Paris NIce Stage 2: All by HImself

One of the unwritten rules of the professional peloton is that the team(s) that get a wildcard berth into a particular race are expected to ride the race aggressively.  Bretagne-Seche has certainly lived up to its part of the bargain in the 2015 Paris Nice.  Yesterday they were in the two man break, today, it was Arnaud Gerard giving it ago all on his own.  I admit that I did watch the movie, "Bridget Jones' Diary" yesterday, so the title was kind of rolling around in my head.  Gerard may have been counting on another slow parade from the peloton, but it is truly a long shot to have a solo break stay all the way to the line.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (for only $50 USD plus shipping) just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you are enjoying the artwork and accompanying text, be sure to check out my recently published book of the 2014 Tour de France, Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  You can find it at most any online book seller world wide.  Simply google the title to learn where you can get the book and save on international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2523050---195767/Painting.html#.VP9W0fzF-xU

Tour Stage 19: A Little Bit of Advice

Arnaud Gerard (Bretagne-Seche) slipped to the back of the small group that was off the front of the peloton by over three minutes to chat with his Team Director.  By the hand gestures that were coming from behind the steering wheel, it seemed to be a discussion about the dangers of the course that lay ahead.  The group would soon be getting to the outskirts of Bergerac and the wet roads would make for some slippery roundabouts and 90 degree turns as the riders came to the end of a 208.5 kilometer slough through drizzle, wet roads and thunderstorms.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published complete collection of my paintings 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 you can become a part of bringing this art of cycling to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous Backer Rewards for those who choose to pledge to the Kickstarter "Book de Tour" project for as little as $5 USD.  Every level of support will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book.  To purchase this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But wouldn't you like to have a copy of the book that this painting will be included in as well?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408442---199992/Painting.html#.U9Muis_D_IU

Tour Stage 19: Leading the Way

The final day of open road racing was greeted by yet more rain.  More rain and the regular early break with some of the usual players for the long shot.  The peloton was guided through the course by a five man escape group that included some of the usual suspects, Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Tom Jelte Slagter (Garmin Sharp) and Rein Taatamae (Cofidis).  The only new guy to the party was the Bretagne-Seche man, Arnuad Gerard.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Stave Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published complete collection of my paintings 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 you can become a part of bringing this art of cycling to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous Backer Rewards for those who choose to pledge to the Kickstarter "Book de Tour" project for as little as $5 USD.  Every level of support will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book.  To purchase this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408440-145-138-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U9MsM8_D_IU

Tour Stage 10: Hanging Around

Stage 10 feature seven categorized climbs for rated at Cat. 1, the only kind thing that the race organizers did for the sprinters was to put the intermediate sprint point in the valley after the first climb of the day.  Peter Sagan (Cannondale) joined the break away up the first ascent of the day, Col de Firstplan.  He pressed his advantage using his superior descending skills despite the rain falling in buckets on the heads of the peloton.  His goal, to grab maximum points in the Green Jersey competition.  After crossing the sprint point first, he continued to hang around with the front of the race as they made started the ascent of the Col de Petit Ballon.  I guess the thinking being, "While I am here, if I can stay, why not hang around."  He joined up with Jan Marta (NetApp-Endura), Arnaud Gerard (Bretagne-Seche) and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar).  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com)  The painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This will be included in my soon to be self published tome of the Tour, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy and to get involved in bringing the 101st Tour de France through the eyes of this artist to print please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  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%202014/2402494-68-66-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U8SFi8_D_IU