Racing Lines
The art of Maxine Dodd
Crowds by the Cherry Tree – Women’s Tour of Yorkshire
Posted on May 16, 2019
Hello! It’s been a bit hectic the past week or so with Open Studios and other bits and pieces, so I’m still working through some highlights from the remaining stages of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.
This piece was from the Women’s race, on the final stage – showing the crowds waving the peloton by. This scene stood out because of the view from the back which I like to draw but also because they were riding past the most beautiful cherry tree in full bloom.
There were many such trees along the route proving that the timing of the race couldn’t be better visually; such lovely time of year and great colour!
Crowds by the cherry tree
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Don’t forget to catch up with full analysis of the racing on www.velovoices.com
Tour de Yorkshire: Stage 2 – Barnsley to Bedale – Mens
Posted on May 4, 2019
Hello! This is a summary of Stage 2, as I have more pictures to make from this absorbing second stage but I hope you enjoy it. The second day’s racing was really exciting, the women set the bar high in the morning and the men followed up in the afternoon.
Front Pack
The conditions improved a little for the men but still pretty wet and cold with plenty of obstacles on the road to avoid. Still the colour and spectacle was great to see with plenty of fans out to wave them on.
Wiinding road, long way up
The sprint for the line was won by Rick Zabel of Katusha – He burst through with tremendous strength – I loved his expression and his team mate punching the air behind him – which I’ve shown here.
Great win for Zabel
The third day promises to be fabulous because we have both races following the coast road – See you at the seaside!
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Don’t forget to catch up with full analysis of the racing on www.velovoices.com
Tour de Yorkshire – Women’s race: Stage 1 – Doncaster to Selby – Drawing live
Posted on May 3, 2019
Hello! The Women’s race got underway in Barnsley on another cold and wet day. These drawings were made in real time, which I prefer – No hanging about!
Départ fictif – Barnsley in the rain!
The race has attracted some of the World’s best riders, including Word Champions and Olympians, reinforcing the reputation of this race.
Rain cape – Barnsley
Lizzie Banks from Sheffield made a very strong start, securing Queen of the Mountains and eventually forming a breakaway partnership with Leah Dixon.
Banks and Dixon sharing the breakaway
Later, the two became six before the final push to the finish in Bedale.
Willows, rhododendrons and white roses
The final push saw a phenomenal finish by Lorena Wiebes – she broke away so fast to cross the line. Very impressive!
Storming home!
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Don’t forget to catch up with full analysis of the racing on www.velovoices.com
Tour de Yorkshire: Stage 1 – Doncaster to Selby
Posted on May 3, 2019
Hello! Well, the forecast came true – the opening stage of this year’s race was mostly very, very wet!
Spring greens
Still the colour shone out and people came out to encourage and support the riders. It’s always a remarkable sight.
Tour de Yorkshire,Wet, Wet, Wet
Gorgeous scenery
Pouring! Bunting and umbrellas!
In the race itself, British rider Jacob Hennessy made a good start, taking the King of the Mountains jersey, while Mark Cavendish looked well after his recent illness and finished eigth. Chris Froome made a more discreet opening, finishing in the pack.
The stage win came brilliantly for Dutchman Jesper Asselman, who, suitably for the conditions, stormed past everyone, gathering a Yorkshire flag on the way. The expression on his face was amazing – such a great effort – which I’ve tried to capture here. With apologies to Bob Dylan for the adapted title, but it was crying out!
Tangled up with blue
On Friday, the Women’s race starts as well as the men’s, so an absorbing day to come!
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Don’t forget to catch up with full analysis of the racing on www.velovoices.com
Getting ready…
Posted on May 2, 2019
Hello! It’s been a busy Spring time and a bit of a strange one – In the UK we had a heatwave in February, the warmest Easter on record and now we look forward to frosts and possibly snow at the start of May. It is the UK though, so we know to expect the unexpected.
Kuurne Brussels Kuurne – Spring Classic
Speaking personally, it’s been a time of transition and reflection – I have recently had the urge to paint again – alongside working with favourite pens and watercolour. It’s a much slower process but very good. More on that to come in future posts…but it’s exciting!
Het Niewsblat – Spring Orange
The cycling season began in January and the Spring Classics are all but over, ready for the Grand Tours… I have tried a few new races (to me!) – the Het Niewsblat and Kuurne Brussels Kuurne featured here.
First on the pavés
There is a lovely event that straddles the two, bringing one season to a close and looking forward to the next and that is the Tour de Yorkshire. Now in its fifth year, this race has a firm place on the UK’s sporting calendar.
Yellow bike of Yorkshire
The race takes place over four days covering all parts of the county with its dramatic countryside and coastline – rugged and beautiful.
A fine Yorkshire day
So, I’m looking forward to this race, starting again and trying something new – Have a wonderful Spring Bank Holiday and if you are out on your bike – wrap up warm, it’s May! 🙂
Yellow fields of Whitby
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Posted on April 29, 2017
Hello! I love this race in Yorkshire – It’s now in its third year and really attracting fans who line the route throughout its dramatic landscape. This image from the first stage, shows the riders heading for the Dales, passing through the crowds. Interesting to see hands holding mobile phones these days to capture the action. I always love the flags that line the route of a race, these turquoise blue and white ones represent the county of Yorkshire. The helicopter dancing between them was quite spectacular as well! I had to capture that – great flying!
Heading for the Dales
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
‘Racing Lines: Le Tour’
Posted on May 22, 2015
Hello! I’m in the process of choosing work for my exhibition which opens at the end of June. Over next few weeks, I thought I would run a series of posts featuring some of the pictures that you’ll be able to see. This first collection is based around the first four stages of last year’s Tour de France, set in England and France. They are linked thematically but I’ve grouped them also because they were made in a wide panorama format. I love this paper because it ‘pushes’ the composition to an extra width and reduced height that a conventional landscape paper doesn’t give. See what you think! Here are the drawings:
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Posted on May 13, 2015
The success of the visit of the Tour de France to Yorkshire in 2014 took everyone by surprise. The course was challenging, the people came out in droves, villages, towns, even the sheep turned yellow and the wider TV audience saw how stunningly beautiful Yorkshire is. It was no surprise that the Tour de France organisers wished to repeat the experience, so in May, the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire took place. The weather was a little cooler but the yellow was abundant in the fields and the spring skies just added to the drama. It was a fantastic weekend of cycling, the first Tour de Yorkshire and the first of many I hope. Here are my drawings:
In case you were wondering… all the paintings are original and for sale – See ‘Click to buy’ on each image and for general information Picture Information
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Tour de France 2014: Stage 2 – York to Sheffield
Posted on July 7, 2014
Bonjour! The second stage of the Tour de France’s Grand Depart left the Dales for the Peak District from the ancient city of York to the steel city of Sheffield. There were more spills but fortunately not as catastrophic as yesterday’s crash. The route was greeted by more huge crowds, estimates of a million people following the race, simply astonishing. The stage was won by Vincnezo Nibali. Here are my drawings:
Tour de France 2014: Stage 1 – Leeds to Harrogate
Posted on July 6, 2014
Bonjour! – or should that be ‘Hello’? The Tour de France’s Grand Depart took place in the in the beautiful county of Yorkshire. Pretty villages, grand towns and dramatic hills and fields. Yorkshire embraced the Tour as its own, turning the county yellow with bunting, painted bikes, sculptures and scarecrows. Riders were greeted by Royalty, Red Arrows, brass bands, a million or so people and the sun shone. The stage was won in a dash by Marcel Kittel after a dramatic accident involving Mark Cavendish. A ripping start to the Tour! Here are my first drawings:
Yellow bikes of Yorkshire 
Yellow bikes of Yorkshire
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