Tour, Stage 12: The Wind Returns

The infamous wind, the Mistral, decided it should make its mark on the Tour today.  While the winds were strong enough to form echelons in the valley, on the summit of Mont Ventoux they were blowing at up to 70 miles per hour.  Last night I saw some video of riders on the top of the mountain (early morning in France) showing cyclists being blown off of their bikes, unable to even stop because of the strength of the gale force winds.  The organizers of the Tour wisely decided to move the finish line back into the treeline of the Monster of Provence shortening the stage by six kilometers.  What happen because of that decision will be discussed more later.  Back in the valley, Etixx-Quickstep used the winds to push the pace and but the rivals of Dan Martin on the back foot. (Martin started the day in the top 10).  Team Sky had to work even harder to hold their usual position on the right side of the road and on the front.  At this point there were two breaks up the road, one with 13 riders and the other group of five stuck in no man's land.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2823718-78-224974/PaintingThe%20Wind%20Returns%20TdF78-Greig-Leach.html#.V4gEuLgrLIU

Tour Stage 15: Half the Road

Team BMC was prepared, if not hoping for a change of direction that would bring the strong winds across the peloton.  As they swung onto the roundabout the whole team hit the front, hard.  Speed and organization is part of the equation to split the peloton the other is to use the leeward half of the road, allowing only the team to get the advantage of the slipstream.  With strong side winds, each ride rides at a forty five degree angle to the man in front, like a flying vee of a flock of geese.  If it is done correctly, the last man in line for the team is on the very edge of the road, thus providing no shelter for the other teams.  In this way, huge gaps can open if riders miss the wheel in front and half to push into the wind on their own.  Ever vigilant, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) saw the move forming and sprinted up to the line of BMC.  He left his team behind, but he wasn't about to let Tejay van Garderen gain any time on this stage either.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting will appear along with all of my 101st Tour de France paintings into my soon to be self published cycling art book, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your own copy, or to discover how you can become involved in bringing the 2014 Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous incentives for those who choose to back this projects, rewards start at just $5 USD, and you can get an artist signed copy for only $25 USD, any amount contributed will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, even for just a $1 pledge.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but you know you want a copy of this visual treasure of the Tour too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405572---199992/Painting.html#.U8yC4cvD_IU

Tour Stage 15: On the Straight & Wide

With a long, basically downhill stage, this one was marked as one for the sprinters.  The wide, straight, open roads should help the peloton judge the capture of the break away to perfection.  It should therefore be another day that will go to script with the only possible deviations coming if the legendary Mistral winds of southern France.  Strong cross winds can have the same effect on the peloton has any category one mountain, splitting the riders apart and causing huge time gaps.  So it was that the peloton let this two man break of Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) and Jack Bauer (Garmin Sharp) build up an eight minute lead, the peloton confident that they could be caught at will. This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This work and all of my paintings from the 101st Tour de France will appear in my soon to be self published collection in "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can become part of bringing the 2014 Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some very nice rewards for those who choose to back this project, they all include your name in print on the Special Thanks page of the book, and various levels include an artist signed copy of the book, original art and/or printed postcards.  The book is available for any pledge of support at $25 USD and above.  If you would rather just purchase this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post, but wouldn't you want to have all of the paintings in a book, too?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405562---199992/Painting.html#.U8x998vD_IU