Tour de France Stage 8: For the Home Fans

The French now have their first victory in their home Tour.  Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R) riding for a French team got the jump on the rest of the hopefuls to spread his arms in pure joy has he claimed the stage atop Mur de Bretagne.  Dan Martin (Cannondale Garmin) left it a little too late to reward the team for all of their work.  He did claim second a couple of seconds ahead of the group, but it wasn't what he or the team hoped for.  I do remember Tours where the French barely made an appearance on the podiums, but with their success last year, the country's cyclists looked poised to reclaim the Tour de France.  Although probably not this year.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, in fact all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, since this is a one of a kind original, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579348---210122/Painting.html#.VaGHp_lViko

Criterium International Stage 3: Another Go

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) was desperate to chase down the fleeing Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R) but wasn't getting any help form Pinot's teammates Alexis Villermoz and Jan Bakelants.  Pierrick Fedrigo (Bretagne Seche) was happy to sit in and let the Frenchman do the work.  Given the lack of help, Pinot looked back and then gave another acceleration to rid himself of the wheel suckers.  With just under a kilometer left to race, Peraud had a tall order to make up 22 seconds on his countryman and adversary up the Col.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting, for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, and yes, international shipping is available.  Enjoying reading about professional cycling with this accompanying art?  Then be sure to check out my recently publish book on the 2014 Tour de France, just google the title, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" to discover where you can order a copy from your local online book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2535444---195767/Painting.html#.VRrrH_nF-xU

Giro d'Italia Stage 8: On the Pirate's Hills

Perhaps I should explain this title.  The famous (and infamous) Italian champion cyclist, former winner of the Giro, multi stage winner in the Tour de France, and contemporary of Lance Armstrong, Marco Pantani lived and trained in this region of Umbria.  The stage was dedicated to his memory, and memorials, bill boards and banners dotted the course the these new found heros pedaled.  With the break away now strewn all over the road in groups of twos and threes, this select group  of the main rivals churned their way up the Cippo di Carpeona, paced along by Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R) and is team mate, Domenico Pozzovivo.  They were watched by Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff Saxo) and Cadel Evans (BMC), in case someone who mattered went up the road.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2365131---198213/Painting.html#.U3huqs_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 7: Who Is That?

AG2R, the team that has the Yellow Jersey, had to ride hard on the front to defend Betancur's Jersey and chase down any threads to his lead.  You can see Villermoz look over at the attacking Dries Devenyns (Giant Shimano) to see if he was one of the riders close to his man on GC.  Since he wasn't they knew they could let him go and dare one of the other teams to chase him down.  While they didn't want to lose time, they also didn't need to win the stage either.  It was up to the others to attack and go for stage wins in hopes of taking back the Yellow Jersey.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328817---195767/Painting.html#.UyUyLM_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 6: Putting the Team on the Front

As I have said AG2R was most aggressive in Paris Nice today and sensed weakness in Team Sky, so once the next breakaway had been caught (containing one of their own), the Director Sportif called all of the team to the front of the peloton and told them to ride and ride hard.  They were riding to the benefit of Carlos Betancur who started the day just 9 seconds down on the Yellow Jersey of Simon Geraints (who you can see at the back of the group).  AG2R has hit the 2014 season with renewed vigor hoping to reclaim French cycling's reputation.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328171---195767/Painting.html#.UyPDu8vD_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 6: Schleck Slides Up the Road

Yet another break caught and another group charges off up the road.  Trek Factory Racing has the honor having both of the Schleck brothers in their team.  Here Frank shows that he has some strong early season form and is joined by the two attacking teams of IAM Cycling and AG2R.  This time it was Stefan Denilf and Alexis Villermoz respectfully, with the AG2R rider making his second attempt of the stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase from my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328169---195767/Painting.html#.UyPAnsvD_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 6: Looking Around

Today was a day for attacking, after each break was caught another would go.  Team Sky, holding the Yellow Jersey, was not its normal dominate self, basically conceding the jersey in the press before the day of racing even began.  AG2R and IAM Cycling prove to be the most combative teams in today's racing. While I didn't catch the name of the IAM rider, he went on this move with Jose Rodolfo Serpa of Lampre Merida and Alexis Villermoz of AG2R.  As the peloton tries to get on terms behind them, they are looking at each other trying to see who has the legs to lead the attack.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328167---195767/Painting.html#.UyO9asvD_IU