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 crossed the line with a glance behind – a great performance from him. Here are my pictures – more landscapes today but with Simon at the end… 🙂 Click on an image to see in…

Tour de France 2019: Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Barèges

02/08/2019 Categories: cycling · TDF2019 · Tour de FranceTags: Cycling art · LeTour · TDF2019 · thibaut pinot · Tour de France

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 – always amazes me how they squeeze onto the verges – and the gradients were punishing – especially at the finish. Thibaut Pinot rode a lovely race to pull away at the finish to take the…

Tour de France 2019: Stage 13 – Pau to Pau

31/07/201902/08/2019 Categories: cycling · TDF2019 · Tour de FranceTags: bernal · Cycling art · geraint thomas · Julian Alaphilippe · LeTour · Pau · TDF2019 · time trial · Tour de France2 Comments

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 else was against Geraint Thomas, who was expected to win this stage. With other riders such as Uran, De Gendt and Wout van Aert also in the frame, there was great anticipation. The sad part of…

Tour de France 2019: Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagnères-de-Bigorre

29/07/2019 Categories: cycling · TDF2019 · Tour de FranceTags: Cycling art · LeTour · simon yates · TDF2019 · Tour de France2 Comments

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 eventual winner was Simon Yates, who took his first Tour de France stage win, completing his collection of Grand Tour stages. Fantastic! Here are my pictures… click on an image to see it full size. …

Tour de France 2019: Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse

28/07/2019 Categories: cycling · TDF2019 · Tour de FranceTags: caleb ewan · Cycling art · LeTour · TDF2019 · Tour de France

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 for advertising and not for grand salons. Not intended for long life, this art was made from the streets for the streets – and yet, thankfully, it has survived for us to enjoy to this day….one of…

Tour de France 2019: Stage 10 – Saint-Flour to Albi

26/07/2019 Categories: cycling · TDF2019 · Tour de FranceTags: Cycling art · LeTour · TDF2019 · Tour de France · Wout van Aert2 Comments

Bonjour! This was another long, hot, rolling day through beautiful countryside, heading south. The anticipated issue for the riders was crosswinds, always tricky. A breakaway of five riders began the campaign but were soon reigned in.The groups came together, split and divided so much – it was really hard to keep up. The finish was one for the sprinters and this time, Wout van Aert took the glory by an absolute whisker! I was confused but happy! Fab stage! Here are my pictures… click on an image to see it full size. Click on an image to see in…

Tour de France 2019: Stage 9 – Saint-Étienne to Brioude

26/07/2019 Categories: cycling · TDF2019 · Tour de FranceTags: Cycling art · Daryl Impey · de gendt · Julian Alaphilippe · LeTour · TDF2019 · Tour de France · Yohan Offredo

Bonjour! On Bastille Day – Even more special because a French rider was wearing the Yellow Jersey. The race continued through the hills and rolling countryside on what proved to be a quieter stage than yesterday. Julian Alaphilippe defended his precious shirt and enjoyed the day. He greeted Yohan Offredo current holder of the Lantern Rouge with a fist pump on the way. There was a fourteen-man breakaway, which pretty much dominated the stage, while the peloton seemed to pause for breath enjoying the hills and descents. At the close, it was great to see the win taken by Daryl…

Racing lines

Art by Maxine Dodd