Tour Stage Sixteen: Pegged at Seven Minutes

With all of the GC men in the peloton, Team Sky was happy to let the break go and take the day off (as much as that is possible at 42 kph over 150 kilometers) and save themselves for the mountainous individual time trial tomorrow.  Phil Liggett claimed that the peloton would peg the break at seven minutes, I guess he missed that one as the lead went out to twelve minutes at the top of the final climb.  It is always up to the team that holds the yellow jersey to ride tempo at the front of the peloton, everyone else just lines up behind.  If I haven't said it before, drafting allows the second rider to exert 30% less energy that the rider with his nose in the wind.  That is why you need a strong team to protect you as you hunt down the Malliot Jaune.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182993---186227/Painting.html#.Ue7uoM_D_IU

Tour Stage One: Jumping Without Cavendish

The finish of the first stage of the 100th Tour de France had all kinds of drama, that started with the team bus of Orica-GreenEdge getting stuck under the finishing banner with the peloton just 15 kilometers away and riding hard.  As the organizers scrambled to free the bus, it was decided to have the race end at the three kilometer to go banner.  Then they managed to free the bus, but then the confusion of changing the finishing point back to its original location may have rattled to many of the sprinters and their lead out men.  At the six kilometers to go point there was a spectacular crash that had Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan and about 30 others on the ground.  After all of the work Omega Pharma Quickstep had put in, Gert Steegmans jumped from the rest in hopes of capitalizing on all of the confusion in the remaining peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174607---186227/Painting.html#.UdoNlc_D9Ms