TDF, Stage 16: He Has a Minute

I had a little fun with this title.  How many times have you been asked, "do you have a minute?"  Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe) had the answer... I have a minute - on the chasers behind.  As Konrad went under the 10 kilometer banner he had slowly grown his advantage on the duo chasing from behind.  Another seven guys were almost two minutes behind and losing seconds by the kilometer.  It was sure looking like his team was going to get another stage victory despite their sprinter having had to leave the Tour.  As before, this victory came on the same day that Peter Sagan made an announcement about his form.  Now we know just what was wrong with the seven time winner of the Maillot Vert.  His knee was infected having had his chain ring slice into his knee when he was taken out by Caleb Ewan's crash in the early days of the this Tour.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.  

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3823768-104-291436/Painting/he-has-a-minute-tdf21-103.html

Giro, Stage 20: The Last 10 K of Climbing

As Mikel Nieve (Mitchelton-Scott) started up the final climb of this Giro d'Italia, the Cervinia, he set off on his own.  Nieve had been working tirelessly helping is team leader, Simon Yates, hold onto his Maglia Rosa for thirteen days.  Now he was free to use his climbing prowess to his own gain.  Riding under the ten kilometers to go banner, it was looking like he was going to get his first stage win, and the sixth for his team.  Despite not holding the Maglia Rosa all of the way to Rome, Mitchelton-Scott has had a brilliant Giro!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3169675-88-249297/PaintingThe-Last-10-K-of-Climbing--G18-92.html

Giro, Stage 9: All Alone with 10 K

It was Fausto Masnada (Androni Giocattoli) who had the final say about who should be doing the work.  After his teammate, Davide Ballerini, had attempted an attack, and then Manuele Boaro (Bahrain Merida) had tried and fail, it was his turn to attack.  Masnada opened up as much as a half minute as he neared the ten kilometers to go banner.  While his efforts were admirable, it was with just three kilometers to go that he was finally pulled back into the fold.  But he again showed that you have to be willing to fail in order to succeed.  Behind him, drama upon drama was unfolding, ahead of him was just clear roads and tifosi.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3162399-39-249297/PaintingAll-Alone-with-10-K--G18-39.html

Giro, Stage 9: Continuing to Race

Some critics will complain that Movistar should have sat up once Sunweb and Team Sky crashed on the ascent of Blockhaus.  Others will insist that they had already started their attack, in fact they had been pushing the pace for the last forty kilometers, so they had every right to keep racing.  As they went under the ten kilometers to go banner, Winner Anacona and Andrey Amador (Movistar) continued to drink before the final assualt on the mountain.  Tucked onto their wheels was the ever impassive Nairo Quintana (Movistar) ready to launch himself off the front of the peloton.  The steep climb to the top of Blockhaus was just the place for the Colombian to take hold of the 100th Giro d'Italia.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2966838-62-235247/PaintingContinuing-to-Race-G17-63.html

Tour, Stage 5: Flying Towards Yellow

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) had dropped the final member of the early break away on the ascent of the Col du Perthus, with that he may well be on his way to a stage victory, a Maillot a Pois, and a Maillot Jaune.  Van Avermaet flew down the other side of the mountain, speeding along alone under the 10 K to go banner.  Using the one minute gained by the peloton for every ten kilometers covered, there was no way that Van Avermaet would see any of his teammates until they met up in the team bus later this evening.

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%202016/2819875-32-224974/PaintingFlying%20Towards%20Yellow%20TdF32-Greig-Leach.html#.V32O07grLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 3: Timing the Catch

The peloton did not want to catch the break too early.  For the sprinter's teams it would mean they had to work that much harder to control the front of the group, to keep other opportunists from attacking off of the front.  As they rolled under the 10 K banner, Etixx-Quickstep had all of their train together, the question was, were they setting up their sprinter or just protecting the Maglia Azzura of Zdenek Stybar?  Riding in the second train was Orica-GreenEdge undoubtedly setting up their youn fast man, Caleb Ewan.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created live using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Plus be sure to discover my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".  You can purchase it online at www.artofcycling.bike or ask for it at your local bookstore.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2741312-273-195767/Painting.html#.VuMz3vkrLIU

Tour de France Stage 6: Just Ten More

Kenneth Van Bilsen (Cofidis) had let Daniel Teklehaimanet (MTN-Qhubeka) take the final King of the Mountain points on the road, thus putting the Eritrean into the Maillot Pois.  This is the first time that a black African (or an Eritrean) has ever pulled on a classification leader's jersey in any Grand Tour.  But once Teklehaimanet and Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar) had dropped their pace, Van Bilsen attacked them in an effort to go for a solo victory.  After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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.  They are a family run art supply company located in the northern midwest United States.  You can find them on the web at www.richesonart.com.  You can find this painting and many others at my artist website at www.greigleach.com and you can purchase this painting for only $60 USD while you are there.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.  Remember, this is an original work of art, so when it is gone, it is gone.  Don't delay, you don't want to miss your chance to have a unique treasure from the 102nd Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2578488---210122/Painting.html#.VZ7LpPlViko

Paris Nice Stage 3: Fresh Legs

It was Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and then Florian Vachon (Bretagne Seche) that surrender the effort and dropped back into the peloton,  However surprisingly, Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) found the strength to jump onto the fresh legs of Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) as he attacked out of the peloton with just under 10 kilometers left to race.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.   To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you are enjoying reading about bike racing with this accompanying artwork, be sure to check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually all online booksellers, please google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2523634---195767/Painting.html#.VQCHJfzF-xU

Tour Stage 12: Getting Organized

Giant Shimano had spent most of the day on the front of the peloton in hopes of delivering the big man, Marcel Kittel, if the final pair of climbs didn't prove too much for the big German to handle.  Their back up choice was John Degenkolb, and it was he that stayed in the peloton with the legs to factor into the finale.  As the peloton slid under the ten kilometers to go banner, the sprinter's teams were jockeying for position and fighting to line up their sprint trains.  Part of the byproduct of the fight to get organized is a big acceleration, an acceleration that threaten the slim lead of Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge).  With the peloton in full flight it was unlikely that the lone Australian would be able to stay off of the front all the way to the line in Saint Etienne.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published book of my art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become involved in bringing this amazing edition of the Tour to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some wonderful rewards for backers at a wide variety of levels, all include your name in print on the special thanks page, and starting at $5 USD.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2404252---199992/Painting.html#.U8iGp8_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 15: Checking Behind

Once the break began to break apart and the selection began in the peloton behind, it was time for the opportunist to take a flyer at the stage win.  Johan Davi Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing) went off to defend his lead in the Maglia Azzuro King of the Mountains Jersey, he was joined by Andre Fernando Cardoso (Garmin Sharp) who had been in the early break of the day.  The pair are about to pass under the 10 kilometers to go banner under the eyes of the cycling fans lining the whole way up the final climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting measures 4"x6" and sells for $50 USD using my shopping cart feature at the website.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't delay, it is a one of a kind original.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2369740---198213/Painting.html#.U4K9lc_D_IU

Giro Day Twelve: Driving Hard to Gain Seconds

With 10 kilometers left to race in Stage 11 and only 20 seconds separating 3rd through 6th places, Team Blanco, Lampre and Fantini-Selle Italia, came to the front of the Magila Rosa group and drove hard hoping to get some time splits in the peleton.  Nibali and Evans just stayed with the move and saved their fight for another day.  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, but hurry, you wouldn't want someone else to take your painting home.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151497---184157/Painting.html#.UaAfVsvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Alone in the Rain

Adam Hansen by this point is the sole survivor of the days break away, and unlike most breaks, he went on to win the stage.  His last companion crashed out on the previous descent and Hansen waited for him to catch back on to his wheel.  But Selle struggled on the next climb and then crashed again on that descent so Hansen went on to a solo win of stage 7, the day before his birthday.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series was created with cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   Also, this painting and the others are available on my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149261---184157/Painting.html#.UZo9iMvD_IU