Tour Stage 10: Paying the Team Back

Due to his valiant efforts in Stage 9 into Mulhouse, Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Belisol) secured the Maillot Jaune for his team and for his country, France.  It is a great honor to wear the Jersey of your home Tour, even more so on the day your country celebrates the creation of the Republic.  With the Jersey on the back of one of their own, Lotto-Belisol was to be seen riding tempo on the front of the peloton.  Andre Greipel, the sprinter for the team, came to the front of the line, using his power to pay back the team for all of the work they have been doing on his behalf on the flat run ins to the sprint contested finishes.  This was all the more impressive as the big German is on the front of the peloton as they climb towards the summit of the second mountain of the day.  Normally, Greipel would already be seeking out the safety and companionship of the "Gruppeto".  To explain, the race has a time limit based on the finishing time of the stage winner, if a rider fails to make the cut off time he will be disqualified.  To help protect themselves all of the riders who are having trouble with the mountains, the sprinters, the injured, the sick and those that have ridden too hard for the team too early, will create a large mass.  The mass will be too large to be eliminated so the organizers will bend the rules.   This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This will be included in my soon to be self published tome of the Tour, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy and to get involved in bringing the 101st Tour de France through the eyes of this artist to print please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402498---199992/Painting.html#.U8SIvs_D_IU