Tour, Stage 1: Changing Shoes

I am sure that half of Spain's hearts were in their throats when Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) over cooked a corner and wiped out over a traffic median.  The three time winner of the Tour took quite a bit of skin off of his shoulder and apparently messed up his cleats in the bargain.  As he replaced his cleats with a back up pair from the team car, I was reminded of the 101st Tour when he road another 15 kilometers after a crash (he changed cleats then as well) only to pull out of the race with a broken tibia.  Contrador was steadied by his teammate, Matteo Tosatto, has he replaced his damaged cleats at 30 kilometers per hour.

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.

This is one of the paintings that you can see being created on my live videos at www.facebook.com/greigleach.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817376-4-224974/PaintingChanging%20Shoes%20TdF4-Greig-Leach.html#.V3f0i7grLIU

Tour Stage 10: Pulling Their Man Back

Alberto Contador, the team leader for Tinkoff Saxo, had a bad crash on the Col du Platzerwasel.  While the wreck occurred off camera, they can't be everywhere, he apparently hit a rock in the road and went down hard, catching his right leg, destroying his shoe, bike and bloodying his knee.  The first time he as seen by the TV Motos was when the race doctor was bandaging his knee and the team was getting him back onto a replacement bike.  At first he set out alone, but soon he caught up to the team that had waited up the road for him.  No one can turn around and head back down the road, so to be able to help pace Contador, the team either soft pedals or stops to wait for him to come up to them.  He appeared to ride wheel as he set out now joined by Matteo Tosatto, Rafal Majika and Mick Rodgers.  On the other hand, as they crested the top, he had lost another minute on the group of the Maillot Jaune, leaving him four minutes off of the pace.  Not too big of a problem for the Spanish climber to make up, but it pointed to the possibility that he was more hurt than he either knew or was letting on.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will be included along with the rest of my paintings of the 101st Tour de France in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to get involved in bringing the Tour as art to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  There are some great rewards for those who chose to back the project that start at only $5 USD, with an artist signed copy at only $25 USD, and international shipping is available.  If you would like to just purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402508---199992/Painting.html#.U8SRxs_D_IU

Tour Stage Nineteen: A Blistering Pace

With the race for the Polka Dot Jersey and the stage win going on 10 minutes up the road, there was another battle for GC positions going on in the Malliot Jaune Group.  Saxo Tinkoff, the team of second and third overall (Contrador and Kreuziger) went to the front to lift the pace and see who they could put into difficulty.  While Froome has a very solid lead for the overall, there is currently only 45 seconds separating second place from fifth place and easy amount to overcome on a mountain stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can buy this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183663---186227/Painting.html#.UfCEzM_D_IU