Liege Bastogne Liege: Life at the Back

Life at the back of the peloton is a mixed back of struggling, mechanicals and other special cycling skills.  Zdenek Stybar (Etixx Quickstep) is racing his arm to call forward his team car for some assistance.  Riders will drop back to the rear of the peloton and signal the race director that they need some help from their team car, of course they have already talked with their Director Sportif via radio to let him know just what the problem is.  Other riders like Mike Terpstra (Roompot) may be struggling to hold the pace of the group, while others like, Stephen Cummings (MTN Qhubeka) and Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ) are answering the call of nature.

When the pace is on, riders will merely get out of the peloton, whip it out, and let the stream flow.  So it is a courtesy to drop to the back, I imagine it isn't much fun to be in the slip stream of a rider who is relieving himself.  When the pace is slow, or in a mutual agreement among the group, riders will actually stop along the side of the road for a "break naturale".  Does that fit into the "too much information" category?

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2546756---195767/Painting.html#.VT41-CHBzGc

Tour Stage 14: A French Led Peloton

The French are having their best Tour de France in years.  It has been a long, long time since they have had two riders in the top five, they even have the potential to have two guys on the podium in Paris.  With the hopes of a third stage win for their country, and a continuation of the battle for White and best French rider, the final climb towards Risoul, was led by four Frenchmen from three different teams.  The Italian, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was paying close attention, watching for an attack that could threaten his Yellow Jersey.  Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and his teammate, Arnold Jeannesson had chased back onto Romain Bardet's (AG2R) wheel in the valley and along with Pierre Rolland (Europcar) they all hoped to improve their placings by putting the hurt to the rest of those in the top ten.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will appear in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your copy, or to discover how you can get involved in helping to bring the art of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour   There are some excellent Backer rewards including an artist signed copy, original artwork, pins, postcards and all starting for as little as $5 USD.  Absolutely everyone who backs the project at any level will have their name included in print on the special thanks page of the book.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, please follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Wouldn't you like to have the book as well?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405266---199992/Painting.html#.U8vtwc_D_IU

Tour Stage 8: Preparing for Rain

With unbelievably dark clouds threatening to dump buckets of water on the heads of the peloton, domestiques and leaders dropped back to their team cars to get rain capes, vests, and warmer clothes.  The rain rolled in just as the peloton reached the base of the first Category 2 of the Tour, the climb up Col de la Croix des Moinats.  With the kind of rain they were about to ride through and the two descents before the final climb, I am sure many were worried that more crashes were bound to happen.  Some of call this the "Tour des Chutes" the Tour of Crashes, but as Chris Horner (Lampre-Merida) point out, the first week of the Tour is always the same, and everyone always says, "this is the worst it has ever been".  As you can see by Arnold Jeannesson's (FDJ) struggles, it can be rather difficult to grab a jacket from a car and put it on (right side out) at 40 kilometers an hour.  Maciej Bodnar (Team Cannondale) had about half of the team at the back with him, the rest were up front trying to keep Peter Sagan up with the leaders.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published cycling art book, "Book de Tour"  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy and to discover how you can become involved, please visit my Kickstarter project at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are a number of exciting incentives for project backers that start at only $5 USD, anything $25 USD and above includes the "Book de Tour" signed by the author and artist (me).  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2401736---199992/Painting.html#.U8Ivw8vD_IU