Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: A Bit of an Advantage

Apparently, I dropped a word when I wrote out the title, it should read "A Bit of an Advantage."  Ah, the downside of painting live and in the moment.  The duo of Ben Swift (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ) continued to hold a small advantage in the closing kilometers of stage five.  The two swapped going over the ensuing summits with this one going to the Frenchman.  Shortly after I painted this, Swift's teammate Tobias Foss jumped free of the peloton in his efforts to bridge to these two.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"A Bit of an Advantage PN25-18" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 5: Retaliation

It was a rather clever (and a bit mean spirited) move by the drop quartet when they caught back up to those who attacked them on the climb of Wickham Hill.  Lead by Michael Hepburn (Jayco-Alula), Oliver Bleddyn (ARA Australian Cycling), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal-Quick Step), and Ben Swift (Ineos-Grenadiers), caught the two leaders at full speed.  Rather than warning the others of their approach, they chose instead to sprint pass them giving the first attackers no chance of catching their wheels.  The plan worked to perfection.  Neither Torres nor Lopez were never able to rejoin their erstwhile companions, and eventually sat up to wait for the peloton.  Once those two were gone, the peloton dropped the hard chase giving these four up to a four minute advantage.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Retaliation TDU25-38" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour of Britain, Final Stage: At Full Speed

With everyone tucked back into the peloton, or kicked out of the back, it was time for the lead out trains to take hold of the front of the peloton.  With so many teams still looking for a stage victory, it was hard for anyone team to take complete control.  Added to that was the smaller six man teams that just didn't allow for domination of the peloton.  Ben Swift (Sky) had the Etixx-Quickstep sprinter, Maximillano Richeze on his wheel rather than his own Elia Vivianni.  Mixing it up behind were the teams of ONE Pro Cycling, LottoNL Jumbo and Lotto Soudal, all hoping it would be their fast man who claimed the final stage of the Tour of Britain.

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/Tour%20of%20Britain/2850515-87-189075/PaintingAt%20Full%20Speed%20ToB61-Greig-Leach.html#.V9ZNgJgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Holding Everyone Off

The Dutch National Champion, Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL Jumbo) went early in his sprint for the line in Builth Wells.  He was able to hold off everyone behind including (in order), Daniel McLay (Team GB), Ben Swift (Sky), Carlos Barbero (Caja Rural Seguros), Julian Vermote (Etixx-Quickstep) holding onto his Yellow Jersey and Boy Van Poppel (Trek-Segafredo).  The pro British commentators were sure it was McLay had taken the victory, even after Groenewegen raised his arm after crossing the line.  They did accept McLay had not won when he was the first to reach out and shake the Dutchman's hand.

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/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848902-55-189075/PaintingHolding%20Everyone%20Off%20ToB29-Greig-Leach.html#.V9DompgrLIU

Tour Down Under: Competing Trains

With such a clean relatively flat, straight run to the line, the teams had time to get their lead out trains in order.  Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) looks over to see Reinardt Janse Van Renburg with Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data) on his wheel.  He may have been wondering just who were these two successful sprinters working for.  Thomas had Luke Rowe and his sprinter, Ben Swift on his wheel as the two teams hoped to put their man in the perfect position to win the sprint and the stage.  Just peaking into the upper left corner is the train for Giant-Alpecin, a train that has had some very successful sprinters tucked onto the final wheel.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2683093-97-194179/Painting.html#.VqU9xfkrLIU

Tour Down Under: Grabbing Another

The big debate as the riders road up the climb out of Port Elliot was whether or not the sprinters would be able to contest for the win in Port Victor.  They were there, but didn't have the legs to stop Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) from claiming his second victory in a row in the Tour Down Under.  Just behind the man in the Ochre Jersey of race leader was Ben Swift (Team Sky) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo), both sprinters.  Just missing out of collecting bonus seconds was Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff) who held second overall but lost time to the victorious Gerrans.  It is begining to look like Gerrans will claim yet another overall victory in his home tour.  Only Willunga Hill and the final stage stand in his way.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2679739-86-194179/Painting.html#.VqKW4vkrLIU

Giro d'Italia Stage 5: Out of the Saddle & Up the Road

Stage 5, 203 kilometers from Taranto to Viggiano, was the first stage to feature a Category 3 climb.  But ahead of the base of the climb was the intermediate sprint, with no chance for the sprinters to gain points on the top of the climb up to Viaggiano, those without the red Sprinter's Jersey, broke away from the peloton in hopes of maximum points in the sprinting competition.  The break included an interesting mix of break away opportunitists, sprinters and those hoping for some King of the Mountain points.  Some of those in the break included, Rubiano Chavez (Team Colombia and the Colombian National Champion) Fabian Wegmann and Tyler Farrar (both Garmin Sharp), Tony Hurel (Europcar) and Ben Swift (Team Sky) amongst others.  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 art) is available for purchase through my artist website, 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%27Italia%202014/2363883-25-24-198213/Painting/Sports.html#.U3PoJs_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 3: A Little Push Along the Way

The peloton is followed by a number of support personnel naturally the team car has the Director Sportif and a mechanic riding along behind the race.  The car is loaded with food, water bottles, energy gels and all manner of rain capes, gloves and whatever the team may need.  Also the top of the vehicle is festooned with bikes and wheels ready to solve whatever disaster may befall their riders.  When a rider like Ben Swift (Team Sky) stops along the side of the road to get a bike change, the mechanic will get the car off of the roof, hand it over to his rider, and them give him a push to get back up to speed.  The peloton will not wait for the stopped cyclist, so the change must be as fast as possible, and then it is up to the rider to chase down the peloton to rejoin the race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2362595---198213/Painting.html#.U3AwVc_D_IU

Spring Classics: Classico, Milan-San Remo

Some of the big name sprinters got over the final climb on the run in to San Remo, but only Team Katusha brought enough riders to form a lead out train for their man, Alexander Kristoff.  He is now the first Norwegian to throw his arms in the air for the win at Milan-San Remo.  He had enough to hold off the fabled classics rider, Fabian Cancellera (Trek Factory Racing), and the sprinters, Ben Swift (Team Sky) and Mark Cavendish (OPQS).  It was a convincing win after riding for over six hours in rain, cold and even hail for the jubilant Kristoff.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Starting tomorrow I will be painting the Volta Ciclista Catalunya, so come back to see the race through the eyes of this artist.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332917---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8x0MvD_IU