Tour, Final Stage: When It Mattered Most

Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) has won at least one stage in the previous five Tours de France.  At the start of the day, he had yet to cross the line first in any of the prior twenty stages in this edition of the Grand Boucle.  As the German National Champion crossed the line he looked to his right, just making sure that the fast closing Maillot Vert of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) didn't beat him with his highly effective bike throw to the line.  At least this time he did not.  The sprint for the final stage victory was opened up by the Norwegian sprinter, Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), but he was no match for the "Gorilla."  Perhaps if the line had been another 100 meters, Sagan would have gotten around the powerful German sprinter.  The other Norwegian sprinting for the line was the national champion, Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) who crossed the line in fourth place.  Sprint duties for his South African team fell to Boasson Hagen since the very successful Mark Cavendish left the Tour before the Alps to prepare for the Summer Olympics.  Rounding out the top five was Michael "Bling" Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange).  It is a nice fitting end to my day's paintings since the pair had shook hands prior to the end of the neutral start seventy kilometers ago.

This is the last of my Tour paintings for this year.  I am currently painting La Course and will post those in the next couple of hours.  Following that, I will take a bit of a break before capturing the Summer Olympics in Rio in about two weeks time.  I will be painting the lion share of the sporting events, not just focusing on cycling.  I hope you will check back for the "Art of the Olympics"

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828517-162-224974/PaintingWhen%20It%20Matters%20Most%20TdF163-Greig-Leach.html#.V5VrNLgrLIU