2015 Tour de France Notebook Stage 5

For an overview of this project, click here.

Here is my Stage 5 notebook entry:

Shorthand translation:

Rooting for Cavendish to win the sprint, but a thrilling finish all the same with a well-earned victory by Greipel.  Rain through much of this stage, and wind -- which caused a large break in the peloton once again.  But for me I will remember most the beautiful wide open spaces of the countryside, the World War I memorials, and (as pictured above) the beautifully well-organized teams at the front of the peloton, keeping their GC contenders safe throughout the stage.

2015 Tour de France Notebook -- Stage 2

For an overview of this project, click here.

Here is my Stage 2 notebook entry:

Shorthand translation:

An incredible stage today.  Beginning in Utrecht (which seems like so long ago now at the end of the stage) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and then it was onto the rain and crosswinds.  Twice winds broke up the peloton -- the final time into three groups which stayed that way till the end.  Caught in the back group:  Nibali, Quintana, and Degankolb.  Greipel pulled ahead of Cavendish at the end (and Sagan got an amazing second place despite getting a flat tire late in the race).  And Cancellara came in a great third for the four second time bonus.

Colors of the Tour de France, Stage 5

Congratulations to Mark Cavendish on an incredible sprint finish!

As much as I was rooting for Tyler Farrar on Stage 3, I was rooting for Cavendish today. Something just doesn't feel right these days when Cavendish isn't out there winning stages. Maybe it's because we feel his emotions so vividly. We know how terrible Cavendish feels when things go wrong, especially since he always says he owes his loyal teammates a win. Or maybe it's because watching Cavendish and HTC-Highroad win a sprint is such a thing of beauty. In Cavendish and HTC's hands, the tactics of cycling look so graceful and powerful on the road.

Today's victory might not have followed the usual HTC-Highroad playbook, but that just made it all the more thrilling.

And then there was the magnificent backdrop of Brittany, with its grey villages, rocky coastlines, and all those delightful fans. Watching today's stage, I wanted to hop on a plane, rent a bike, ride to a spot on the Tour route, and cheer alongside all those wonderful people who love cycling so much.

So I'll do the next best thing. To the cycling fans of beautiful Brittany, this Stage 5 watercolor is for you.