Tour of California, Stage 7: Lovely Roads

The Tour of California seeks out some beautiful roads to take through the peaks and valleys of the state.  Today the high light was riding back along the coast on the Pacific Coastal Highway, but even before the break turned onto the coastal road, they passed along side this beautiful lake.  Today's break took awhile to form and the final composition was a rather strong group including George Bennett (LottoNL Jumbo) who was only a minute and a quarter off of the lead.  Two of the other strong riders in the group where Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).  Rounding out the break were yet another representative form Axeon Hagens Berman, Krists Neilands, as well as Robbie Squire Holoweska/Citadel) and Javier Megias (Novo Nordisk)

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was painting using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com).  This painting along with all of my cycling art, is 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.  While you are at the website, be sure to check out my two cycling art books, "Book du Tour: Art of the 101st Tour de France" and, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2794946-40-223355/Painting.html#.V0JLPvkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 4: On to the Track

Two short steep climbs mark the end of a 134 mile race along the Pacific coast, the final on the Mazda Raceway just above Monterey Bay.  First it was yet another rider for Axeon Hagens Berman, Ruben Gurreiro, who went on the attack.  His effort was quickly countered by Nathan Haas (Dimension Data).  While these two raced away, the favorites including George Bennett (LottoNL Jumbo), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) played cat and mouse, trying to see who could escape from whom.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling art is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  You will also find my art/cycling books on the 2014 Tour du France and the 2015 UCI Road World Championships on the site as well.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. Don't delay, these are one of a kind original paintings, so once they are gone, they are gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792957-19-223355/Painting.html#.Vz0SOfmDGko

Tour of California, Stage 4: Dropped Them All

Gregory Daniel (Axeon Hagens Berman), bedecked in the bright blue jersey of most courageous rider from his efforts in Stage 3, showed no signs of being star struck.  The young American launched his attack on the penultimate climb of the day.  He looked back over his shoulder to confirm that not only was he the first over the climb, but he had dropped the rest of the members of the break.  With just 5 miles left to race on the longest stage of the Tour, he was hoping to hold off the break and the closing peloton.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling art is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  You will also find my art/cycling books on the 2014 Tour du France and the 2015 UCI Road World Championships on the site as well.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. Don't delay, these are one of a kind original paintings, so once they are gone, they are gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792954-18-223355/Painting.html#.Vz0OvfmDGko

Tour of California, Stage 4: Taking a Peek

The only thing odder than seeing the famous sprinter, Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), in a break away, is seeing him lead the small group up a climb.  I am curious what was going through Gregory Daniel's (Axeon Hagens Berman) mind as he rode along with one of the legendary figures still competing on the ProTour.  Also with this group was yet another of the young riders from Rally Cycling, Will Routley.  It feels like Rally Cycling and Axeon Hagens Berman have had a player in every break away in every stage of this year's Tour.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling art is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  You will also find my art/cycling books on the 2014 Tour du France and the 2015 UCI Road World Championships on the site as well.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. Don't delay, these are one of a kind original paintings, so once they are gone, they are gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792939-17-223355/Painting.html#.Vz0LdPmDGko

Tour of California, Stage 3: The Power of Youth

To the surprise of the commentary team, and to the ever dwindling peloton, the youngest man in the race (still a teenager), Neilson Powless (Axeon Hagens Berman) jumped off of the front of the group. He quickly opened up a gap of up to 30 seconds on those laboring up the Gibraltar Road climb.  The climb is the steepest and hardest in this year's Tour of California, and was proving to be upsetting the overall classification rather quickly.  Already off the back and losing large junks of time are two of the wearers of the Yellow Jersey, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Ben King (Cannondale).  It remains to be seen if the youngster Powless had the legs to hold off some of the big names of international cycling.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792237-13-223355/Painting.html#.VzvJBPmDGko

Tour of California, Stage 3: Leaving the Others Behind

Feeling the peloton closing in and the weakening of the other members of the break away, frist Tanner Putt (UnitedHealthcare) and then Gregory Daniel (Axeon Hagens Berman) attack the other escapees.  Gregory Daniel is the rider who is in one of the most popular images I painted during the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virgina.  The painting is of the young American riding over the James River on the Lee Bridge with the downtown city skyline just over his shoulder.  It is a treat to see those I watch race in the Under23 and Junior races move up into the developmental and Pro teams.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792231-12-223355/Painting.html#.VzvGC_mDGko

Tour of California, Stage 3: Checking the Time

With the Polka Dot jersey of King of the Mountains on his shoulders, Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling) went in the early break hoping to add to his point tally.  Not to be outdone, Oscar Clarke (Holoweska/Citadel) joined in the assault of the multiple climbs on the day.  .The duo swapped summit victories, leaving the jersey on the shoulders of Huffman until the final climb of the day, assuming he would be in amongst it at the finish.  Tucked onto the tail of the seven man break away group was Krists Nielands (Axeon Hagens Berman).  However with the big climb at the end of the stage, it was unlikely that the peloton would make the same mistake as they did on Stage 2.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792216-10-223355/Painting.html#.VzvBO_mDGko

Tour of California, Stage 2: Across the Valley Floor

True to form, Stage 2 of the Tour of California had its small break away.  At least it was the small one that was allowed to build up a seven minute lead on the peloton.  Earlier, 22 riders had escaped the main body of racers, and that was not allowed to amass any time on the peloton at all.  The foursome included Ben King (Cannondale), who hails from my hometown of Richmond, Virginia, along with Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Giant-Alpecin), William Barta (Axeon Hagens Berman) and Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" that was created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art (and two cycling books) are 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791502-6-223355/Painting.html#.Vzp-vPkrLIU