Tour de France 23, Stage 13: Quick Change

Very early into the stage the French Champion, Valentin Madouas (Grouipama-FDJ) had a problem with his bike.  Since the peloton was flying up the road trying to prevent anyone getting into a break away, it seem prudent to simply swap out his bike.  Bastille Day is the single most important day for a Frenchman to win a stage of the Tour, and how much more special would it be for the national champion to raise his arms in victory in the tricolore jersey.  Given the one Haute Catagorie climb to the finish line, it was going to take some special legs to claim such an honor for anyone.  And sadly I just haven't seen that kind of prowess on the mountains that today is going to require.  Plus it could well be a day that the leaders of the Tour fight it out to gain time one on the other.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3965427-76-297438/Painting/quick-change-tdf23-76.html

Tour, Stage 9: High Speed Diagnostics

The team mechanics have an un-ending job in the Tour, or any other stage race.  They must maintain the riders bikes (and the back ups), change gearing for different terrain and race situations (See the last entry from the previous stage), and then their is the on-the-fly work that happens during the stage.  I don't know what Romain Bardet's (Ag2r La Mondiale) problem was, but he had is mechanic trying to figure out the issue as they descended off the Port del Canto.  When Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) was trying to catch back onto this group on this descent, he was clocked at 100 kilometers per hour.  Now Bardet probably isn't going quite that fast, but none the less, his mechanic is half way out of the car holding onto a bike and fiddling around spokes that could easily slice off a finger at the kind of rpm's the Frenchman's wheel are doing.  It must be an incredible amount of pressure and require both intelligence and absolutely no fear.

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%202016/2822152-60-224974/PaintingHigh%20Speed%20Diagnostics%20TdF60-Greig-Leach.html#.V4LjYrgrLIU

E3 Harelbeke: Finding a Solution

Filippo Pozzato (Southeast-Venezuela) a former winner of this race, had troubles on the climb up Oude Kruisberg.  Unsure what the problem was, his mechanic joined him at the summit of the climb with a wheel and a tweak of the gearing.  After a very quick change, Pozzato was swiftly back underway, using the following caravan to weave his way back into the peloton.  Later, he could be seen reaching to his rear brake caliber to make a final adjustment before getting on with the business of trying to repeat a victory at day's end.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting 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.

Plus you can see my most recent book at www.artofcycling.bike.  It contains my writings and paintings of the 2015 Road World Championships in Richmond, VA.  It is available through out the world from many different online booksellers or ask your favorite bookstore to order it for you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2752641-297-195767/Painting.html#.Vvd5GvkrLIU

Tour de France, Stage 16: Swapping Bikes

Alberto Contador's team, Tinkoff Saxo, has employed yet another new tactic in the peloton.  While many riders will change from a time trial bike to a road bike on Individual Time Trials that include a steep finishing climb, Tinkoff Saxo has now started having some of their men changes bikes on road stages as the terrain warrants.  Yesterday, Peter Sagan switched from a lighter climbing bike to a heavy more aero-dynamic bike once the mountains had been completed,  Today, Contador did much the same thing but in reverse since today's challenge ended with two big categorized climbs.

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.richesnonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the North Central United States.  In addition this painting, along with all of my cycling art, 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.  Remember it is an original painting, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2582670-99-210122/Painting.html#.Va1yIvlViko