Liege Bastogne Liege: Now There Are Five

Casper Pedersen's (Aqua Blue Sport) attack served only to split up the nine man break away.  First, it left him to tired to stay with the chasers once they got back onto the Dane's wheel.  And second, the chase left a few off the back to be swept up by the peloton in just a few minutes time.  Those left on the front of the race included Pedersen's teammate, Mark Christian, along with Loic Vliegen (BMC), Jerome Baugnies (Wanty Groupe-Gobert), Paul Ourselin (Direct Energie) and Anthony Perez (Cofidis).  Perez road in the early break on Wednesday in La Fleche Wallone, only to find himself trying again today.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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/Spring-Classics-/3151236-423-195767/PaintingNow-There-Are-Five-LBL18-3.html

Liege Bastogne Liege: Sprinting for Euros

Unlike multi-day stage races, there is now King of the Mountains jersey to be won in a single day race like Liege Bastogne Liege.  However, there is prize money for being the first to crest each of the eleven catagorized climbs that make up this "Old Lady" of cycling.  Jumping away from his eight break away companions was Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue Sport).  Anthony Perez (Cofidis) just watched him ride away perhaps in disbelief of the effort the Dane was putting in.  Pedersen went on with his attack on the descent gaining about a half a minute on the rest of the break.  With the Cote de Bellevaux lying so far from the finish of the day, it seemed a tall order to hold of a peloton that was already beginning to reel the break back in.

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.

This painting is sold!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3151235-422-195767/PaintingSprinting-for-Euros-LBL18-2.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: No Time to Stop

Just as the early break was caught by the peloton, they were all riding through the feed zone.  Conor Dunne figure now was a good time to grab lunch, he is only about half way through the 259 kilometer race.  When I was racing amateur, I always thought I was too tall to make a serious go of racing (plus I wasn't winning every time I went out, either), but Dunne is the tallest professional cyclist by far.  He stands at 6' 8", so tall that I couldn't even fit his head into the painting!  The course had two feed zones where riders could attempt to grab bidons and musettes from the soigneurs since going to the team cars would expend too much energy.  The size of this peloton, 196 riders, meant the caravan was a long, long way away.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3038026-50-239826/PaintingNo-Time-to-Stop--Bergen-50.html

Vuelta, Stage 19: Lantern Rouge

The "Lantern Rouge" is the designation for the rider in last place on the general classification.  That honor is being held by the tallest main in the peloton, Conor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport).  Dunne is riding for his team, not for a high finish.  He was largely responsible for their climber, Stephan Denifi getting into the break the lead to his stage win.  As proof of the value the team places in the Irishman, he is being assisted up the climb by his teammate, Peter Koning.  For such a big man, he is doing well to hold onto the Team Sky lead peloton as it makes climb after climb on the 156 kilometer day of racing.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Vuelta-2017/3031002-45-239162/PaintingLantern-Rouge-V-46.html

Vuelta, Stage 17: Through the Crowd

Stefan Denifi (Aqua Blue Sport), the Austrian climber on the Irish team, salutes the crowd as he takes the stage on the summit of Los Machucos.  This climb was a brutal monster with sections that were near 30%, so steep that the builders of the road was had lateral grooves in the road surface to help vehicles keep traction on the way up the twisting hairpin turns.  Denifi was able to hold off the charging Alberto Contador, to take the first stage for his team, or any non-Pro Tour team in this year's Vuelta.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Vuelta-2017/3030111-39-239162/PaintingThrough-the-Crowd-V-40.html

Vuelta, Stage 17: I Flicked My Elbow

I should explain the title.  When a rider is either ready to pull off of the front, or is trying to encourage those behind to take over the pace making, he will flip his elbow out to the side as a signal for those behind to move forward.  When I am on group rides I will usual tap my butt to indicate the same intention, but the pro peloton is moving a lot quicker and sometimes it is unwise to remove a hand from the handlebars.  Stefan Denifi (Aqua Blue Sport) has just swung off of the front on the first of the two climbs of the day, and seems a bit displeased with how long it is taking Daniel Moreno (Movistar) to take over the pace making.  On the Spaniard's wheel is Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep), Alessandro de Marchi (BMC) and finally, Magnus Cort (Orica Scott).

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Vuelta-2017/3030088-37-239162/PaintingI-Flicked-My-Elbow-V-38.html