Tour Stage 10: Pulling Their Man Back

Alberto Contador, the team leader for Tinkoff Saxo, had a bad crash on the Col du Platzerwasel.  While the wreck occurred off camera, they can't be everywhere, he apparently hit a rock in the road and went down hard, catching his right leg, destroying his shoe, bike and bloodying his knee.  The first time he as seen by the TV Motos was when the race doctor was bandaging his knee and the team was getting him back onto a replacement bike.  At first he set out alone, but soon he caught up to the team that had waited up the road for him.  No one can turn around and head back down the road, so to be able to help pace Contador, the team either soft pedals or stops to wait for him to come up to them.  He appeared to ride wheel as he set out now joined by Matteo Tosatto, Rafal Majika and Mick Rodgers.  On the other hand, as they crested the top, he had lost another minute on the group of the Maillot Jaune, leaving him four minutes off of the pace.  Not too big of a problem for the Spanish climber to make up, but it pointed to the possibility that he was more hurt than he either knew or was letting on.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will be included along with the rest of my paintings of the 101st Tour de France in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to get involved in bringing the Tour as art to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  There are some great rewards for those who chose to back the project that start at only $5 USD, with an artist signed copy at only $25 USD, and international shipping is available.  If you would like to just purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402508---199992/Painting.html#.U8SRxs_D_IU