US Pro Challenge stage 2: Down and Dirty

There are two routes from Aspen to Crested Butte, the good roads are about a 200 mile trip, but the much shorter route means dirt roads up over the Rockie Mountain passes.  With the threat of rain, was it more or less merciful to send the peloton the shorter route?  As the road started up the big climb of Kalber Pass, the twelve man group off the front began to thin down these five only include one member of a ProTour team, Matej Mohoric of Cannondale, who was joined by Robin Carpenter (Hincapie Sportswear) Kirk Carlsen (Jelly Belly) and Jai Crawford (Drapac).  The race organizers had brought out the street sweepers early in the morning, so the road was certainly better than the pave sections of stage 5 of the 2014 Tour de France.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202013/2421860---201508/Painting.html#.U_Q9zc_D_IU