Tour, Stage 14: "You Know They're Here?"

The four man break had been off the front for at least 150 kilometers by now.  As the group of Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18), Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) and Jeremy Roy (FDJ) swung around a round-about on the way into Villars les Dombes Parc des Oiseauz, Howes seemed to ask his compatriots, "You know they're here, right?"  The peloton and the break had been playing a little game of cat and mouse for the last twenty odd kilometes.  When the peloton sped up so did the break and when one slowed down, so did the other.  In fact, this went on for a bit longer although it was Howes who threw in the towel first and rejoined the peloton.

On a sprint stage, the peloton does not want to catch the break too far out from the finish line.  If they do, it makes it harder to control the other teams and almost guarantees that others will attack the bunch.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2824408-100-224974/Painting#.V4qSHbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 6: Leaning In

True to form, Stage 6 of the Tour de France open with a break away getting clear with just three kilometers covered.  The first Japanese rider to finish a Tour de France, Yukiya Arashiro who rides for the Italian team, Lampre-Merida, led his companion, Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) into a sharp right turn under the watchful eyes of the TV Moto, the race director and some dignitaries riding along in the second red car.  Bora-Argon 18 has managed to but a rider into every break thus far with the exception of Stage 4.  It is on the wild card teams to give the race a good show, to validate their presence in the Tour.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:  http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2820787-35-224974/PaintingLeaning%20In%20TdF35-Greig-Leach.html#.V361H7grLIU

Tour, Stage 5: Those Inbetween

As if proving that the three up the road were right to go, the remaining six in the break quickly dropped back towards the peloton.  Those who had hoped to light up the stage included the Polish National Champion, Rafael Majka (Tinkoff), Florian Vachon (Fortuneo Vital Concept), Cyril Gautier (AG2R) and BArosz Huzarski (Bora Argon 18).  Majka is chatting with his Director Sportif trying to figure out if it is worth spending the energy to chase those ahead.  Or perhaps to press on and hope to stay away from the peloton that is over nine minutes behind.  I think that those in this group were going to follow Majka's lead.  He is a former winner of the King of the Mountains competition in the Tour.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

To buy this painting, follow this link:  http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2819863-28-224974/PaintingThose%20Inbetween%20TdF28-Greig-Leach.html#.V32EmLgrLIU

Tour, Stage 4: Ahead of the Train

This painting's title continues my play on words.  This break away managed to reach the railroad crossing ahead of the train, and of course they are about six minutes ahead of the peloton (or the train of bikes behind).  The foursome of Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale), Markel Irizar (Trek-Segafredo), Andreas Shillinger (Bora Argon 18) and Oliver Naesen (IAM Cycling) took the longest to make their escape from the peloton, not getting away until almost 20 kilometers into the longest stage of this year's Tour.  Their have been races, most notably the fabled Paris Roubaix, when the break has had to wait for a train to cross the road unfortunately losing any time advantage they had built up prior.  Today it was just a few bumps and off they went again.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2818675-22-224974/PaintingAhead%20of%20the%20Train%20TdF22-Greig-Leach.html#.V3v2krgrLIU

Tour, Stage 2: Time to Go

With the peloton finally starting to close the gap and the final climb of the day just a few kilometers up the road, Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) decided it was time to attack.  The Belgium rider quickly opened daylight between himself and this now former compatriots of the break.  It was only Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) who had the legs to try and chase down the attacking Stuyven.  Poor Vegard Breen (Fortuneo Vital Concept) just didn't have anything left after leading the peloton for over 180 kilometers.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817838-11-224974/PaintingTime%20to%20Go%20TdF11-Greig-Leach.html#.V3lWobgrLIU

Tour, Stage 2: Well Played

Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) reached out to congratulate Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo) after chasing down the early break.  Stuyven had just managed to win both of the small climbs on the day effectively taking the Maillot a Pois off of Voss's shoulders.  At this point the pair are tied on points with just one more climb on the day, a climb that summits just a kilometer and a half from the finish of the stage.  Riding with the pair vying for the King of the Mountains were Voss's teammate, Cesare Benedetti and another rider from Fortuneo Vital Concept, Vegard Breen.  This group has over four minutes on the peloton, that doesn't seem overly interested in chasing them down anytime soon.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817814-7-224974/PaintingWell%20Played%20TdF7-Greig-Leach.html#.V3lODbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 1: Well Done, My Friend

After Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) went over the final climb of the day, he awaited the return of his erstwhile break away companions.  As the group caught up led by his teammate, Jan Barta, he was given a nice pat on the back for claiming all of the KOM points on the day.  Joining the Bora-Argon duo where local boy, Anthony Delaplace (Fortuneo Vital Concept), Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling) and the American, Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac).  The group of five had over two minutes on the peloton behind, but it was sure to be a day for the sprinters.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817367-2-224974/PaintingWell%20Done,%20My%20Friends%20TdF2-Greig-Leach.html#.V3fwT7grLIU

Tour, Stage 1: First Points of the Tour

Bora-Argon 18 played a perfect race strategy putting two of their riders into the break that started as soon as racing was underway.  With a duo, Jan Barta and Paul Voss could use each other to get away to claim the first King of the Mountain points of the 103rd Tour de France.  It was Voss who jumped away from his teammate and Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling) to claim the first points for the Polka Dot Jersey (and the second climb, as well).  The effort bared fruit for the Pro Continental team with Voss pulling on the first Maillot Pois on Utah Beach.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817358-1-224974/Tour%20de%20France%202016.html#.V3fuM7grLIU

Dauphine, Stage 5: The Flat Before the Climb

While the race had already been over six categorized climbs, it was still the flat piece of road before the final climb of the day.  At least once they summit the next climb, they will have almost twenty hours before they will have to ride up another mountain.  This was the last of those that had formed the early break of over twenty riders, this quintet was comprised of Cyril Gautier (Ag2r La Mondiale), Dayer Quintana (Movistar), Andriy Grivko (Astana), Bartosz Huzarski (Bora-Argon 18) and Enrico Gesparotto (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).  At this point they still had roughly two minutes on those behind, but the 15 kilometers of climbing to come could eat that time up rather quickly.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2806603-64-185083/Painting.html#.V1uxNvkrLIU

Dauphine, Stage 2: Catching Up

Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale) must have been rather disappointed to look over his shoulder to see riders (and quite a few motorcycles).  His fellow countryman, Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal), was leading a quartet of riders up to his wheel including two he had dropped earlier, Lilian Caleneiane (Direct Energie) and Bartosz Huzarski (Bora-Argon 18).  However, just another 30 seconds behind them was the balance of the peloton containing all of the contenders for the overall victory including race leader, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2804599-50-185083/Painting.html#.V1eWG5ErLIU

Dauphine, Stage 1: Fighting for the Victory

Even with Haimar Zubeldia (Trek-Segafredo) trying to calm things down a bit, the lead up to the sprint got rather dodgie.  Sprinters need to be fearless and agressive, but today there were quite a few elbows flying and helmets butting.  It is frequently said that so-n-so sprinter was fighting for such-n-such rider's wheel, today short of actually throwing punches, Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) were fighting it out for the Katusha lead out train.  Bouhanni used his experience as an amateur boxer and his legs to get through to claim the first stage of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine.  Coming up short behind the diminutive Frenchman were Jens Debusschere (Lotto Soudal), Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon), Jonas Van Genechten (IAM Cycling) and Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge).  Despite the victories, the over all classification's top ten remained unchanged from the results of the Prologue Individual Time Trial.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2804062-46-185083/Painting.html#.V1ZLR5ErLIU

Milano-San Remo: Fighting to Get Back On

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As fatigue set in, and the nerves began to fray, riders began to hit the deck, crashing from touches of wheels or momentary lapses of attention.  One of those to hit the deck was the former French champion, Armaud Demare (FDJ).  Demare joined with Gregor Muhlberger (Bora-Argon 18), one of Muhlberger's teammates, and Luka Mezgec (Orica-GreenEdge) in the dash to race back up to the peloton.  Demare was more fortunate than some who crashed.  First he was able to get back up on his bike, while others were not able to continue, and he was also able to catch back onto the rear of the peloton.  In so doing, he was still able to harbor hopes of playing in the finale of the race in about 25 kilometers.

This is a small original watercolor that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, the painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting is available for sale and can be found by following the direct link at the end of this post.

Be sure to check out my newest cycling book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is available through your favorite book seller worldwide or at my publishers website, www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2747782-293-195767/Painting.html#.Vu90dPkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 2: Sensing the Peloton

Two of the members of the early break had already succumbed to the work of BMC, Team Sky, and lately, AG2R La Mondiale, Simone Andreetta (Bardiani CSF) looked over his shoulder to see just how close the peloton was to pulling himself, Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18), Nikolay Mihaylov (CCC Sprandi) and Luis Mas Bonet (Caja Rural) back into the fold.  With only 12 kilometers left to the finish, it must have been to see the multi colored peloton just meters behind after nearly 200 kilometers of racing.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

In addition, be sure to check out my newest cycling art book of the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2740933-266-195767/Painting.html#.VuJdifkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 2: The Job at Hand

The early break had gained over six minutes on the peloton so it was up to the team of the Magila Azurra, BMC, to go in search of the escapees.  With the beautiful country side to entertain their eyes, BMC worked tirelessly to bring the six back, with twenty kilometers left to ride those up the road had just over a minute on the American team.  Riding in the shadow, or more accurately, in the slipstream, were the teams of Movistar, Astana and Bora-Argon 18.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

In addition, be sure to check out my newest cycling art book of the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2740930-265-195767/Painting.html#.VuJaOfkrLIU

Tour de France Stage 8: Getting Cheeky

It seems that the other teams saw Peter Sagan's (Tinkoff Saxo) suggestion after the sprint a couple of days ago.  The suggestion that those that had pulled off of the front at the intermediate sprint should work together to keep growing the advantage on the non-sprinting peloton.  While Sagan was part of this move, it was Michal Golas (Etixx-Quickstep), Bartosz Huzarski (Bora-Argon 18) and Lars Bak (Lotto Soudal) are the once that gain the largest gab on the napping peloton,  Huzarski had been in the original break, both Bak and Golas had worked for the respective sprinters and then just kept going with their high speed.  I am amused by the Grandmother with the pink umbrella on the side of the road.  She was shielding herself from the sun, not the rain.  With age comes experience.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, in fact all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, since this is a one of a kind original, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579302---210122/Painting.html#.VaGBRflViko

Tour de France Stage 8: Crowds at the Summit

The early break, two of whom went at the very first kilometer, was comprised of four men as they neared the summit of the first of two climbs in Stage 8.  None of the group, Pierre-Luc Perichon (Bretagne Seche), Bartosz Huzarski (Bora Argon 18), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) and Romain Sicard (Europcar) had a chance of stealing the Maillot a Pois from Daniel Teklehaimanet (MTN-Qhubeka), so the Ertirean could rest easy that his dream jersey would stay on his shoulders through the rest day on Monday.  It was impressive to see how many Bretons had come out to watch the Tour race through Bretagne, it almost felt like the top of Alp d'Huez.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, in fact all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, since this is a one of a kind original, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579270---210122/Painting.html#.VaF96flViko

Tour de France Stage 3: Wide Open Roads

The Tour left the roads of the Netherlands crossing onto the flat wide open roads of Belgium.  The early breakaway seems to have found the only stretch of the entire stage that wasn't chocked full of cycling crazed Belgians.  Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) who had managed to get into the break yesterday, was joined by Bryan Naulleau (Europcar), Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka) and Martin Elimger (IAM Cycling).  Elimger is no stranger to the heart break of a Tour de France break away.  He and a fellow escapee where caught just 50 meters from the line as the peloton swooped into Nimes in the 2014 Tour de France.  The open roads can often lead to strong cross roads so you can be sure that the peloton behind was keeping a watchful eye on wind speed and direction.

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, a family run art supply company with incredible products for all sorts of artistic endeavors.  Their website is www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But don't delay, since it is an original there is only one of these paintings available and you wouldn't want to miss your opportunity to have a piece of art from the 102nd Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2577150---210122/Painting.html#.VZtsrPlViko

Tour de France Stage 2: Checking the Time

The breakaway shed itself of the Frenchman, Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar) after Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) attacked the group to get maximum points at the intermediate sprint.  Barta pressed on on his own, but he was eventually joined by Stef Clement (IAM Cycling) and Amindo Fonseca (Bretagne Seche) as the trio road through the streets of Rotterdam.  Even with constant radio communication with their team cars, the riders are informed of the time gaps between groups on the road by the age old slate board.  Holding the board is always a rather attractive woman giving the riders something else to check out beside the time gap.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But do hurry, since it is an original there is only one of these to be had.  International shipping is available, too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2576848---210122/Painting.html#.VZoivPlViko

Tour de France Stage 2: Parting the Sea

Stage 2 was the opening of the road racing in this year's Tour.  The peloton left Utrecht heading for the wide open flats of the Dutch country side covering 166 kilometers on their way to the edge of the North Sea and Zelande.  This group of four wasted no time getting away from the peloton, attacking as soon as the neutral zone came to an end and the racing flag was dropped.  The foursome of Amindo Fonseca (Bretagne Seche), Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18), Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar), and Stef Clement (IAM Cycling) were never able to gain more than two minutes on those behind.  The stage profile showed that it would be a day for the sprinters unless the notorious winds of the Netherlands blew apart the peloton.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But do hurry, since it is an original there is only one of these to be had.  International shipping is available, too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2576846---210122/Painting.html#.VZoghvlViko