Pro racing photographers Eloise Mavian and Francesco Rachello talk us through their favourite images from the 2023 season
Pro race gallery LEADOUT
Race Paris-Roubaix Femmes, 8th April 2023 Photographer Francesco Rachello/Tornanti ‘This is Canadian rider Alison Jackson [EF Education-Tibco-SVB] on the podium after winning the third edition of the women’s Paris-Roubaix. She was in the breakaway that managed to stay away until the velodrome, and then she went on to win the sprint in amazing fashion, much to the delight of hundreds of screaming fans.
‘Jackson is well known for her love of choreography and for being an amazing dancer, and she couldn’t help but improvise a ballet as soon as she got off the bike. I knew that she would honour her playful character on the podium, so I tried not to miss a moment of the ceremony. And there she was, raising the iconic trophy and performing for the crowd, showing that you can be a fun character and still be the strongest rider.’
Race Giro d’Italia, Stage 20, 27th May 2023 Photographer Francesco Rachello/Tornanti ‘Primož Roglič [Jumbo-Visma] carves through the crowd during the penultimate day’s time-trial at the Giro d’Italia. Before this stage it looked like history had already been written and Ineos Grenadiers’ Geraint Thomas would stay in pink until Rome. But that’s not how it turned out.
‘At the top of the Monte Lussari climb I realised it was not going to be an ordinary mountain time-trial; the inclines were hair-raising and the road was packed with Slovenian fans who had made the short trip across the border. When word spread that Roglič was gaining time on Thomas I could see the fans going crazy from my vantage point on a mound near the summit, but when I heard he had to stop for a mechanical I shook my head in disappointment. It was only after Thomas passed, when I was walking to the finish, that I heard the screams of the Slovenian fans that Roglič had won the stage and the Giro.’
Race Tour de France Femmes, Stage 8, 30th July 2023 Photographer Eloise Mavian/Tornanti ‘Here is Demi Vollering [SD Worx], catching her breath and realising that she has just won the second edition of the Tour de France Femmes. I wanted to catch her raw reaction as soon as she finished the final stage time-trial, and to show the crush of media surrounding her – something we are not used to seeing at women’s races.
‘Until the seventh stage her teammate, Lotte Kopecky, was wearing the yellow jersey, but on the m
