cavendish-like torpedo sprint by Caleb Ewan, who took his second stage win in superb style. A…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix Prat d’Albis
Bonjour! Stage 15 took a route through the Pyrenees towards the west – Beautiful scenery again, wooded terrain, with good climbs and offering different weather conditions, misty at times, sunny and hot at others, crosswinds to negotiate as well. The crowds were out to cheer the riders past. The win went to Simon Yates who survived the breakaways to lead on his own. He…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Barèges
Bonjour! Stage 14 saw the first real mountain stage. After the time-trial yesterday, it was all uphill from there, you might say! First the Pyrenees and then the Alps. These stages would test everyone – They did not disappoint. The stage was relatively short but packed two major climbs, the Col du Soulor and the Col du Tourmalet. The course was lined with people…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 13 – Pau to Pau
Bonjour! Stage 13 was the individual time trial in Pau. The course was bumpy rather than hilly, the serious climbs will come next, so this was a chance for everyone to strut their stuff before the going gets really hard. Julian Alaphilippe began the day in yellow, a colour he is enjoying and becoming accustomed to wearing. The contest for him, and arguably, everyone…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagnères-de-Bigorre
Bonjour! Well, what a terrific stage? So exciting, with a cat and mouse finish reminiscent of a track race, three riders waiting for each other to start the sprint to the line. The three in question, Simon Yates, Pello Bilbao and Gregor Mühlberger had been duking it out through the mountains in a lively descent, so the climax at the finish was terrific. The…
Tour de France 2019: Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse
Bonjour! Stage 11 had a strong artistic connection. The stage began in Albi, the birthplace of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – a true linesmith if ever there was one. The museum there has a great collection of his most famous pictures. I have always been struck by the fragility of them, being made as posters and painted on cardboard. Much of his art was made…
