Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
Tour de France 2019: Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Élysées
Posted on August 13, 2019
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 was beautiful as ever – and possibly the only part of Europe not drenched in rain. The sun sank perfectly behind the Arc de Triomphe, lighting the Champs-Élysées in gold. Caleb Ewan burst through, apparently from nowhere to take the stage win. A very Cavendish-like performance and great to see.
The sun shone all afternoon for this stage and presentation of the new champion, Egan Bernal. This quiet Colombian is the youngest rider to win the Tour for 110 years. He did it with great style and great modesty. At 22 years, he has the cycling world at his feet – with so much to look forward to and enjoy. A champagne moment indeed!
The Tour de France 2019 will live long in my memory, I hope it will for you too!
Au revoir!
Here are my pictures 🙂
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens
Posted on August 12, 2019
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 still threatened but the day began well, Bernal changing his customary white, Combative shirt for the Yellow Jersey and Thomas aiming to swap places with Alaphilippe to take second place.
It was a large group that broke away at the start with Jumbo Visma and Ineos heading up the second tranche. There were several cracks in the field though, as the stage progressed. French hearts were broken again when Alaphilippe was dropped with 13km to go. He continued with great resilience to end the day in fifth place.
The stage was taken impressively by Vincenzo Nibali, who was tenacious! The sight of last year’s winner, Geraint Thomas crossing the line with his team-mate and this year’s winner Egan Bernal, was quite wonderful. It wasn’t the result we expected, but everything about this race has been unexpected – and all the better for it.
On to Paris…Here are my pictures 🙂
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Tignes
Posted on August 11, 2019
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, should he fail. Poor Pinot’s injury proved too much and his team mate William Bonnet put a consoling arm around the inconsolable Pinot as he stepped off the bike and out of the race. ,..
The course was a short but brutal one, with five climbs, including the highest this year, the Col de l’Iseran. The stage was set to finish in Tignes. The day began well in sunshine but as the day progressed, purple storm clouds could be seen in the distance. Bernal was the first to cross the infamous mountain, closely followed by Simon Yates. Bernal closed the timegap on the GC and overtook Alaphilippe whilst he still climbed. He crossed and began the most hair-raising of descents to try and keep his shirt… and then, the hailstorm and mudslide. We saw a snow plough clearing mud and hail away further down and the race had to be stopped. There was no winner for the stage. An emotional Bernal is in Yellow for the defining stage tomorrow.
What a day! Here are my pictures 🙂
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire
Posted on August 9, 2019
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 went to Nairo Quintana who has had a quiet race until today. He soared to victory, followed swiftly by Roman Bardet, who took the Polka Dot jersey. Both men looked much happier than they did in the Pyrenees!
The highlight for me, was the descent on the Col du Galibier – the climb was brutal but the descent looked worse – and all the riders were exceptional coming down. Not only fast but a long descent, so their control was phenomenal to see. Colombian fans lined the route and had not only the reward of Quintana’s stage win but witnessed a terrific challenge from Egan Bernal – what a fabulous talent he is!
It was a fantastic stage – and with only two days to go, the race seems wide open! Here are my pictures 🙂
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap
Posted on August 7, 2019
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 away to take the win, in a lovely solo effort.
Here are my pictures, 🙂
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 16 – Nîmes to Nîmes
Posted on August 6, 2019
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 great day’s racing. This Tour is turning into one of the best ever, as every day brings another surprise!
Here are my pictures from another wonderful day –
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix Prat d’Albis
Posted on August 5, 2019
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 full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Barèges
Posted on August 2, 2019
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 win. Alaphilippe still in yellow, all poised again for tomorrow!
Here are a few of my pictures – this stage will inspire for a very long time!
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 13 – Pau to Pau
Posted on July 31, 2019
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 the day was a heavy fall for van Aert, who almost completed a phenomenal ride. De Gendt took the lead afterwards until, Geraint Thomas stormed round. He held first place for 14.67 seconds when the Musketeer in Yellow ripped up the hill to take the win. It was an astonishing ride by Alaphalippe, he is a joy to watch.
For me, the challenge is capturing an individual time-trial in a way that doesn’t look static. The single figure can look solitary, which doesn’t happen when a team races together. This time, I experimented with drawing different views on the same page as the rider progressed around the course. The results are quite abstract, which I rather like, but not sure if it tells the story of their run particularly well. It’s a bit different anyway. See what you think…
Here are my pictures… click on an image to see it full size.
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagnères-de-Bigorre
Posted on July 29, 2019
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.
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse
Posted on July 28, 2019
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 my favourites!
The run-in to Toulouse took the riders on another blistering day, past sunflowers – fields of them. They remind me of Lautrec’s Dutch friend… but that’s another story and another sad one… These flowers are a great symbol of the Tour, yellow and strong, enduring and following the hot sun all day… Madness when you think about it for too long.
The drama exploded at the end of the stage with a sprint to the line between Caleb Ewan and Dylan Groenewegen once again right on the line. This time the Australian won through and took his first and well-deserved first stage win. With his wife and brand new daughter waiting to greet him, this was a lovely end to a golden day.
Here are my pictures… click on an image to see it full size.
Click on an image to see in full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
Tour de France 2019: Stage 10 – Saint-Flour to Albi
Posted on July 26, 2019
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 full – Medium and measurements are listed below. Click here if you wish to enquire further
All images copyright Maxine Dodd.
For in-depth race analysis, delivered with fun and wit, I highly recommend ‘Velovoices’ but don’t forget to come back to ‘Racing Lines’ for the pictures!
Have a great day! 🙂
