Tour de France, Stage 17: Cresting the Top of the Tour

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) has ridden himself back into form and into the Tour as the race has progressed.  Today he was in the breakaway yet again.  He left his compatriots behind and went over the highest point of the 102nd Tour de France riding second on the road.  Unfortunately for the Frenchman who finished third overall last year, he is not the skilled descender of the rider ahead or those that are chasing him from behind.  Pinot is looking at a fast, narrow, technical descent off of the Col d'Allos that leads right into the final ascent of the day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company that really does have excellent art making materials.  This painting, and in fact all of my cycling artwork, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay however, since it is an original painting, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2583533-111-210122/Painting.html#.VbAGdflVikp

Tour de France, Stage 17: Climbing to the Top of the Tour

Not wanting to make his stint early on in the Maillot a Pois seemed like a fluke, the darling of Eritrea, Daniel Teklehaimanet (MTN-Qhubeka) went out from the early break in pursuit of Simon Geschke (Giant Alpecin) and more points in the King of the Mountains competition.  With Chris Froome (Team Sky) holding both the Maillot Jaune and the Maillot a Pois, it would be quite a stretch for Teklehaimanet to reclaim the Polka Dots of the King of the Mountains.  The side race for all of  MTN-Qhubeka is the Team Competition where his wildcard team now sits second overall just twenty minutes behind Movistar.  The Team Competition is decided by the combined times of the top three riders for each team.  Movistar started the day with riders sitting in second and fourth overall, so MTN-Qhubeka will have a chore closing the gap.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company that really does have excellent art making materials.  This painting, and in fact all of my cycling artwork, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay however, since it is an original painting, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2583533-111-210122/Painting.html#.VbAEsvlViko

Tour de France, Stage 17: Going It Alone

While he is not known for being a great climber, Simon Geschke (Giant Alpecin) attack his fellow breakaway companions on the big climb up the Col d'Allos.  Perhaps because of his lack of a reputation as a climber, the German was allowed to ride away as the Tour climbed up to the highest point of this year's race.  I am amused at how much Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen make of bearded riders.  They seemed to take it as a personal affront to the aesthetics of cycling.  I am sure that the drag factor of the furry face was not much of a factor on the effort of climbing the Alps.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company that really does have excellent art making materials.  This painting, and in fact all of my cycling artwork, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay however, since it is an original painting, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2582774-105-210122/Painting.html#.VbACPflVikr