Il Lombardia: Alone at the Line

I am always baffled when riders will look at each other, each hoping the other will try be the one to go after the attacking rider.  Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) put in the hard surprise attack that left everyone looking at each other.  Finally, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was joined by Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), and Samuel Sanchez (BMC), but it was too late to catch the victorious Irishman.  Valverde's second place was enough to solidify his lead in the 2014 UCI ProTour rankings with just the Tour of Beijing to go.  This is a small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  To purchase my soon to be released, "Book de Tour," please visit http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth where you can pre-order my collection of annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France and the inaugural La Course.  The book is a soft cover 240 page retelling of all of the drama of both races as seen through the eyes of this artist.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449730---195767/Painting.html#.VDhVfs_D_IU

Il Lombardia: Hitting Them Hard

Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) made the perfect move with less than a kilometer to go to the line.  He came from the back of the very select group that had caught Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol), hitting them all at full speed before anyone knew he was attacking.  Sammy Sanchez (BMC) look across at Rui Costa (Lampre) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) to see if any one was going to try and chase the flying Irishman.  Martin had crashed out of the Giro d'Italia in the opening minutes of the Team Time Trial as the Giro opened in his home country of Ireland.  It has been rumored that the reason the Giro started with the TTT was it was almost certain that Martin would take the Pink Jersey of race leader and hold it through all of the Irish stages.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  The painting is only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449714---195767/Painting.html#.VDhOd8_D_IU

Il Lombardia: He's Got a Descent Gap

With the final ascent up from Bergamo to the ancient walled city of Bergamo Alta, Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol) took advantage of the steep 10% cobbled section of the climb to jump away from the select group that had formed off of the front of the peloton.  After whipping around the tight corner and through the narrow gate of the old city, Wellens build him self a sizable 16 second gap on the rest of the hopefuls.  It was quite the crowd of tifosi who lined the sun drenched final climb of the race.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449710---195767/Painting.html#.VDhKZc_D_IU

Il Lombardia: Down to Two

Ben Hermans (BMC) and Peter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge) had set off after the breakaway on the previous climb.  By the time they had neared the final big climb of the day, they had ridden everyone off of their wheels.  While they still had over 40 kilometers to the finish, they were looking like they had the legs to make it all the way to the finish in Bergamo Alta.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Also, be sure to check out my soon to be released, "Book de Tour" at http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  The book is a complete collection (and then some) of my annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France and the inaugural La Course.  International shipping is available for this painting and for the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449702---195767/Painting.html#.VDhIS8_D_IU

Il Lombardia: Giving Chase

Il Lombardia is one of cycling's monuments, and one of the last of the season coming two weeks after the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  There was a sizable group up the road that was starting to split apart on the penultimate big climb of the day.  That was enough of an inspiration to get Ben Hermans (BMC), along with Peter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge), and Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling) to jump out of the peloton in search of the tete de la course.  BMC had a good Worlds, taking the Gold Medal in the Team Time Trial on the opening day of racing in Ponferrada, Spain.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  It is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the artwork on offer?  In addition, "Book de Tour," my collection of annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France is about to be released.  You can pre-order your copy through my publisher's website, http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  Only $29.95 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449698-125-120-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VDhFws_D_IU

Binche-Chimay-Binche: He Slipped Away

Omega Pharma Quick-Step had played their cards, or should I say riders, to perfection.  All day it was Thomas De Gendt out ahead of the group.  Then it was Niki Terpstra who left the peloton to join his teammate at the business end of the race.  Finally as the break went under the kilometer, it was the third man of the triumphant, Zdenek Stybar, the National Road Racing Champion of the Czech Republic, who nipped off the front.  Around the corner it was Styby who raised his arms in victory.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available, and the painting is only $50 USD.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449128---195767/Painting.html#.VDYVgs_D_IU 

Binche-Chimay-Binche: What's Left of the Peloton

With just 18 kilometers left to race the peloton vacillated between riding hard and looking around.  The end of the season long, wet race in the strong crosswinds left a very small peloton trying to figure out if they had the legs to chase down the break.  Strung out behind the diminished peloton is the ever present convoy of race officials, team cars, medics and then far, far behind, the broom wagon.  This is a small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449124---195767/Painting.html#.VDYM-s_D_IU

Binche-Chimay-Binche: All Lined Up

I am beginning to wonder if the peloton can only come to Belgium if it is cold, wet and miserable.  With the open fields and strong winds it was a day for echelons and arm warmers.  The winds broke the race into smaller and smaller groups along the wet roads.  The reduced peloton has gone after the second group up the road lead by Cofidis and BMC Pro Cycling.  Tucked in behind them were a couple of the smaller Continental Pro Teams.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there why not take the time to browse all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449112---195767/Painting.html#.VDYI2M_D_IU

Binche-Chimay-Binche: On Home Soil

With the breakaway falling apart, but still up the road, the Belguim National Road Racing Champion, Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol) and his compatriot Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), set off in search of the tete de la course.  Don't be too alarmed by Debusschere's odd shaped back.  He has simply stuffed his rain cape into the top of his jersey now that the sun has finally decided to shine.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there why not take the time to check out all of the cycling art on offer?  Also be sure to take the opportunity to pre-order my soon to be released, "Book de Tour" here;
http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  It is a complete retelling of the 101st Tour de France through my annotated original watercolor and ink paintings, all painted as the race was unfolding in all of its unpredictable glory.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449110---195767/Painting.html#.VDYC58_D_IU

Binche-Chimay-Binche: Slipping Off the Front

With the UCI World Road Racing Championships done and dusted, the season is just about over.  Just a few more of the classics left to contest.  Today it was back to Belgium for a dash from Binche to Chimay and back again.  The racing was on with a fairly large group getting up the road.  As I have written before, large breakaways tend not to work well together, and today was no exception.  So it was that Thomas De Gendt (Omega Pharma Quick-Step) slipped off the front of his cadre of compatriots including, N. Arndt (Giant Shimano), J. Bol (Belkin), Kevin Reza (Europcar), and H. Houle (Ag2r).  Omega Pharma Quick-Step had come to win and had the riders and the strategy to make it happen.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to look around and all of the cycling art on offer, including my soon to be released, "Book de Tour."  You can learn more and pre-order your own copy at http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449108-120-114-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VDX-Y8_D_IU