Tour, Stage 8: Adding Up

Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL Jumbo) has had to stage wins in as many stages.  The Dutchman has had two amusing victory salutes as well.  The first win he came across the line with his index finger to his lips, in affect quieting all of those who had said he didn't have the legs to win at the Tour.  Today he held on finger aloft on one hand and then counted to two on the other, saying I just went two for two.  Behind Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) got swamped by Groenewegen to take second.  After literally butting heads with Greipel, Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) bounds his bars as he takes third on the day.  It will remain to be seen if the referees take any action against either sprinter.  The actions were the same as the events that lead to Sagan being thrown out of the 2017 Tour with the important exception that no one crashed in the sprint today.  Ever consistent Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) tooked fourth on the day.  He may a rare mistake of opening up his sprint just a bit too early to hold of the other three sprinters.  The Frenchman hoping to wave the flag of victory on Bastille day, Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) finished sixth on the day.

I did just learn that Gaviria was relegated on the stage for his agression in trying to move Greipel out of his way, as was Greipel for squeezing the Colombian against the barrier.  The resulting placing moved Sagan up to second on the stage and Kristoff into third.  With Gaviria and Greipel earning no sprinter's points on the day, Sagan's lead may already be unsurmountable in the race for the Maillot Vert (assuming he finishes the Tour).

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3187350-40-251072/PaintingAdding-Up.html

Tour, Stage 8: Having to Chase

The Irishman, Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) is seeing both sides of this Tour de France.  He took the stage atop Mur de Bretagne two days ago and today he finds himself in a desperate chase at the end of stage 8.  With just four kilometers left to the line in Amiens, it doesn't look like the bloodied Martin will see the peloton again.  In fact despite the efforts of his teammates, including Kristijan Durasek, he lost just under a minute on the day.  His Tour is now where near over, but the mishap didn't help his chances.  It does remain to be seen if his injuries were relatively minor (as they appear) or if they included broken bones and torn ligaments.  The racer's adrenaline will help them jump back up and finish a stage but it may hide the actual damage that has been done.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3187348-39-251072/PaintingHaving-to-Chase--T18-39.html

Tour de France Stage 5: Amassing Points

Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) added another stage victory and more points to his total in the Maillot Vert competition as the peloton stormed into the center of Amiens.  The "Gorilla" came from behind Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quickstep) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) to punch the air for the second time in the 102nd edition of the Tour de France.  The only one who was able to gain on the big man from Germany was the three time winner of the Green Jersey, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Saxo).  Just like the previous two Tours, Sagan has yet to claim a stage victory in this year's Tour.  However, unlike last year, he has yet to lay claim to the coveted sprinter's prize.  Sagan's efforts were enough to take second on the stage, but he is slipping further behind Greipel in the chase for Green.  Sagan does climb much better than any of the other pure sprinter's so he will have plenty of chances to close the gap between himself and Greipel.

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 small family run art supply company located in north central United States with incredible high quality supplies for artists and crafters alike.  You can learn more at their website, www.richesonart.com.  This work, and all of my cycling artwork, is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember, this is a one of a kind original, so don't delay, once this painting is gone, it is gone!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2578278---210122/Painting.html#.VZ3RzPlViko

Tour de France Stage 5: All for Mark

It is a true testament to the quality of the team spirit of Etixx-Quickstep that one of the two most prized jersey of professional cycling, the Maillot Jaune, was leading out their sprinter, Mark Cavendish.  Just before I painted this, Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quickstep) rolled off of the front of the pace line wearing the other prized jersey, the Rainbow Stripes of the World Road Racing Championships.  Just ahead of Cavendish, was his long time lead out man, Mark Renshaw.  The quartet of Etixx-Quickstep men were riding away from Astana and the rest of the greatly reduced peloton, not unlike the way Tony Martin claim the Yellow Jersey at the end of Stage 4.

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 small family run art supply company located in north central United States with incredible high quality supplies for artists and crafters alike.  You can learn more at their website, www.richesonart.com.  This work, and all of my cycling artwork, is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember, this is a one of a kind original, so don't delay, once this painting is gone, it is gone!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2578270---210122/Painting.html#.VZ3N__lViko