Paris Tours: Closing It Out

When I came up this title, I thought it was refering to both Matteo Trentin's (Quickstep) when at the end of the race and that he was closing out his career with the team with a victory.  But as is started to write this I realized it could also refer to the end of the 2017 road cycling season.  And now I also realize that this post will also close out my blogging on this year's art of cycling.  Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) did well to take second place on the day, he just didn't have the legs to catch Trentin who had launched his sprint from the back of the threesome.  It was Niki Terpstra (Quickstep) who finshed third ahead of the Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) lead peloton.

Enjoy the off season of road cycling.  I plan to ride, work on other art projects and get ready for 2018.  Thanks for reading and a special thank you to all of you who have purchase my artwork over this season!

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Other-Cycling-Art/3047812-42-206768/PaintingClosing-It-Out-PT-5.html

Paris Tours: Two Against One

With just three kilometers left to go, it was beginning to look like it would be these three competing for the victory in Tours.  Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) was in the uninviable position of racing against a pair of teammates.  Matteo Trentin (Quickstep) was leading the trio with his teammate Niki Terpstra waiting to contribute to the effort.  Andersen could take heart that Quickstep riders have blown a three on one break in Paris Roubaix last year, but it was going to be a difficult task to chase the attacks and safe enough for his own sprint to the line.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Other-Cycling-Art/3047808-41-206768/PaintingTwo-Against-One-PT-4.html

Paris Tours: Bunny Hop

Wet roads, travel circles and speed are not the best recipe for safe riding.  Fortunately for Benoit Cosnefroy (Ag2r La Mondiale) he was able to stay upright when his teammate leaned into him on the slippery corner.  In fact Cosnefroy was able to help his teammate remain upright, although the bumping made it necessary for the Frenchman to hop over the curb to avoid crashing himself.  The duo were on the front of the peloton, so it could have been much worse save for the bike handling skills on display.  Unlike us average riders, these guys race for 10,000 kilometers a year and train for nearly as many kilometers.  Their bikes are as familiar as our own feet are.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Other-Cycling-Art/3047802-40-206768/PaintingBunny-Hop-PT-3.html

Paris Tours: And Then There Were Three

With some wet roads and sharp corners, the original break was reduced to just Brian Van Goethem (Roompot Nederlandse Loterij), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marsielle Provence).  Michael Goolaerts (Veranda's Williems) had gone into a turn too fast and went of course rather than risk sliding out on the slippery surface.  With his mis direction and the speed of the three leaders he wasn't going to get back into contention - try as he might.  These guys were hoping to beat the odds, but the peloton was closing and there was still many kilometers left to race.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Other-Cycling-Art/3047041-39-206768/PaintingAnd-Then-There-Were-Three-PT-2.html

Paris Tours: Not Much to See

Apparently, I was wrong... I did decide to paint one more race before the end of the season, Paris Tours.

This one day race doesn't ever start in Paris (although I suppose it once did) but it always ends in Tours after 250 kilometers of racing.  While the race is usually one for the sprinters, opportunists like these five can give it a go off the front.  Stephane Poulhies rides for Armee de Terre, he is a member of the French Army whose job is to race his bike.  He is still active duty and could have year ended should he get sent to a war zone (not that a full sprint isn't oft consider a war).  Joining Poulhies is Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence), Brian Van Goethem (Roompot Nederlandse Loterij), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic) and Michael Goolaerts (Veranda's Williems).

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Other-Cycling-Art/3047037-38-206768/PaintingNot-Much-to-See-PT-1.html