Greig Leach

Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma) had laser focus as he waited to be counted down at his start of the second time trial of the this Tour de France. I admit that part of my desire to paint this was the guy counting down the competitors in the start house. After two weeks of looking a amazingly fit young men riding thousands of miles on their bikes, it was a little jarring to see this pot belly sagging over this belted khakis. I have heard for years about how all of the French are so fit, and it is only the Americans who are fat. This guy and many I have spied on the side of the road belie that narrative. Wout's focus must have worked. He finished his ride with the best time. And it was a time that stood through the rest of the peloton who was yet to ride. He won this time trial, a mountain stage, and came in second on a flat sprint stage (just barely beat out by Mark Cavendish). What can't he do on a bike?