Tour Stage Two: Surprise!

Against all odds, Jan Bakelants jumped from his breakaway companions as the peloton drew near to catching the group.  With the commentators sure that one man could not hold off the charging sprinters even if their numbers were drastically reduced, he looked back to see them coming and gave it one final kick to surprise everyone, least of all himself.  He also managed to gain one second at the line, one second that has given him the Malliot Jaune of leader of the 100th Tour de France.  So two days into the race, and every jersey has changed hands except the Malliot Vert.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bet your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174685---186227/Painting.html#.UdoaCc_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: Away with Under 4 K

With most of the sprinters left behind on the first big climb of the Tour including the Malliot Jaune it looked like a good day to jump away to steal the stage and get into the Malliot Jaune.  With that in mind, Fuglsang, Flecha (again), Bakelants, Boasson Hagen, and Chavanel (hoping to give himself a birthday present) jumped away in search of glory.  With just four kilometers to go and the remaining sprinters and their teams bearing down fast and hard it just didn't seem likely that these guys would carry the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174669---186227/Painting.html#.UdoYDM_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: GC Teams Get to Work

With some long climbs on narrow roads the GC (general classifications) contenders got there teams out on the front to make sure they were in the right place in case of any splits in the group.  As it is frequently said in multi stage races, one couldn't win the Tour in today's stage, but one could lose it.  Lose it with large time gabs opening up between riders and the peloton.  Brent Bookwalter, one of several Americans in the Tour, leads the peloton for BMC with Cadel tucked in behind Boasson Hagen, Richie Porte, and Chris Froome of Team Sky.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174655---186227/Painting.html#.UdoWSs_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: Making Sure He Has the Points

As I said, Europcar was on fire today, attacking in turns with Veilleux, Voeckler and then Pierre Rolland.  Only Rolland got anything out of the effort as he is here checking over his shoulder before crossing the King of the Mountain line gaining enough points to put him into the Polka Dot Jersey at the end of the day.  On the way down the other side of the mountain he was caught by the chasing peloton, but he already had what he was after.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your small artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174645---186227/Painting.html#.UdoVIs_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: Little Tommy Voeckler

Yes, Thomas Voeckler, is one of my favorites in the current pro-peloton, and the French are rather fond of him as well.  Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin, two Brits who do the commentary for the television broadcast of the Tour that I have been watching for years, always call him, "Little Tommy Voeckler".  He had been spending most of the day at the back of the peloton until the road started up.  As the road went up he went off flashing his open jersey in hopes of getting away to repeat his 10 day holding of the Malliot Jaune in 2005 (I think).  He wears the blue, white and red stripes of the French flag on his sleeves as a former French National Champion.  Team Europcar was very aggressive in today's stage, with first Villeaux, then Voeckler and finally Rolland.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174637---186227/Painting.html#.UdoTh8_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: Up Out of the Saddle

The break is now climbing up towards the first mountain points of the day having put the intermediate sprint in valley behind them, it was an uncontested sprint taken by Lars Boom.  As the four get up out of their saddles to add more power to their pedal strokes, a yellow motorcycle with driver and rider covered in yellow leathers hold out a chalkboard with the time splits scribbled out for the riders.  The chalkboard is a hold over from earlier times before team cars, race radio and two way team radios, there is often a call to go back to radio-less racing.  Most of the riders are strongly against this idea.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174631---186227/Painting.html#.UdoRj8_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: A Quick Adjustment

Philippe Gilbert rides not in the normal black and red kit of Team BMC, but has the honor of wearing the Rainbow Jersey of the World Road Champion.  In the first stage of the Tour Gilbert was one of many riders who crashed with just six kilometers to go, while he was fine, his saddle was ruined and had to be replaced.  In today's stage it took a bit of fiddling to get everything just right, including the race mechanic first trying to adjust things while Gilbert was riding and then on the side of the road.  It was still early in the stage so no one was concerned about getting him back into the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get on your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174617---186227/Painting.html#.UdoP98_D9Ms

Tour Stage Two: A Chat Before the Crowd

Another stage and another break away for Lars Boom, today he is joined by Perez, Veilleux and Kadri in his attempt to get the better of the peloton.  I often wonder about the language of the peloton, this is the Dutch, Boom, chatting with the Spaniard, Perez.  I also wonder what the conversation was about, perhaps just what the traffic sign might mean over Perez's shoulder.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com, really great art supplies.  This work is available at my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174613---186227/Painting.html#.UdoO48_D9Ms

Tour Stage One: Last Sprinter Upright

Marse Kittel, one of the four main sprinters of the Tour, was the one who managed to stay upright when his rivals hit the road with six kilometers to go.  He had enough of a final kick to the line that he had time to throw out his arms in a victory salute and yell out his joy.  His bike handling and incredible acceleration earns him the first Malliot Jaune of the 100th Tour de France.  It is not uncommon to have crashes in the first days of the big stage races, as the riders are nervous and a victory means the leaders jersey, this makes everyone take risks to be in the right position in the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through a 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on this little piece of the Tour's first stage in Corisca.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251297440343

Tour Stage One: Jumping Without Cavendish

The finish of the first stage of the 100th Tour de France had all kinds of drama, that started with the team bus of Orica-GreenEdge getting stuck under the finishing banner with the peloton just 15 kilometers away and riding hard.  As the organizers scrambled to free the bus, it was decided to have the race end at the three kilometer to go banner.  Then they managed to free the bus, but then the confusion of changing the finishing point back to its original location may have rattled to many of the sprinters and their lead out men.  At the six kilometers to go point there was a spectacular crash that had Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan and about 30 others on the ground.  After all of the work Omega Pharma Quickstep had put in, Gert Steegmans jumped from the rest in hopes of capitalizing on all of the confusion in the remaining peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174607---186227/Painting.html#.UdoNlc_D9Ms

Tour Stage One: And Now the Catch

Lars Boom looks back to see just how close the peloton has gotten to overtaking him and the rest of the breakaway.  The group had been away for nearly 140 kilometers, but the sprinters had visions of stage victories and yellow jerseys dancing in their heads.  You can be sure that no little break away was going to spoil their dreams.  This is the first race for the new team sponsor, Belkin.  The team raced the Dauphine, Tour de Suisse and the Giro d'Italia under the name of Blanco. It seems that Lars wants to give his new sponsor some much valued TV coverage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by going to my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get on your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174603---186227/Painting.html#.UdoLks_D9Ms

Tour Stage One: Talking It Over

Jerome Cousin got the Tour going right from the dropping of the start flag.  At 130 kilometers he and his fellow break away racers began wondering if they might actually be able to stay away.  Here he has dropped back to discuss his options as the race radio was informing his director sportif that the peloton was only just over a minute behind.  I can only guess that his DS was reminding him that today was only the first stage of a very long, hard ride around France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174601---186227/Painting.html#.UdoJ68_D9Ms

Tour Stage One: One Long Line

With the one very small hill behind them, the sprinters and their teams started thinking about a stage win.  With this being the first stage of the Tour, however wins the stage will also pull on the Yellow Jersey, win the Green Jersey and possibly even the White Jersey of young rider.  Lobato of Euskatel, already won the Polka Dot Jersey on that one small hill (the advantage of being in the early break).  When the peloton is in a long thin line like this, you can be sure that the race is at full speed.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard an is available through  my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174599-2-0-186227/Painting/Sports.html#.UdoIe8_D9Ms

Tour Stage One: Bringing Cadel Back On

With the peloton in a go slow mode, Cadel having a quick adjustment to his handlebars was no cause for concern.  It was an easy chase to bring the leader of Team BMC back through the following caravan of team cars, officials and the race doctor (he is in the white convertible to Cadel's right).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by going to a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251297430291

Tour Stage One: Five in the 100th

And the 100th Tour de France is underway on the island of Corsica.  These are the riders of the first breakaway in the centennial Tour, Jerome Cousin for Europcar was the first to attack at the very start of the stage and the race.  He was quickly joined by four other riders including the wily veteran, Jaun Antonio Flecha, Lars Boom wearing the new kit of his new team sponsor Belkin, as well as Lobato and Lemoine.  The peloton kept reeling them in and then sitting up and letting them gain time again, this yo-yoing went on for almost 130 kilometers.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   In addition it is available through my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174595-1-0-186227/Painting/Sports.html#.UdoG78_D9Ms

Tour 2012: On the Champs Elysees Twelve Hours Until the Race Begins!

Really in to the countdown now, roughly twelve hours until the Tours rolls out.  Twenty One days of racing over the next twenty three days pedaling around France all in hopes of making it to this famous boulevard in yellow.  While most know they have no hope of ever wearing the Malliot Jaune of the Tour de France, they will race for stage wins, the Green, White or Polka Dot Jerserys or even just dream of making it all the way to Paris.  It is even an honor to be the Lanterne Rouge (the rider in last place in the overall classification).   And every sprinter dreams that he will be the one to win on the Champs Elysees and Mark Cavendish holds that honor most recently.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1996476-58-54-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.Uc4HyMvD_IU

2012 Tour: A Biker Down

Every team leader has one rider who is assigned to stay with them if at all possible, usually this teammate is the same basic build so he can give the team leader his bike should it be necessary.  That is exactly what is going on in this image, the riders for the former Rabobank team are passing bike parts (wheels) across to the leader who is waiting patiently to get back on the road.  The fans along the road are enjoying and photographing this bike change and the chance to see some of these amazing athletes up close and stationary.  Rabobank started this season as Blanco, a reference to having no title sponsor, but will line up at this Tour under the title sponsor of Belkin, adding a little more green to the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1990989-8-6-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.Uc0QBMvD_IU

Tour 2012: Cadel in Trouble

2012 found the riders dealing with something I have never seen before, while there have been protests, run in with fans, and accidents with following vehicles (2011), I have never known of an attack on the race.  Team BMC and Cadel Evans were behind the peloton when they suddenly had numerous flat tires, the team quickly assessed who had good tires and they started swapping wheels to get the team leader and his dedicated supporters up and running.  In all 15 riders and four of the caravan motorcycles had flats all from tacks that had been thrown on the course by someone or some people who were along the race course.  If it was their intention to help other riders, they were unaware of the code of the professional peloton.  Once the contenders were informed of the incident, they sat up and waited for Cadel and his team to catch back up.  Hopefully, there will be no repeat of this nonsense in 2013.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available through my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1991885-32-30-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcuXQ8vD_IU

Tour 2012: Sagan's Salute

I am looking forward to watching the battle of the sprinters in the 100th Tour de France.  All three of the major players, Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan and Griepel will be wearing their respective country's National Road Race Champion Jerseys, until they start trading the Green Jersey in the points competition.  Sagan made quite a name for himself in the 2012 Tour with his victory celebration antics.  The commentators were getting a little bend out of shape over the silliness, but they were forgetting just how young the Slovack is.  This year Sagan will have Mark Cavendish riding with a team dedicated to his stage victories so the sprints should be epic this time out.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1990995-9-6-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.Uctom8vD_IU



Tour 2012: Bike Doctor

Not only is there the race doctor in the car in the caravan, there are several medics on motorcycles ready to attend to the needs of the racers.  What amazes me is that the riders take these horrific falls, grab  another wheel or bike, jump back on and keep racing.  If they have been hurt, they can visit the medic and be seen to while still riding along at 40 kilometers per hour.  This is George Hincapie dropping back to get his arm bandaged while keeping his place in the break away.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1993646-43-42-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcpzRMvD_IU

Tour 2012: Tri-Color

With the start of the Tour just 4 days away, I am posting some of my works that started this whole project.  This is Sylvain Chavanel wearing the colors of the French Time Trial Champion under the watchful eyes of the television cameras and flag waving French fans.  Chavanel will be back at the Tour but out of the tricolor having seeded the tittle to another Frenchman.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by going to my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1991441-17-12-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcmXX8vD_IU

Tour 2012: Tempo With Yellow

This is what is fast becoming a common sight in the professional peloton, Team Sky riding tempo on the front of the peloton with one of the team wearing the yellow jersey (or whatever color is the leader's for that particular stage race).  This is Bradley Wiggins being paced by Team Sky, with Froome just in front of him, immediately behind his Thomas Voeckler in the polka dot jersey, then Vincenzo Nibali (the winner of the 2013 Giro) followed closely by Team BMC, including Cadel Evans.  With Wiggins out of the coming Tour, Nibali, Voeckler, Froome and Evans figure to be players in the 100th running of the Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com .  You can follow the direct link at the end of this post to this particular painting.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1991023-12-6-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UceIpM_D_IU

Tour 2012: Alone Against the Clock

Sammy Sanchez is one of the outside changes for the overall, although I don't see his team being able to pull of an overall.  While I have always loved to watch Euskatdel Euskadi in the mountains I have never seen them take control of the peloton.  This is from the final time trial of the 2012 Tour outside of Chartres.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1996462-52-48-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcUIBcvD_IU

Tour 2012: Lunch to Go

A couple of the big names coming through the feed zone.  On the right is Mark Cavendish in his rainbow jersey of world champion, riding for Team Sky in 2012 and the left is Cadel Evans.  Cadel did not have the most brilliant 2012 Tour, but looks to be well prepared for this year having placed third in the Giro d'Italia.  Hopefully, Cadel's team will be able to provide better support in the mountians, certainly having TeeJay with him will be a great asset.  Cavendish, on the other hand, has moved over to Omega Pharma Quickstep and they have devoted the team to his stage wins.  That plan paid huge dividends in the Giro with Cavendish winning every mass sprint of the race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1991443-18-12-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcMcxcvD_IU

Tour 2012: Saluting His Countrymen

Thomas Voeckler, who I admit is one of my favorites in the peloton, always rides a gusty Tour de France and I expect no less from him in the 100th running of the Tour.  This was a wonderful stage for "little Tommy Voeckler" to quote Phil Ligett, he soloed away from the break of this day to gather up all of the mountain points for the day, and to win the stage with so much time to spare, he could bow to the French spectators all along the finishing straight.  The mountains points he took during the stage were enough to put him into the Polka Dot Jersey, that he kept all of the way to Paris.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1993648-44-42-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcHvTM_D_IU

Tour 2012: Thanking Hincapie

As he crossed the line, Cadel Evans reached back to shake hands with George Hincapie.  George had been out in a break away, but was called back to help keep his team leader from losing too much time on the Team Sky armada.  Hincapie wrecked during the stage, was patched up by the race doctor, and still had the strength to keep Cadel in third overall.  Hincapie road every Tour win with Lance Armstrong, but he also rode with Cadel and Contrador in their Tour victories, as well.  He is the absolute definition of a "Super Domestique".  When George Hincapie broke his silence about the accusations against Armstrong, that is when I knew it was all true.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1993652-45-42-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcETAc_D_IU

Tour 2012: Arguing with the Director

The whole painting of cycling got started with the last Tour de France.  I have watched for years and follow the Tour as best I could since Eddy Merckx was winning the Tour (and everything else), but always felt like I wasn't making great use of my time.  I will admit to being a workaholic.  My wife, the actor Bridget Gethins, said, "Why not paint watercolors of the race?", and now this season the project of painting some of the Pro Tour races was launched.  I was taken by the image of the Director Sportif of Team Cannondale arguing with the race director over how their sprinter, Sagen, was working through the team cars in the caravan.  The riders are not allowed to draft off of the cars, so if they hang out to long in the car's slip stream, they can be fined, relegated or even disqualified.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase on my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1991557-29-24-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.Ub_QBc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Eight: A Winning Tempo

Team Sky fooled the peloton and the commentators, while appearing to simply be riding tempo to ensure Chris Froome's securing the Malliot Jeune for the 2013 Criterium du Dauphine, they were actually preparing an attack to benefit Richie Porte, hopefully giving him a stage win to go with his second place on GC.  The plan would have worked except for Di Marchi being too strong to catch and a late attack by Andrew Talansky of Garmin Sharp that forced Froome to leave Richie Porte behind and race to the line just getting the better of Talansky.  Not that it was in much doubt, but the second place finish sealed Froome's victory in the overall, and sent a clear message that he is ready to contend for the overall in the Tour de France.  This is the last painting for this series of the Dauphine, the next race I plan to paint will be the historic 100th edition of the Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162049---185083/Painting.html#.UbvYHc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Eight: Stripping Down

As the break away prepared to make the ascent to the finish line they shed their rain coats, capes and gloves figuring the effort of the climb would be more than enough to keep them warm.  Plus the mountain top finish removes the need to be worried about how cold it will be going down the back side of the mountain.  The peloton did the same thing, many just dropping their gear on the road figuring they would be able to pick it up again as they rode back down to their hotel rooms for the night.  And knowing that they didn't have to get up and race again in the morning probably reduce the worry of catching a cold in the rain.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162047---185083/Painting.html#.UbvWq8_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Eight: French Fans Over the Top

Even in the pouring rain these French fans came out to the penultimate climb of the day to cheer the racers over the top.  At this point the morning break has been scattered all over the climb with Alessandro Di Marchi and Meyer ahead of everyone on the Col de Vars.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162045---185083/Painting.html#.UbvVPc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Eight: Attacking in the Rain

Alejandro Valverde made a move on the penultimate climb hoping to use his descending skills to pull a move on Team Sky.  The conditions were perfect to run away on a descent because it was so wet.  With the Tour de France coming up no one wanted to risk a bad crash and put themselves out of the Tour, so it made for a slower more cautious downhill.  Alas for Valverde, he didn't have the legs to stay away on the final climb to the finish.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162043---185083/Painting.html#.UbvTHc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Making Sure

Sammy Sanchez was raising his hands in a victory salute when he thought, "I'd better make sure he isn't going to jump me at the line."  He takes a quick look behind him just to make sure the victory is his to celebrate.  This is a wise move, it has happened that a victory salute taken too early has allowed another charging competitor to snag the win.  A little bit nasty of a thing to do, but then all is fair in love and bike racing (although I hope we can now excluding doping from what is considered fair).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but act quickly, I am sure there are a lot of Sanchez fans out there that will want this.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162041---185083/Painting.html#.UbvSEc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Contrador Leads Then Up

The peloton has been reduced to a very select group on the last climb of stage 7, and it is a mountain top finish the riders are headed towards.  Alberto Contrador is on the front using his climbing strengths to help his teammate Mick Rogers gain time on those just ahead of him on GC.  Chris Froome, wearing the Malliot Jeune, is keeping a close eye on the proceedings while Rodriquez seems poised to attack.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162037---185083/Painting.html#.UbvQ_c_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Twenty to Go

Sylvain Chavanel and De Marchi jumped out from the leading break away with a vain attempt to make a long run to the finish ahead of the Malliot Jeune group.  As the rest of the morning break was absorbed by the peloton, these two dangled at about a minute and a half ahead of the rest, until they started the final climb towards the finish.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162035---185083/Painting.html#.UbvPgs_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Riding Towards the Hills

I am trying to include some of the beautiful vistas that the helicopter cameras manage to catch during these beautiful alpine stages.  The peloton is starting the lower slopes of what will be a mountain top finish in today's stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it is available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162033---185083/Painting.html#.UbvD_M_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Saying Thank You

Damuseau of Argos-Shimano wearing the Polka Dot Jersey, pats his teammate on the back to thank him for all of the hard work thus far in the stage.  I am guessing his teammate has just blown and can't keep the pace anymore and imagine he is getting a "don't worry about it" hug.  Or maybe Damuseau is just a touchy-feely guy, I did see him with his hand on the back of an Astana rider just a few minutes later.  The Europcar rider right behind these two is David Veilleaux, the first wearer of the Malliot Jeune.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162029---185083/Painting.html#.UbvCfc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Good to Go

Francais du Jour's team mechanic jumped out to make a quick change for his rider.  The quickest way to change a flat is to switch out the wheel.  The rider will have radioed the team car to let the mechanic know which wheel is flat and then stops on the side of the road and starts pulling the wheel with the flat off of the bike.  When the mechanic arrives with the replacement, he will finish pulling the wheel and then put on the new wheel while his rider holds the bike.  After his rider is good to go he will pick up the flat and then give his man a push to get rolling again.  This all should happen in about 15 seconds.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series it has been created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   They have a wonderful wide variety of quality art supplies based in the United States.  Also, this work is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162025---185083/Painting.html#.UbvA48_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Six: Putting His Head Down

After reducing the morning break to just four riders that came together to the line, Astana must be kicking itself that they got to riders to the finishing kilometer together an still couldn't out fox the sly veteran French rider, Thomas Voeckler.  Any rider that has held a national champion's jersey is forever able to wear the nation's colors on the cuffs of the arms. You can see the "Bleu, Blanche and Rouge tri-color of the French flag.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162023---185083/Painting.html#.Ubu_ks_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Six: Looking Around

Most of the time I get the feeling that the racers don't really even know where they are, let alone how beautiful their surroundings can be.  Here I seem to have caught them looking about, either checking to see how the other riders are faring, or to see the beautiful vista to their right.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.  Why not look around at all of the other art while you are there.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162021---185083/Painting.html#.Ubu-Q8_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Six: Cooling Shower

On a long hard climb of the Dauphine, Thomas Voekler dumps a water bottle on the back of his neck in an effort to cool back down.  I have enjoyed Voekler ever since he held the Yellow Jersey for 10 days in the Tour de France, finally surrendering it to Lance Armstrong on the third day in the Ppyrennes.  The break away has lost some of its numbers, but still contains Voekler, Herrada and Wellens.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by going to my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162019---185083/Painting.html#.Ubu9Fs_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Six: Sharing At the Top

I don't think I have seen this before.  While it is now custom to have team helpers stand at the top of climbs to pass out water bottles to the riders before they descend, I don't think I have ever seen a bottle passed to a non-team member rider.  Chapeau, BMC!  This is another rather large break, we are only seeing just the first three to go over the mountain top.  The large inflatable with the red polka dots show the line where the climbing points will be awarded.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com  In addition, this work is available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162017---185083/Painting.html#.Ubu7Z8_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Riding Everyone Off

Busche the last member of the morning break away was caught with just 300 meters left to race. He most likely would have made it except for the attack by Alberto Contrador and the counter by Chris Froome.  I think that Froome wanted to pay back all of the work Team Sky had done on the climb by taking the stage win.  The stage win also was enough to put Froome into the Malliot Jeune.  All in all a great day for Froome and for Team Sky.  Contrador showed that he is coming into form after is miserable showing in the time trial.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigN leach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162015---185083/Painting.html#.Ubu6H8_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Tete de la Course

Tete de la Course, which literally translates to "head of the race" and is how the race TV coverage lets you know where you are in the race.  On mountain stages, the racers end up all over the course with break aways, the group containing the yellow jersey, or the contenders and the riders who are attacking or being dropped from one group or another.  It becomes difficult to understand who is where.  This is Wellens riding for Lotto, taking a drink and pushing on up the mountain.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162013-21-18-185083/Painting/Sports.html#.Ubu47s_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Watching Sky

Rohan Dennis, who took over the Malliot Jeune in the time trial is keeping a close eye on Chris Froome and Team Sky as they head up the final climb of the day.  Peaking over everyone's shoulders is Alberto Contrador, now riding for Team Saxo Tinkoff.  Sky is in the enviable position of having two riders at the front who are within striking distance of the overall lead, Richie Porte and Chris Froome.  For Dennis it was not the climb he wanted it to be, he was dropped after one attack after another was launched against the Malliot Jeune Group.  For some reason, he did the whole climb in his large chain ring, the harder set of gears.  I would hate to think that he is no longer in yellow because his derailleur decided to stop working.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161527---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp6-svD_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Setting It Up for the Climb

The peloton knows that they are end for a tough climb when Team Sky goes to the front like this.  This looks like a lead out train for a sprint, but instead the team has lined up in the order of their climbing abilities, poorest first and the best just ahead of the "protected" rider.  Garmin Sharp is also lined up to the right, keeping an eye on Froome for Dennis in the Malliot Jeune.  The peloton is crossing the river that usually signals the beginning of a climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161521---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp6IMvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Popping Off the Back

This is my fate on every climb I do with a group of riders, popping off the back.  Fortunately I am a quick descender and ususally catch back up on the downhill.  This poor guy was dropped off in a small cat 4 climb ahead of the final HC finishing climb.  I didn't catch his name so I have know idea how much time he lost on the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161517---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp4oMvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Just a Little Push

One of the invitational French teams for the Dauphine is NetApp.  Their rider in the break, De La Cruz is getting the classic waterbottle and push from the team car.  While this move is technically not allowed, when it is not for a exhausted rider getting a pull up a mountain, the race referees tend to look the other way.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161515---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp3xMvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Long, Straight & Flat

Stage Five had the largest break away in the race thus far, I never did a count of how many were in the break, but it had to have a member of every team in it.  Some of the notables included Brent Brookwalter of BMC and Dameseau of Argos-Shimano.  This is the long straight valley road before the tough climbs to come.  Lately the breaks have been succeeding, but today, there was too much at stake for the contenders.  The last of this break, Bushe of Radio Shack, was caught with just 300 meters to go.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series, it was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com  The work is also available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of the post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161511---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp2XsvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Four: His Turn in Yellow

I love that David Veilleux is cornering hard in this painting of his valiant effort in the Time Trial of Stage Four, an effort that was not enough to keep him in yellow.  But he has had four days wearing the Malliot Jeune of the race leader, four days of representing Canada and his team Europcar.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161501---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp1CMvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Four: No Time to Look

The course for today's Individual Time Trial passed through some beautiful French roads, but Chris Froome had no time to enjoy the view.  He took today's ride to distance himself from Alberto Contrador, the man who should be his biggest rival in the Tour de France.  The shape up the road is the escorting motorcycle who stays far enough ahead to not create a draft for any of the riders in the race of truth.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161495---185083/Painting.html#.Ubpz7cvD_IU