Greig Leach

I had been thinking that Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) had been the protected rider on the team today, perhaps so did the rest of the break away, until he suddenly just came to a virtual stop on the climb of the Col de la Loze. As he struggled to keep turning the pedals, a fan ran up to offer him a pepperoni pizza. I stopped the broadcast and painted it right away. It was both funny and a different moment than what is normally the story of the day's racing. Plus it reminded me of a moment from the first time I watched the Giro d'Italia, and the peloton was passing around pastry trays in celebration of a member of the peloton's birthday. Totally exhausted, there was no way he was going to take the pie. Plus, if you haven't noticed, riders will never take anything to eat or drink from a fan on the roadway. It just isn't safe. God knows what could be in the bottle or on the slice of pie. So Ben was riding for his teammate Felix Gall who had worn the Maillot a Pois early in the Tour. Clearly he was sacrificing himself so Gall could have a chance of winning the Queen stage of this Tour.