Tour, Second Rest Day

I spent my rest day catching up on all of things that I have let slide during the days of racing.  Then I got out for a ride trying to imitate Tom Dumoulin's win on top of Andorre Arcalis.  As I climbed a two mile long hill near my home in Richmond, Virginia, I was caught by what turned out to be a rather severe storm.  I, like Dumoulin, was belted by hail as I road up to the summit of the climb.  I hadn't been in the saddle for anywhere near as long as he did when he won Stage 9 in the Pyrenees.  My wife snapped this picture when I met her in the gym after my ride.  On the drive home, traffic lights and power were out everywhere.  Plus traffic was at a stand still due to downed trees and power lines.  Apparently I was quite a bit luckier then I realized.

Now it is time to get some rest ahead of tomorrows big stage through the Swiss Alps.

Tour, Stage 9: Celebrating in the Rain

Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) had been dangling off the back of the peloton most of the day, but somehow found the strength to hold on up the penultimate climb of the day.  As the break rode across the valley floor on the way to the mountain top summit at Andorre Arcalis, the Dutchman went long for the win on the day before the first rest day of the Tour.  Dumoulin was able to keep his focus as the skies opened, dumping ice buckets on his head as plowed a lone furrow up the last mountain of the day.  I had thought about calling this, "Singing in the Rain," but then thought better of it.  Besides, I doubt he had enough air in his lungs to sing, but he sure could celebrate in the rain (and hail)!  Chapeau!

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2822218-65-224974/PaintingCelebrating%20in%20the%20Rain%20TdF65-Greig-Leach.html#.V4MDqLgrLIU

Giro d'Italia Stage 13: Hail Warnings

This year's Giro has been a rather wet one, maybe starting in Ireland jinxed the race, the gods assuming the racers wanted to be wet.  Today the weather went to a new level dumping an apparent inch or two of hail on the course, somehow never falling on the break on the peloton, a small blessing.  There is a large group of Polizi that travel with the Giro who are there to protect the peloton, warning the riders of potential dangers, usually traffic islands, sharp corners or narrow road ways.  Today, the motorcycle went to the front of the group and waved the flag to let the peloton know that the roadway was banked with piles of hail stones.  Fortunately the road was warm enough to melt the ice and none of the riders hit the asphalt, an oddity for this edition of the Giro d'Italia.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that measures 4" by 6" and is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2369009---198213/Painting.html#.U3_-z8_D_IU