Il Lombardia: Giving Chase

Il Lombardia is one of cycling's monuments, and one of the last of the season coming two weeks after the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  There was a sizable group up the road that was starting to split apart on the penultimate big climb of the day.  That was enough of an inspiration to get Ben Hermans (BMC), along with Peter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge), and Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling) to jump out of the peloton in search of the tete de la course.  BMC had a good Worlds, taking the Gold Medal in the Team Time Trial on the opening day of racing in Ponferrada, Spain.  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, www.richesonart.com.  It 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.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the artwork on offer?  In addition, "Book de Tour," my collection of annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France is about to be released.  You can pre-order your copy through my publisher's website, http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  Only $29.95 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449698-125-120-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VDhFws_D_IU

Binche-Chimay-Binche: Slipping Off the Front

With the UCI World Road Racing Championships done and dusted, the season is just about over.  Just a few more of the classics left to contest.  Today it was back to Belgium for a dash from Binche to Chimay and back again.  The racing was on with a fairly large group getting up the road.  As I have written before, large breakaways tend not to work well together, and today was no exception.  So it was that Thomas De Gendt (Omega Pharma Quick-Step) slipped off the front of his cadre of compatriots including, N. Arndt (Giant Shimano), J. Bol (Belkin), Kevin Reza (Europcar), and H. Houle (Ag2r).  Omega Pharma Quick-Step had come to win and had the riders and the strategy to make it happen.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting 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 there, why not take the time to look around and all of the cycling art on offer, including my soon to be released, "Book de Tour."  You can learn more and pre-order your own copy at http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449108-120-114-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VDX-Y8_D_IU

Tour Stage 20: Getting His Three Minute Man

One of these guys is having the ride of his life, the other not so much.  With all of the top ten close together in overall time, everyone had a lot to ride for.  Tejay van Garderen (BMC) was on fire catching Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling) who was crawling around the course by comparison.  For the American, he was saving his placing and looking sure to move into fifth overall with a long shot at taking over fourth from the struggling Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).  Ultimately, van Garderen grabbed sixth on the stage but took over fifth for the ride into Paris, Mollema slipped down to eighth, ceding ground to the NetApp-Endura Tour rookie, Leopold Konig, who also was on great form today.  With 169 riders starting out in two or three minute intervals, it made for a long day for the spectators who lined the course.  Many came with picnics, lawn chairs and shade umbrellas to watch there favorites fly by.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com, and it will appear in my soon to be self published complete collection of my Tour cycling art, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can be part of bringing this race to print, please visit, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some great rewards for those who choose to back this effort, with an artist signed copy for only $25 USD, international shipping is available.  Anyone who pledges, regardless of the amount, will have their name included on the Special Thanks page of this unique visual treasure of the Tour.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But wouldn't you also like to have a copy of the book to go along with your painting?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408584---199992/Painting.html#.U9QgYMvD_IU

Tour Stage 14: Headed to the Top of the Tour

Joaquim Rodriquez (Katusha) started the day in second place in the King of the Mountains competition, while he was wearing the Polka Dot Jersey on loan from Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) he would prefer to be the holder of the Jersey outright.  Since Nibali is also the holder of the Maillot Jaune he is wearing the more important of the two jerseys, and it is the only time when the guy in a leader's jersey is not the leader of the competition the jersey represents.  The last man to win all three of the top Jerseys was Eddy Merckx, he would have had the White Jersey as well, but he was too old.  Rodriquez went on the attack on the fabled Col d'Izoard to try and gain enough points to claim the Polka Dots on his own.  He was followed up to the highest point of the 101st Tour de France by Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling), Mikel Nieve (Team Sky) and Rein Taarame (Cofidis) all of whom hoped to gain some extra time for the final assault up to Risoul.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will appear in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your copy, or to discover how you can get involved in helping to bring the art of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent Backer rewards including an artist signed copy, original artwork, pins, postcards and all starting for as little as $5 USD.  Absolutely everyone who backs the project at any level will have their name included in print on the special thanks page of the book.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, please follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405248---199992/Painting.html#.U8vbqc_D_IU

Tour Stage 13: Where Is Porte?

The elite of the peloton where plodding up the final climb, each watching the other, all of the top ten in attendance.  Quite suddenly, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) swung out of the line and went to the other side of the road, Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling) and Romain Bardet (AG2R) were sure this was the attack they all feared.  Instead, Nibali turned to look back over his shoulder trying to find the man in second place on the GC, Richie Porte (Team Sky).  Surprisingly, Porte wasn't there.  He had hit the wall (as it were), perhaps cramps, exhaustion, or the pressure of being the unlooked for team leader, regardless, he was no longer amongst the contenders.  Once that had registered through the group, they were all ready to go hard, each hoping to move up to the placing soon to be vacated by the Tasmanian from Team Sky.  Each began to dream of Nibali popping too, and the Maillot Jaune would be theirs.  Tejay van Garderen (BMC) didn't bike on Nibali's slide to the side, but watched the Astana rider, just in case.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published book of the 101st Tour de France art, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order a copy, or to discover how you can be a part of bringing the art of the sport we love to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent incentives for backers at every level starting at $5 USD.  Everyone who backs the project will have their name included in the special thanks page.  If you would like to purchase this painting directly, just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2404834---199992/Painting.html#.U8nE3s_D_IU

Tour Stage 6: No Place to Hide

Northern France, known as the "Bread Basket" is wide open and flat.  Not the best circumstance for the break away, their chances are much better when the road helps to hide them from view.  That didn't stop Jerome Pineau (IAM Cycling), Tom Leezer (Belkin Pro Cycling), Luis Mate (Cofidis) and Arnaud Gerard (Bretagne-Seche) from trying to beat the odds.  Jens Voigt explains why riders go in the break away by saying, "If you go for the break you have maybe a 10% chance of wining the stage, if you don't go you have a 0% chance."  Then their is the TV air time for the team sponsors to be considered in the equation.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  It will also be part of my soon to be self-published cycling art book, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your copy, and to find out how to be involved in bring this artistic story of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  If you would like 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%202014/2400092---199992/Painting.html#.U78lk8_D_IU

Tour Stage 5: The Ride of His Life

Covered in mud, soaking wet, cold and shaken to the core for over three hours, a jubilant Lars Boom (Belkin Pro Cycling) had time to savor his solo victory as he road up the final kilometer by himself.  Boom came no where near taking over the over all lead, but he can now claim a victory in the Tour de France on his resume.  This was one of the epic stages of the Tour full of drama, heartbreak and triumph that will be added to the lore of this Grand Tour.  And all but one will get up tomorrow to race another 194 kilometers, fortunately on smoother roads.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, pre-order your copy or discover how to become involved in bringing this art of this Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  There are some great incentive rewards for those who choose to become a backer of the "Book de Tour" through the Kickstarter site.  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%202014/2399436---199992/Painting.html#.U73f5svD_IU

Tour Stage 5: On to the Cobbles

After months of discussion and kilometers of racing the peloton hit the wet muddy cobblestones hard.  The sections of pave lived up to their billing and the stage was in for some deviations from the script all of the pundits had provided.  Normally these roads are raced in one day Classics and the men that line up on race day are specialists in riding the challenging road surfaces, but in the Tour de France there are a wide variety of specialties vying for victory and Yellow.  The peloton broke into quite a few pieces as crashes, slippery roundabouts, strong winds and fatigue took there tolls on the hard men of the Tour.  With a break away up the road the vastly reduced peloton hit the second section of pave under the leadership of Lars Bak (Lotto-Belisol) and Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin Pro Cycling), they were accompanied by Sebastien Langeveld, Andrew Talansky (Garmin Sharp) and surprisingly the little Italian in Yellow, Vincenzo Niblai, and his Astana teammates, Lieuwe Westra and Jakob Fuglsang.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will be included in my soon to be self published visual telling of the 101st Tour de France in "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your copy or to get involved in bringing the race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  To purchase this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2399268---199992/Painting.html#.U72x88vD_IU

Dauphine Stage 2: Catch Them & Go

As if to prove what I was saying in the previous post, Andrew Talansky (Garmin Sharp) wasn't able to answer the speed of the climbers attacks, but just kept climbing.  He eventually road across the gap bringing Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) up to Chris Froome (Team Sky), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) and Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling).  Once he got to the leading group, he realized he had enough to put in an attack, so he caught then and then went on up the road.  He was caught, but he went again.  But with his new Yellow Jersey on the line, Froome wasn't willing to let him go.  This is an original small (4"x6") watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to buy this piece of original art of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387176---199476/.html#.U6Is4s_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 2: Climbing at Their Pace

Team Sky has learned that the way to get and hold the Malliot Jaune, is to hit the climbs and set a hard, fast tempo.  A pace fast enough to prevent attacks and hard enough to shed the pretenders.  The team has spent a lot of time training with power meters developing the ability to ride the rest of the peloton off of their wheels.  Chris Froome (Team Sky) is using his teammates one after the other to reduce his competition, unfortunately, the team put their own, Richie Porte into trouble along with most of the domestiques of their competitors.  It was Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) would led most of the way up the Col du Beal, until he swung off and Froome attacked.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting, 4"x6", that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.   To buy this particular painting of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386088---199476/Painting.html#.U6Byls_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 14: Grinding Up the Mountain

Stage 14 from Agile to Oropa featured the first big climbs of the Giro, Alpe Noveis was the first Category One climb of the 2014 Giro d'Italia. The stage included four climbs on the day, the final summit was the finishing line in Oropa.  It should prove to be a big day for the General Classification competition as well as a chance to see the pure climbers in action.  The riders formed a 21 man break over the first climb of the day, but it was the climb up Alpe Noveis that began the sort out that everyone expected to see.  The first to push the pace on the climb was Albert Timmer (Giant Shimano) followed by Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) and Manuel Quinziato (BMC), hoping to ride themselves of some of the passengers in the large break away.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard measure 4" by 6" and is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2369370---198213/Painting.html#.U4GCtc_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 3: Doctor's Visit

There are many ins and outs to racing in a multi stage race all the more when the race is one of the three Grand Tours like the Giro d'Italia.  One is that in order to continue racing the following day, every rider must complete each and every stage.  So when a rider is sick or injured in a fall, he will visit the doctor that travels with the race riding in the caravan with the team cars, where those who need his attentions can drop back and hope that he can fix what ails them.  Here the team leader and GC hopeful, Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling) has the doctor tend to his left knee after hitting the asphalt in one of the many pile ups that plaque the rainy ride to Dublin.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2362591---198213/Painting.html#.U3Ap5c_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 3: Lining the Streets

After two days of spectacular crowds and exciting racing the Giro crossed into the Republic of Ireland on its way to the capital of Dublin.  Just like the Northerners before them, the Republicans turned out by the hundreds of thousands to cheer on the peloton waving the Irish flag and bedecked in pink.  Today's road stage featured the customary break away and included Maartin Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling) who further solidified his King of the Mountains Jersey that he won yesterday.  Riding with him was the Colombian National Champion Rubiano Chavez (Team Colombia), Gert Dockx (Lotto-Belisol), Ceccinhnell (Neri Sotolo) and Yonder Godoy (Androni Giocattoli).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting, and all of my cycling art, is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular piece, you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%27Italia%202014/2362585-12-6-198213/Painting/Sports.html#.U3Am5s_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Trying to Do It Alone

Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling) had spend way too much time out in the break away to let the peloton catch him without a fight.  So as his fellow escapees surrender and sat up Maarten had one more dig in perhaps a vain hope to beat the sprinters at their own game.  With just over 3 kilometers left to race he still had 10 seconds over the charging peloton, but once the sprinter's trains have the bit between their teeth, that is no where near enough time.  So yet again, the valiant effort of the break away was unsuccessful.  Although Tjallingii was able to claim the King of the Mountains Jersey for his efforts on the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2362021---198213/Painting.html#.U26vks_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Sprinting for Points

Stage two of the Giro d'Italia included the first chance for the racers to claim points in the King of the Mountain Competition with this relatively small climb up Cushendall Road along the northern coast of Northern Ireland, not far from the Bushmill's distillery.  With just a few points on offer from the Category 4 climb the four riders of the early break went into an all out sprint to get points for the first three across the line.  It was Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling) that nip Andrea Fedi (Neri Sotolo) at the line for maximum points with Jeffry Johan Romero (Team Colombia) and Sander Arme (Lotto-Belisol) completing the make up of the four man break away.  These riders built up a lead of five and a half minutes before the team of the Pink Jersey and the sprinters' teams started the long sure chase.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com,  Also, this (and all of my cycling paintings) is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com  Or you could follow the direct link at the end of this post for this particular painting.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361967---198213/Painting.html#.U26hDc_D_IU

Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Stomping on the Peddles

Now that the peloton had pulled back the early break, wheeled back in Alex Howes (Garmin Sharp) the attacks started coming fast and furious.  This time it was Vincenzo Niblai (Astana & the 2013 winner of the Giro d'Italia) who jumped away with a couple of riders, and then attacked again.  Only to be matched in the effort by Cyril Gautier (Europcar) and Lars Petter Nordhaug (Belkin Pro Cycling).  Moments later, it was Lars' turn to have a go in search of the two tiny climbers who had escaped on the final recognized climb of the day.  This group was running out of real estate with just 5 kilometers left until the line in Liege.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2354505---195767/Painting.html#.U13Zp8vD_IU

Fleche Wallone: One Last Look

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was wise enough to take one last look over his shoulder, making sure that no one was going to catch him, before he threw his arms in the air celebrating his victory in Fleche Wallone.  He timed his surge just right getting around the fading Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) who claimed second, Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling) and Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS) who finished out the podium in third place.  It was a great way to pay back the hard work put in by the Spanish National Champion, Herrada (Movistar).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2352159---195767/Painting.html#.U1iRrsvD_IU

Fleche Wallone: Fighting Up the Huy

Fleche Wallone ends after 199 kilometers with a one and a half kilometer climb up a wall called the Mur du Huy (or the Murder) that has 19 percent gradient sections with an average of 11 percent.  The finish line is at the top of the third time up this climb so it is here that the race is won or lost.  Part of the challenge is waiting long enough to put in your attack, go too soon and you will burst before the top, wait too long and you will run out of real estate before you reach the finish.  This is the point of absolute effort by Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS), Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) and Romain Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo), with less than 500 meters to the line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2352153---195767/Painting.html#.U1iPiMvD_IU

Paris Roubaix: Up to Half a Minute

A holdover from the days before race radios the race organization provides a motorcycle with a chalkboard who will ride between each group on the road showing them the time gaps.  This is so low tech that it is done with a stop watch and written with chalk on a traditional chalkboard.  Some races have gone to the dry erase board which will work a little better in the rain.  This is the break with Thor Hushovd (BMC), Simon Geraints (Sky) and now with Tom Boonen (OPQS) who have the power to stay away to the finish.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2345233---195767/Painting.html#.U0rfNM_D_IU

Tour of Flanders: Getting His Third

And the winner of the game of cat and mouse... Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) claimed his third victory, and the second in a row, of the Tour of Flanders, nipping Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) at the line, with Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin Pro Cycling) punching the air in frustration as he takes third ahead of Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma Quickstep).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com, or you could follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2342033---195767/Painting.html#.U0IXys_D_IU