Tour of Britain, Stage 7b: A Huge Effort

After others had tried to escape from the peloton on the climb, but the hill had proved too much, it was Rohan Dennis (BMC) who got away at the summit.  If anyone could ride away from the whole of the peloton, it was the former World Hour Record holder.  Dennis had taken second this morning in the time trial, just three seconds slower than the winner, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep).  No one else had the legs to ride as fast as this Australian in the morning, and it seems none could do it this afternoon either.  Dennis won the stage by six seconds over the field and was rewarded with a ten second time bonus and the points jersey in the bargain.  He now sits just twenty six seconds off the lead of Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) and just twelve seconds ahead of the former points jersey wearer, Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  It is unlikely that tomorrow's 99 kilometer circuit race on the streets of London will do much to alter the podium standings, but one never knows until it is done.  One thing is certain, Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert) will keep the King of the Mountains Jersey (well almost he still has to finish the stage tomorrow).

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/2849937-82-189075/PaintingA%20Hugh%20Effort%20ToB56-Greig-Leach.html#.V9S0D5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7b: In Suspense

Sorry, going for a pun with the title again.  The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a beautiful sight on the high ground of Bristol link the area of Ashton Court with the other side of the river Avon.  It was a rather long drop to the tidal river below.  So the breakaway was about to cross the suspension bridge while we and they were in suspense as to whether their effort would succeed or not.  This would be the final time that Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal), Boy Van Poppel (Trek-Segafredo), Deigo Rubio (Caja Rural-Seguros) and Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) would cross the bridge today.  The course will bring them back across the river again, but the finish line is in the middle of Ashton Court just 13 kilometers away.

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/2849930-80-189075/PaintingIn%20Suspense%20ToB54-Greig-Leach.html#.V9SrRZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7b: Sneaking Away

Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF) used the penultimate climb of the day to jump clear of the peloton.  With just 16 kilometers left to race, he was hoping to make it around the streets of Bristol just that much quicker than everyone else.  After the summit, there is about three kilometers of flat road before the course twists and turns back down to the river.  He may have the advantage over the peloton after those three k, but it power is in the group before the descent.  Bouna fortuna, il mio amico!

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/2849918-79-189075/PaintingSneaking%20Away%20ToB53-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Sm4pgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7b: Cav Leads Them Round

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) seemed to announce that he would not be going for the stage victory today.  He went to the front of the peloton and with the help of  Ian Stannard (Sky) and Robert Power (Orica-BikeExchange) set about the task of bringing the escapees back.  Dimension Data has the Yellow Jersey in the fold, on the back of Steve Cummings, so letting those in front gain time wasn't really in the cards.  More of a threat were those in on the team leader's wheel, Rohan Dennis (BMC) sitting just inside of a minute behind.  Dennis is equal on time after this morning's time trial with Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  So it could be that Cavendish was just making the race hard for everyone rather than actually trying to chase down Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and company.

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/2849913-78-189075/PaintingCav%20Leads%20Them%20Round%20ToB52-Greig-Leach.html#.V9SbN5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7b: Tappin' It Out

The other German National Champion in the Tour of Britain is Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal).  He wears the national jersey as the road champion and may not wear it in the time trial.  Naturally, it is the reverse for Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep).  Greipel has been on fire in this year's Tour of Britain, and today is no exception.  The big sprinter was the first to launch an attack just as the race got underway in Bristol.  He was joined by Boy Von Poppel (Trek-Segafredo), Diego Rubio (Caja Rural Seguros) and Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar).  The quartet was never able to build up more than two minutes on the field, but then it is a circuit race, so it could be just enough to take the day.  The steep climb on the course just before the finish line would make it so riders could hope to jump their rivals on GC, so this break is most likely doomed.

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/2849801-77-189075/PaintingTappin'%20It%20Out%20ToB51-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RzHZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: In Defense of Yellow

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) was the last to start the individual time trial in Bristol.  An honor (and advantage) given to the wearer of the Yellow Jersey (or whatever color signifies the race leader).  Cummings is strong against the clock, but the two riders just behind him are the National Champions of their respective countries.  In fact the field held at least five TT Champions and two previous World Champions in the race of truth.  Cummings managed a fourth on the day behind the stage winner, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) and the two who are now tied for second overall, Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  His fourth place was enough to defend his race lead, which he carries into the second half of the seventh 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/2849795-76-189075/PaintingIn%20Defense%20of%20Yellow%20ToB50-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RvNZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: Speed and Caution

With the rain soaked roads (and the continued showers) the riders had to exercise caution, but the name of the game in the individual time trial is speed.  One does not often compliment the other.  The American, Taylor Phinney (BMC) had already wiped out in a corner.  It was a shame too, he was on a new best time pace before he crashed.  Another who was setting the best time splits on the streets of Bristol was the German National Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep).  Martin is a three time World Champion in this discipline as well.  Martin caught his minute man, Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal) a few hundred feet before the corner where the American crashed.  Hopefully these two will get around the corner safely.  Martin went on to take the time trial on the day.  His first TT victory this year.  Hopefully, he will be able to carry that winning way to Doha, Qatar for the 2016 UCI Road World Championships.

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/2849791-75-189075/PaintingSpeed%20and%20Caution%20ToB49-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RrWZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: Perhaps His Last

Bradley Wiggins (Team Wiggins) took to the start house for perhaps his last professional individual time trial in Bristol.  The Sir Bradley Wiggins is famous throughout the world both on the road and on the track, but has decided it is time to hang up his competitive road bike (and TT bike).  Later this year he will race his last track event, also on home soil.  Before creating Team Wiggins, Wiggins road for Team Sky - notice the Team Sky flag laid over the barrier.  It wasn't until I was painting this piece that I noticed that the flag is strikingly similar to the "thin blue line" that celebrates the police forces position in society.  I enjoy the guy astride his mountain bike getting a shot of what is most likely his cycling hero.

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/2849790-74-189075/PaintingPerhaps%20His%20Last%20ToB48-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RnqZgrLIU