Tour, Stage 1: Not Ideal

Not only were the race conditions less than ideal, the stage wasn't going great for Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck Quick Step) either.  On the descent off the only categorized climb, his front wheel locked up.  He waited a long time for his team car, and once there the mechanic couldn't get the front wheel off either.  The better option after too much time had been spent was to give him his back up bike.  Something else must not have been right, because Alaphilippe, normally a great descender, had a terrible time negotiating the tricky corners off of the Cote de Rimiez.

I just recently got a new bike with disc brakes and was very surprised that they don't have quick release skewers.  That is why the mechanic as a cordless drill.  He needs to drive a hex head wrench to free the front wheel (or the back) to effect a wheel change.  At least Alaphilippe was able to rejoin, and to even help with the lead out at the end of the stage.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3683714-3-282744/Painting/not-ideal-tdf20-3.html

Giro, Stage 4: Get Going

There are times when the team car and neutral service are too far away to lend a timely hand.  This then falls to a teammate of the protected rider.  So it was for Laurent Didier (Trek-Segafredo).  His teammate, Gianluca Brambilla, had a flat rear wheel so he removed his own wheel swapped it onto to Brambilla's bike and help him get going back in search of the peloton.  Didier will wait for the team car to arrive so he, too, can get back underway. 

I remember when there was the big discussion about whether disc brakes should be allowed in the Pro Tour peloton, now roughly half of the teams are riding the more dependable brakes.  As of yet, I am unaware of the feared slicing injuries having occured due to the thin metal discs.  I admit it looks odd to me, not seeing the calipers up on the forks and seat stays.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3159781-18-249297/PaintingGet-Going--G18-18.html