Greig Leach

Stage 5 featured the required break away that went on the first climb of the day back up the Col du Manse yet again. The descent, which happened off camera, was the famed climb in the Tour du France where Beloki crashed smashing his hip and Lance Armstrong went across an open field, jumping back on to the road and rejoining the group he had been with. At this point Jan Bakelants (OPQS) was getting a little frustrated with his break away companions on the climb up the Col de la Morte, he was trying to get Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) Stafan Denifl (IAM Cycling) to come through and take a turn. To force them to come by he swerved to the other side of the road, they just followed him over there. Notice the TV cameraman standing on the rear of the motorcycle, this is how the wonderful film of the day after day of racing is captured. There are multiple motos following all of the action on the road augmented by two helicopters. This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the American company, Jack Richeson & Co. at www.richesonart.com.