Saturday, July 13, 2013

Tour Stage Thirteen: The Wrong Time to Flat

For many 13 is an unlucky number, certainly it was an unlucky stage for Alejandro Valverde.  He had made the move and was in the front group of the splintered peloton when at the end of the feed zone he had a flat.  His team stopped with him, and a teammate gave him his wheel since the team car was behind the second group on the road.  By the time they had made the switch (by then the neutral service vehicle had provided the teammate another wheel) he had lost 34 seconds on the front group.  Jumping back on the bikes they began to chase down his former riding companions.  It never happened in the stiff crosswinds of central France, so he was caught by the second group on the road, where he stayed to the finishing line.  He ended the day losing nine minutes on Chris Froome, who also lost time today.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France and the exciting 13th Stage.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182503---186227/Painting.html#.Ue277M_D_IU

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