Tour, Stage 1: Changing Shoes

I am sure that half of Spain's hearts were in their throats when Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) over cooked a corner and wiped out over a traffic median.  The three time winner of the Tour took quite a bit of skin off of his shoulder and apparently messed up his cleats in the bargain.  As he replaced his cleats with a back up pair from the team car, I was reminded of the 101st Tour when he road another 15 kilometers after a crash (he changed cleats then as well) only to pull out of the race with a broken tibia.  Contrador was steadied by his teammate, Matteo Tosatto, has he replaced his damaged cleats at 30 kilometers per hour.

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.

This is one of the paintings that you can see being created on my live videos at www.facebook.com/greigleach.

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Dauphine Stage 1: New Best Time

Alberto Contrador (Tinkoff Saxo) came to the Dauphine with a purpose.  He is riding to test his form for the coming Tour de France, seeing how he will measure up against the 2013 winner of both the Tour and the Dauphine, along with the winner of the 2013 Giro d'Italia.  He was the first of the three big name contenders to cross the line in the opening salvo in Lyon, and he laid down the new best time for the 10 kilometer course.  This is an original 4"x6" watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com   For this original work of cycling art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386048---199476/Painting.html#.U6BoAc_D_IU

Volta Catalunya Stage 5: Making the Move

Just because everyone expects you to attack, it doesn't mean that it won't work.  Although Alberto Contratdor (Tinkoff Saxo) trailing Joaquim Rodriquez (Katusha) by just four seconds may have left it a little late in the final climb.  He may of been relying to heavily on his descending skills.  His jump from the peloton was first cover by the man in fourth place, Romain Bardet (AG2R) and then they were quickly marked by Damian Howson (Orica GreenEdge), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) - who is tied on time with Bardet, and the race leader, Rodriquez.  This important move washed away Lieuwe Westra (Astana) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by being the first to visit my artist website at www.greigleach.com, for this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Tour Stage Twenty: The First to Launch

With GC placement on the line, Froome having sewn up the Yellow Jersey for 2013, the top five were fighting it out with each other to gain time to be on the podium in Paris.  The TV commentators and I thought this was it, the big move by Quintana attacking Contrador and the Sky boys.  After I painted this image, the TV Moto pulled out to reveal that is was Joaquim Rodriquez was the one to launch the first attack and Quintana is covering that attack.  Quintana started the day in 3rd looking for 11 seconds to overtake Contrador, and Rodriquez looking for 47 seconds to accomplish the same feet.  Chris Froome had over 5 minutes in hand, so he could just watch the proceedings, however, you don't have the strength and drive to pull on a Malliot Jaune and then watch your rivals ride away from you on the final mountain top finish of the 100th Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France. 

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Tour Stage Nineteen: Looking for Seconds

First Valverde and Bardet went up the road, a few minutes later, Rodriquez attacked.  Once Rodriquez had gone, anyone in the upper ranks of the GC had to give chase, they are less than a minute apart from each other.  Froome, on the other hand, has five minutes on the lot of them, but still he jumps and chases all of them down.  Even more amazing than Froome answering the attacks is Richie Porte.  Yet again he is dropped when the attacks start and quickly drops off the back of the group, and yet again, he digs deep and comes back up to his team leader.  And not only does he come back up, but goes straight to the front and paces Froome to insure that they don't surrender a single second to the others.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this little painting.  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%202013/2183679---186227/Painting.html#.UfCKlcvD_IU

Tour Stage Nineteen: A Blistering Pace

With the race for the Polka Dot Jersey and the stage win going on 10 minutes up the road, there was another battle for GC positions going on in the Malliot Jaune Group.  Saxo Tinkoff, the team of second and third overall (Contrador and Kreuziger) went to the front to lift the pace and see who they could put into difficulty.  While Froome has a very solid lead for the overall, there is currently only 45 seconds separating second place from fifth place and easy amount to overcome on a mountain stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can buy this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Eighteen: Last Minute Adjustments

With the peloton underway after the dropping of the flag, the nervous riders fiddled with brake adustments, extra drinks and energy gels and a quick "nature break" along the side of the road.  The peloton game out swinging on the very first climb of the day like they were eager to get the day over and done.  A "nature break" is code for peeing along the side of the road, remember these guys are on the saddle for 4 to 6 hours a day and they need to drink incredible amounts of water to prevent getting dehydrated or cramps.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at 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%202013/2183279---186227/Painting.html#.Ue_nnsvD_IU

Tour Stage Seventeen: Dancing on the Pedals

Alberto Contador has a very distinctive style on a climb, he rarely sits on the saddle and seems to dance on the pedals as he slides up the hill.  It was this ability to dance away from his competitors that one him three Tours (although one was taken away from a positive doping control during the Tour).  This year's Tour shows him unable to lose some of the contendors, most notably Neive, Quintana and Froome.  Again, the fans love to run along side their heroes, cheering them on in a full throated cry, the calmer ones just take photographs.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Sixteen: Diving for Seconds

With every member of the break away already across the line in Gap, it was the members of the peloton that were racing down towards the city trying to gain seconds on the men around them in the overall standings.  Contrador kept pressing his advantage having isolated Froome on the climb and having his own teammate in Kreuziger on the descent with him.  For a descent to help you gain time it requires insane risks, risks that had Contrador hit the deck and Froome have to put a foot out trying not to go down on top of the Spaniard.  The others in the break kept going all hoping against hope to gain time on the two fast men.  Fortunately for Froome, and by default, Contrador, Porte hadn't given up and soon caught the two adversaries after the minor crash and dragged them both back up to the other contenders.  All of this drama was being played out twelve minutes after Rui Costa had crossed the line for the stage victory.  In the end everyone but Ten Dam finished together and got the same time for the stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist web site where you can buy this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Sixteen: Contrador Attacks

With all of the GC men together and Richie Porte trying to ride everyone off of his wheel, it was time for Alberto to dig deep and see if he could get some time on Froome and the other guys ahead of him on the General Classification.  Everyone was expecting him to do something on the final climb and the TV Motos were both in front and behind the move.  Of course the cameras always watch the group with the Malliot Jaune because that is were the moves that matter happen.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183159---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9Fz8_D_IU

Tour Stage Fifteen: What Can We Do?

These two Spanish climbers were at the extend of their abilities trying desperately to get on terms with Froome and Quintana.  I think Contrador was amazed that anyone could out climb him after his years of dominating everyone when the roads pointed up.  Maybe the suspension was well founded and now he is racing clean.  Nieve and Contrador put there heads together, trying to figure out what they could do to answer the speed of the others.  They had to put their heads together just to hear each other with the screaming enthusiasm of the cycling fans lining the road for all twenty kilometers of the climb of Mount Ventoux.  I at least know what language would have been used for this tete a tete.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Fifteen: Are They All Gone?

Team Sky did the same thing in on Mount Ventoux as it did in the Pyrenees, they put the team on the front, each guy riding as fast as he could, until he couldn't turn the pedal over another time, and then the next one in line took over.  The ploy worked just as well this time as it did then.  Richie Porte was the last one in the line and he is just checking to see Kreuziger dropping off, had he looked the other way he would see that he still has Contrador.  But then the Malliot Jaune should do some of the work, right now it doesn't look like Froome will be up to the task.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Fifteen: There Goes the Move

Moviestar had worked hard all day to get as close as they could to the break away, after they started picking up the cracking riders one by one, it was time for the Quintana acted that every one was waiting for.  Omega Pharma Quickstep was hoping to keep Kwiatkowski in the White Jersey, but could only watch as Quintana made his bid for the stage, the White Jersey, the Polka Dot Jersey, and maybe even the Malliot Jaune.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France and the next generation of climbers.

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Tour Stage Thirteen: Winding It Up

The Saxo group had enough time on the yellow jersey group that they could start playing tactics (or cat and mouse to quote my favorite announcers), with Omega Pharma playing the first card attacking inside of two kilometers to go.  The Saxo Tinkoff guys watched him go, they were riding for GC while OPQS was riding for Cavendish and another stage win.  Team Belkin was just happy to let others bring their GC guys up in the standings.  The only other major players were the three Cannondale guys including Peter Sagan.  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 to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182523---186227/Painting.html#.Ue2__s_D_IU

Tour Stage Thirteen: Split After Split

Saxo Tinkoff, the team of Alberto Contrador and Roman Kreuziger, saw their chance to repeat the attacks of Omega Pharma Quickstep and with six teammates having made the first split, had the numbers to make it stick.  Wide awake were the next two highest placed on GC riding for Team Belkin and they made the split, along with two of the big sprinters, Sagan and Cavendish and Astana's Fuglsang.  The most important missing the split was Chris Froome and Team Sky along with BMC's Cadel and Van Garderen, and that was the inspiration to push hard on the front for both Belkin and Saxo.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France and the wild stage 13.

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Tour Stage Eleven: Long, Straight and Fast

Like every other pedaler on the road today, Alberto Contrador knew he had to put in a strong Time Trial to have any hope of staying in the race for the Malliot Jaune.  He went out strong, putting in a respectable effort, his goal was not to have lost more the 90 seconds, in the end it was roughly two and a quarter minutes.  So he is another that should have moved up in GC, I think he stayed even but lost time to Chris Froome, like every other in the race except Tony Martin.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Nine: Where Is Sky?

I was sure that I would be painting images of the entire Team Sky on the front of the peloton with Froome tucked in behind bedecked in yellow for the next two weeks, but Moviestar and Garmin Sharp had other plans for the day.  Garmin went first and then Valverde and Moviestar pulled a page from Sky's play book and put the whole team on the front of the group and rode Sky's tired men off of the pace.  Moviestar had another advantage with Valverde and Quintana high up on GC they could attack with one and then the other, just like Sky did yesterday with Froome and Porte.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artist piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179437---186227/Painting.html#.UeSuWc_D_IU

Tour Stage Eight: Riding by the Numbers

Much has been made of the training a discipline of Team Sky, some faulting the team for only paying attention to their power meters, pedal cadence and heart rates, functioning more like machines than cyclist but today they showed what all of the work looks like in a mountain stage.  The other interpretation of the titles is they rode every single contender off their wheels, it was only Valverde, Contrador and Krueziger left when Porte swung off the front and Froome road off in search of the a stage win and a yellow jersey.  After first Froome and then Porte caught and left Quintara, Porte was free to race for second on the stage and in the GC.  So while Sky may not be very romantic they certainly preformed the plan to perfection.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a quick 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Eight: Sky Tamping Out the Rhythm

Team Sky made a name for itself by going to the front of the peloton and just riding everyone off of the group.  It is a well trained disciplined team that understands the power meter and that fast and steady will most often win the race.  Maybe not the stage, but almost always the race.  The rest of the Pro Tour has discovered that they can't play their game, so the Giro saw attacks and chipping away at the long blue line.  Of course the weather was a big factor in the Giro, whereas the only wetness at the Tour is the sweat of the riders and the contents of their bottles.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your own piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179365---186227/Painting.html#.UeSbwcvD_IU

Tour Stage Four: Flying Along the Coast

Alberto Contrador and Saxo Tinkoff really tore up the roads of Nice in search of the stage victory, coming up about 5 seconds short.  However, I have got to wonder if like Team Sky, they did not want to have the Malliot Jaune just yet, there is still a lot of racing to come.  Nice showed just how beautiful the Mediterranean Coast and the south of France can be, even if the riders had no time to take a look.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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