Omloop 2021, From the Beginning

 Having missed the opportunity to paint the Tour Down Under this year due to Covid (restrictions on crowds and sporting events - not on my contracting the virus), I decided to start painting the 2021 season with the start of the Belgium cobble races.  So here goes for 2021 and the Omloop Het Neiuwsbald.  And here it goes for the break away that went off the front a kilometer zero.  So the title is from the beginning of my season of painting, and from the beginning of today's racing.  Five got away and build up almost four minutes on the peloton behind including, Yeveniy Fedorov (Astana), Kenny Deketele (sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Matis Bouvel (Arkea Samsic), Ryan Gibbons (UAE-Team Emirates) and Bert De Backer (B&B Hotels).  It was De Backer who is leading them through the narrow twisting roads that seems to define racing in Belgium. Well that and the cobbles and short steep climbs.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3796482-1-290150/Painting/from-the-beginning-ohn21-1.html

Tour, Stage 17: The Fruits of His Labor

 It was one of the three from the previous post.  Miquel Angel Land (Astana) was just able to hold of the fast closing peloton of the elite riders of the Tour.  It was the Maillot Jaune of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) the came across next and Maillot Jaune of Tadiej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) rounded out the podium atop the Col de la Loze. 

As the riders finish, the are a gaggle of press photograhers waiting to get the shot that tells the story of victory and perhaps, later, the struggle of defeat on the faces of those who thought they could have done better on a day of big climbs.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703130-118-282744/Painting/the-fruits-of-his-labor-tdf20-112.html

Tour, Stage 17: Is It One of These Three?

 As this trio, the was still of the front, it was looking like the stage was going to go to one of these three riders. Izaguirre was repalced by his teammate Miquel Angel Lopex (Astana) in the front.  It was still Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) pushing the pace up the Col de La Loze with just 16 kilometers to the top and the end of thier efforts.  I am unclear when Lopez got there, it could have been that he was miss identified early by the commentators on NBCSN.  Or I could have be dozing off due to meds from yesterday's surgery.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703125-117-282744/Painting/is-it-one-of-these-three-tdf20-111.html

Tour, Stage 17: Checking the Time

 A bit antiquated but the Tour still has a motorcycle who's sole job is to go between groups of riders out on the road.  Now adays this information is easily communicated via race radios that are in every riders ears.  There are times when they will pull the earpiece out of their ears just to concentrate on the job at an.  When you on your limit, it really doesn't help to have someone screaming in you ear to go faster.  The red bib numbers on the back of Carapaz's jersey is for being the most combative racer on the prevous stage.  Although I think it should have gone to Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe).  Afterall it was his aggressive riding that won him the stage, Carapaz was second yesterday, and it wasn't a close second either.  But then the jury has bad a couple of bad decisions in this Tour thus far.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703119-116-282744/Painting/checking-the-time-tdf20-110.html

Tour, Stage 17: At It Again

 Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) is never one to give up, that is part of the reason I ama big fan.  On the Col de la Madeleine this trio left the rest of the large break.  Along with the aggressive riding of the Frenchman, Gorka Izaguirre (Astana) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) jioned in in the effort to get away.  Alaphilippe was just riding the only way he knows how, but Carapaz was hoping to give his team a stage win, since Bernal has now left the race.  Carapaz would be much higher on the GC had  been caught out by the cross winds in Stage 7.  

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703116-115-282744/Painting/at-it-again-tdf20-109.html

Tour, Stage 12: What Are You Saying?

Again, I don't know what the conversation was about, but it could well have been about setting a pace that would keep them away from the peloton but would also keep them all together.  The other possibility was that Nils Politt (Israel Start Up Nation) was voicing his annoyance with the work that Luis Leon Sanchez (Movistar) was doing.  Behind them, it seems that Imanol Erviti (Movistar) was listening in, question is, what language are they using.  Lagging a bit behind and starting to fade from the long effort of the longest day of the Tour was Matthieu Burgaudeau (Total Direct Energie).  While you can barely see him, Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) is still tucked into this break.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3698086-73-282744/Painting/what-are-you-saying-tdf20-67.html

Tour, Stage 11: By the Side of the Road

At first glance, this struck me as a typical rest stop on a club ride.  Had I know just how hurt Ion Izaguirre (Astana) was - he is the rider sitting against the wall - I may not have painted this.  The sport is dangerous enough without celebrating the crashes and road rashes.  This crash was the end of his Tour.  As I write this I don't know the seriousness of his injuries, but they did keep him from continuing to ride.  He was being checked on by two of his teammates, the Kazahkstan Champion, Alexey Lutsenko and Harold Tejada.  Standing beside the Astana trio is Jose Joaquin Roja (Movistar).  While he looks like he is just hanging out watching the Tour go by, he was rather tore up on his backside.  It wasn't until I saw him chasing back onto the peloton that I realize he his checking on his butt and back which are covered in road rash at the very least.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3697260-69-282744/Painting/by-the-side-of-the-road-tdf20-63.html

Tour, Stage 10: Bridging Back

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist the title of this painting, I think I actually laughed out loud when I thougt of it.  As the peloton went over the bridge onto the Ile de Re, Miquel Angel Lopez (Astana) was off the back on the rise up to the high point of both the bridge and the stage.  He was being pulled pack by three teammates but, alas, I could only identify Luis Leon Sanchez because of his Spanish National Champion's jersey.  They must have been very close to rejoining because the race director's car is just behind them, and they are passing the Mavic neutral service vehicle that is usually just behind the last member of the peloton.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3696547-65-282744/Painting/bridging-back-tdf20-60.html

Tour, Stage 9: Commiserating

As the group of GC contenders hit the final climb, the Col de Marie Blanque, the pace became brutal. Riders began losing the wheels from the bottom of the slope.  As they slide away, Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) and the Spanish Champion, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) had time to commiserate about the toughness of the effort.  Just ahead, bedecked in the red of the National Champion of Switzerland, Sebastien Riechenbach (Groupama-FDJ) was starting to yo-yo off the back just ahead of the Director's car and the Mavic neutral service car.  Both Sanchez's and Reichenbach's National Champion jerseys are examples of teams honoring the national flags and not adding them as a side note to the team kit.  Primoz Roglic's jersey is an example of how not to do it.  You can't even find the Slovenian flag on his kit.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3693434-56-282744/Painting/commiserating-tdf20-51.html

Tour, Stage 6: From Start to Finish

Clearly, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) had every reason to gripe at his break away companions, he had the legs to make the break succeed today.  He accomplished a very rare feat today.  He attacked at kilometer 0, and road off the front of the peloton all of the way to the finish.  He made a 191 kilometer break away succeed, ending in a solo victory in Mont Argoual.  The peloton was almost three minutes behind the Kazahk champion when they rolled across the line.  Today also was a new point for this Tour, none of the leader's jersey changed hands.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3690787-39-282744/Painting/from-start-to-finish-tdf20-34.html

Tour, Stage 6: On His Own

Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) came to the summit of the Col de la Luscette all alone.  He had dropped each of his break away companions with a relentless pace, a pace he used to catch and then drop the much younger Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling).  While he clearly had the legs to keep going, it had to be a bit frustrating that the road kept going up from here.  It was still another 12.5 kilometers to the finish of the stage on Mont Argoual.  He could take some comfort that there was only one man within a half minute of him, and the peloton of favorites was over three minutes back.

It look like he was going to take the stage, but he was too far down the general classification to have any hopes of pulling on the Maillot Jaune at the end of the stage.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3690754-38-282744/Painting/on-his-own-tdf20-33.html

Tour, Stage 6: "Pull Through, Damn It"

While the early break went at the 0 kilometer mark, it didn't start out as smoothly as it could have.  Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) wasn't very happy with his break away companions.  He was gesticulating wildly to get them to pull through to make all of their efforts a success.  At this point the group just had a view seconds on the peloton, but it was still uncertain if the break would stick.  Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) seemed the most reluctant to to his share of the effort.  Edvald Boasoon Hagen (NTT Pro Cycling) was the last to join the escapees.  Others in the group included the birthday boy, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) and the still reigning Olympic Champion, Greg Van Avermaet (CCC).

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3690683-35-282744/Painting/pull-through-damn-it-tdf20-30.html

Tour, Stage 1: Slow It Down!

Several riders had already crashed on the wet twisty roads of the Alpes Maritime. Others had been trying to get the peloton to slow it down when Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) came up to Omar Fraille (Astana) he shouldn't have got any complaint, and yet he did.  Fraille's pace had seen his own team leader slide off the road and into a sign on the treacherous, wet descent.  Fortunately Miguel Angel Lopez did not seem to be hurt, but his bike was left in pieces.  From here until the flat lands with just 15 kilometers to race, calm and safety took over the mindset of the peloton.  Although there will still crashes, with an important one coming with just under three kilometers to race. 

It will be interesting to see who handle their crashes best as tomorrow will be the earliest mountain stage in decades.  Sore muscles, bad road rashes, and low morale could lose someone the Tour on just the second stage of the race.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3683793-4-282744/Painting/slow-down-tdf20-4.html

Milano-Sanremo, You Go Get Them

Marco Frapporti (Vini-Zabu-KTM) looked across to Manuele Boaro (Astana) as if to say, "You go chase them down."  The duo of Matha Bais (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermac) and Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizane) had ridden off the front of the trio, the third rider being Damiano Cimi (Gazprom-RusVelo).  The five were the remaining guys off the front of the peloton, who had been out there for 250 kilometers.  Surely, this will be the longest breakaway of the 2020 Pro Cycling Season.  The quintet did join back together in their efforts to keep the peloton at bay.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632917-13-280747/Painting/you-go-get-them-ms20-2.html

Strade Bianche, Opening a Gap

With just nineteen of the 183 kilometers remaining, it was Greg Van Avermaet (CCC) that was letting a gap go on the penultimate gravel section of the day.  Ahead, the trio of Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) and Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) was just getting on with chasing the disappearing Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma).  I was sad to see the reigning Olympic Champion not able to hold the wheels, I am a fan of the Belgium.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3609826-9-280747/Painting/opening-a-gap-sb20-9.html

Strade Bianche, Vastly Reduced

As it was with the Elite Women earlier, the peloton was vastly reduced by the final 50 kilometers.  On the front Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) was talking over possible options with Jakob Fulgsang (Astana).  On there wheels, Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) must have been trying to eavesdrop over the rattling bikes on the white gravel roads.  Stretched out behind the trio was about the remaining twenty or so that made up who would have a chance to win the 2020 Strade Bianche.  Some of the big names, and last year's winner, Julian Alaphilippe (Decuninck-Quickstep) were way off the back, or even already off of the bike.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3609637-7-280747/Painting/vastly-reduced-sb20-7.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: Stripping Down

With the foul weather, it was a challenge to get the attire right.  The heavy rains had already removed two of the climbs due to flooded roads at the base of both climbs.  Alexey Lutsenko (Kazakhstan) was having a tough day of it.  As the peloton neared the now nine circuits around Harrogate, he decided he would remove his leg warmers before the racing really got serious.  As he pulled off each one he would wring them out, squeezing what appeared to be a cup of water from each one.  I can only imagine that as wet as they were, they weren't doing much for warmth, not to mention how much they must have weighed.

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3400589-44-266225/Stripping%20Down%20%20UCI19-44.html

Tour, Stage 21: Around the Place du la Concorde

Some day someone will invent a pen with spell check...  I try to be as much in the moment when creating these works as possible and sometimes I get my titles wrong.  When I published my Tour de France book in 2014 (on my website under "Cycling Books Gallery") there were lots of edits, and I had to correct spelling on everything I tried to use French words for.

Now back to the race.  With the traditions of the day honored, it was time for some bike racing.  Every time, someone tries to surprise the peloton and jump off of the front.  In very, very rare occasions, this gambit has worked.  This quartet of Omar Fraille (Astana), Tom Scully (EF Education First), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain-Merida) and Niels Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) thought they would be the ones to beat the odds.  They weren't.  As they rounded the corner to go into the tunnel under the Place de la Concorde they had built up a twenty-five second lead over the currently contented peloton.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3366688-123-263530/Around%20the%20Place%20de%20la%20Concorde%20%20TDF19-123.html

Tour, Stage 18: Chasing the Colombian

Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) were the two that gave chase to the fleeing Colombian, Nairo Quintana (Movistar).  The pair looked like they might pull Quintana back at first, but then he just kept turning the pedals over faster than they could.  Bardet was giving the French fans something to cheer about before they would get to see the Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3365295-101-263530/Chasing%20the%20Colombian%20%20TDF19-101.html

Tour, Stage 15: Who's Coming?

The break took quite a long time to get established today, and it was rather large once it did.  The peloton was looking at three catagory one climbs, the final being a mountain top finish.  Given what played out on the Tourmalet yesterday, it was looking like it would be another decisive day.  On the first of the big climbs, the Port de Lers, it was Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) looking back over his shoulder to see who was following his attack.  On his left shoulder was Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) and behind him were Sebastien Reichenbach and Rudy Mollard both on Groupama-FDJ.  All for were in the break to be able to help their team leaders on the final climb of the day.  Should the leaders not bridge up to them, then they could race for stage honors for their respective teams.

Watch this painting come to life as I talk about the Tour and creating cycling art here:

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3363339-82-263530/Who's%20Coming?%20%20TDF19-82.html

This painting has sold!