Tour, Stage 12: Setting the Stage

Pierre Rolland (EF Education First) left the lead break away group in the valley, just after the feed zone.  There is some controversary that he attacked as his breakaway companions were rooting through their musettes.  Rolland jumped free and went up the Lacets de Montvernier on his own.  He was on a campaign to repeat his stage win atop the Alpe d'Huez.  Problem is he has another big challenge of the Col de la Croix Fer before he even reaches the base of d'Huez.

This is the painting from today's stage that you can watch come to life both here, and on my YouTube Channel.  I hope you will become a subscriber to the channel and check back daily for the remaining nine stages of the Tour.

 
This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190055-64-251072/PaintingSetting-the-Stage--T18-63.html

Tour, Stage 10: New Polka Dots

All of the climbs in the Tour thus far have been Catagory 4 and 3 climbs, more hills than mountains, but today that all changes.  Over the rest day, the peloton flew down to Annecy to start today in the Alps.  It was Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) who jumped free of the large breakaway to claim the 10 points on offer at the summit of the Col de la Croix Fry.  With those points he took over the virtual Maillot a Pois.  The day includes three more climbs, two catagory 1's and a Haute Catagorie climb of the Montee du plateau des Glieres.  It remains to be seen if Molard will be able to stay away for the next 90 kilometers to take maximum points on all of the remaining summits.  I doubt it, but I would love to see it.

This is the painting from this stage that you can see come to life on You Tube.  Because I realized after doing the line work that I didn't have any water, the tale of the painting is in two parts.

Frist the line, and then the watercolor, once I had some water with which to mix the colors.  Get it? Watercolors!  See I really do love "dad jokes" but then I am one, and a granddad, too.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3188831-49-251072/PaintingNew-Polka-Dots--T18-49.html

Tour, Stage 5: Under Control

Chris Froome (Sky) got onto his radio as his teammates, Segio Henao and Geraint Thomas took control of the remnants of the peloton.  Froome was most likely checking on the time gap and who may no longer be in his group.  Riding just behind the defending winner of the Tour was the first of the teammates of the man who came in second to Froome last year, Nairo Quintana.  Froome nor Quintana were going to win the Maillot Jaune today, and now grabbing the "Golden Fleece" just got considerably harder.

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%202016/2819884-33-224974/PaintingUnder%20Control%20TdF33-Greig-Leach.html#.V32RibgrLIU

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

Tour de France, Stage 16: Urging the Climbers On

The press surrounding the Tour has may quite a bit of hay over the actions of a few fans along the side of the road, although, given their actions "fans" is far to generous of a word.  The lion share of the millions of cycling fans that line the sides of the road are there to cheer on their heroes and every rider who takes on the challenge of the Tour.  One of the treats for those along the road is the publicity caravan the precedes the peloton distributing trinkets, hats, t-shirts and noise makers to the waiting throngs.  On the mountain stages, Carrefour (a French grocery store chain), who sponsor the King of the Mountains Maillot a Pois.  This guy is cheering on the early break in his newly captured polka dot t-shirt.  Those assailing the Col de Cabre almost twenty minutes ahead of the peloton incuded Damiel Navarro (Cofidis), Michal Golas (Etixx-Quickstep), Serge Pauwels & Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka), and oddly enough the sprinter Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Saxo).

The closest man in the break to the Maillot Jaune was almost an hour behind.  So all of the GC riders were happy to let these guys vie for the stage and basically take the day off until the final climb and descent of the day.  Well as much of a day off as one can have covering 201 kilometers and two categorized climbs

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.richesnonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the North Central United States.  In addition this painting, along with all of my cycling art, 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.  Remember it is an original painting, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2582676-100-210122/Painting.html#.Va115_lViko

Tour Stage Seventeen: Climbing Hard

Nairo Quintana was again in his element, climbing up step mountains at incredibly fast speeds, and used this to try and strengthen his hold on the White Jersey of the best young rider.  In the end he lost about 10 seconds of his 4 minute lead over Michal Kwiatkowski, but solidified his standing in the overall GC.  Traditionally, Columbian and Spanish cyclists have not done well in time trials, today they held 2nd through 5th in the stage placings.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183171---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9OOc_D_IU