Tour, Stage 18: Catching Those Who Went Before

Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) is having a brilliant Tour!  He has claimed both a mountain stage and the first Individual Time Trial thus far.  As he went out today he was able to catch Jan Bakelants (Ag2r La Mondiale) who started out two minutes ahead of the Dutch National Time Trial Champion.  Dumoulin was setting new best times at every time check out on course.  As he crossed the line in Megeve, he set the new best time where it matters most.  Now he had to sit on the hot seat waiting to see if his time would stand throughout the rest of the stage.

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.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2826657-128-224974/PaintingCatching%20Those%20Who%20Went%20Before%20TdF129-Greig-Leach.html#.V5EuKLgrLIU

Giro Stage 14: New Best Time

Stage 14 was an individual time trial commonly called the "race of truth."  The race is run against the clock by each rider individually, no team, no drafting, no place to hide.  The winner is determined by the rider to finish the 59.4 kilometer in the least amount of time.  The racers leave the start gate in two minute intervals in reverse order of their standing on the general classification.  So the wearer of the Maglia Rosa is the last to hit the road.  So until everyone has finished it is unclear who has won the stage.  That means it is very rare to see an arms in the air victory salute.  Patrick Gretsch (AG2R) was able to set a new best time.  Unfortunately for Gretsch, he didn't hold the lead for long.  The next competitor, Vasil Kiryienka (Sky), to finish bested the German by 26 seconds.  He can take some solace in knowing that it was Kiryienka who claimed the overall victory on the day.

This is an original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2558876---184157/Painting.html#.VWFpmflViko

Giro Stage 13: Just Plain Wet

The bright sunshine that graced the opening stages of the 98th Giro d'Italia seem now to be a distant memory.  Those that took to the start today faced a long wet slough on flat straight roads, straight until the final couple of kilometers were the town of Jesolo seemed to have a disproportionate share of roundabouts and 90 degree turns.  Even with a day that was tailor made for the sprinters, there were those who were willing to go for the long breakaway.  After all, the breaks have had unexpected success in a couple of stages already, why not today?  Keeping dry and warm was a challenge that everyone faced, in the breakaway, Jerome Pineau (IAM Cycling) sheds a soaking layer and passes it to his Director Sportif.  Joining Pineau in the possibly futile effort were Rick Zabel (BMC) and Marco Frapporti (Androni Giocattoli).  If memory serves, Androni Giocattoli has placed a rider in every breakaway thus far.

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, find them online at www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for only $50 USD at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But, don't delay, this is an original one of a kind work of art.  Once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2558514---184157/Painting.html#.VWAD7PlViko

A Long Wait for the Worlds

It is still a long way off until the world rolls into Richmond, Virginia to vie for the 2015 Rainbow Jersey, but all of us cycling fans can't wait.  As you most likely know, I spent last season painting a number of the big tours of the Pro Tour calendar along with some of the shorter 7 day stage races.  This is a painting fantasizing about what it will be like as the Elite Men contest the World Road Championship snaking their way through the streets of my adopted home town.  So while we are all waiting for the start of the 2014 Pro Tour season, enjoy this little guess what the 2015 Worlds will look like (and yes, I did stick Team USA on the front as they rip down Monument Avenue).

Tour Stage Seven: Dragging the Sprinters Back

With Peter Sagan on the front of the peloton along with his team, the sprinters that had been dropped got to work chasing down their rival.  With Greipel, Cavendish and Kittel behind, their 3 separate teams set about dragging them back to the main peloton.  With three teams chasing a single team is should have been quick straight forward work. Later post will tell you how it worked out for Sagan and the other three (all who have a stage win in the 100th Tour).  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%202013/2178359---186227/Painting.html#.UeIXAMvD_IU

Tour Stage Five: As Quick as Possible

The dreaded flat tire (or other mechanical misfortune) can erase any riders advantage he has worked so hard to gain on the road.  Sicard was in the break of the day when he flated his rear tire and was forced to chase back up to the group he had so recently been amongst.  As often happens, as soon as he got back on, one of the others attacked and Sicard was unable to match the acceleration having just spent so much energy catching the others.  The flat is fixed by a wheel change by the mechanic who has jumped out of the team car when the rider stops at the side of the road.  Usually the cyclist will get off the bike and hold it up in the air to ease the mechanics job (and to make the change as fast as possible).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through a quick visit to 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%202013/2178283---186227/Painting.html#.UeH0S8vD_IU

Tour Stage Five: Say You're Sorry, Petey

With the new single sprint point rules all of the big name sprinters are coming out to contest for the Green Jersey points.  Greipel got this one with Sagan, Cavendish, Kristoff and Rojas in close contention.  Sagan is reaching out to Cav to apologize for coming off of his line and coming dangerously close to running into Cavendish.  The title I gave this felt like a classic saying to me, later I realized that I had heard it many times in my wife's (Bridget Gethins) actor's demo reel.  She has a clip of her in a scene in the television show, Homicide: Life on the Streets.  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%202013/2178275---186227/Painting.html#.UeHxaMvD_IU