Fleche Wallonne: Catching the Last One

Joey Rosskopf (CCC) looked over his shoulder at the top of the Cote De Cherave only to find the chase group coming up behind.  Cesare Benedetti (Bora Hansgrohe) lead a group of roughly nine men onto the American's wheel.  The peloton wasn't much further behind.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/3322904-439-195767/Catching%20the%20Last%20One%20%20FW19-3.html

Fleche Wallonne: Just a Minute

I enjoy have a little fun with titling my paintings.  This one is a bit of a play on words.  How many times have you told some one, "Just a minute."?  Of course, the riders in the break were being told by the slateboard that the peloton was only one minute behind.  Patrick Muller (Vital Concept), Cesare Benedetti (Bora Hansgrohe), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence) had built up a lead of almost three minutes, but could never really break free of the grasp of the peloton.

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/Spring-Classics-/3148296-416-195767/PaintingJust-a-Minute-FW18-3.html

Giro, Stage 2: Working on the Front

Bora-Hangrohe started the day with all put one of the leaders' jerseys on their shoulders.  Unfortunately for Cesare Benedetti that meant that he couldn't defend his Maglia Azurro, but instead had to work for the team and the Maglia Rosa of his teammate, Lukas Postlberger.  It was the whole team that road on the front keeping the five man break away in check.  The team with the leader's jersey has the responsiblity of setting the pace for the peloton.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2962930-9-235247/PaintingWorking-on-the-Front-G17-9.html

Giro, Stage 1: Pulling Out the Cars

The last four members of the early break knew that the end was neigh when the last of vehicles behind them were pulled out of the gap.  The race officials will remove any vehicles between a group and the chasers behind to prevent those chasing using the vehicles to draft up to those ahead.  Eugert Zhupa (Wilier Triestina), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data), Pavel Brute (Gazprom-Rusvelo) and Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Hansgrohe) had been away for 196 kilometers of the 206 kilometer stage, but it looks like their time off the front was about to come to an end.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2962536-5-235247/PaintingPulling-Out-the-Cars-G17-5.html

Giro, Stage 1: One More Look

Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Hansgrohe) was having a great first day of the Giro, a really great day.  As he approached the final climb of the day, just 21 kilometers from the end of the stage, he took a quick glimpse over his shoulder to make sure he would take all three climbs of the day.  When riders go on a break, they hope for glory, Benedetti will be pulling on the first King of the Mountains jersey of the 100th Giro d'Italia.  Today he enters the record books as one of only five riders to win the first three climbs of any Giro.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2962535-4-235247/PaintingOne-More-Look-G17-4.html

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 14: Rolling Through Town

By now you know the pattern as well as I, the break away goes early.  And then, on the flat stages like today, they are chased down by the teams of the sprinters.  Today this foursome of Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18) and Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac) could managed to shake the grip of the peloton until 30 kilometers into the stage.  The peloton wasn't in the mood to let these guys get any real time, keeping the gap inside of five minutes at the most.  Today may well be the last chance in the Tour for the sprinters to show their stuff until we reach the Champs Elysees in Paris.  A new give away from the publicity caravan for this year is a roll up sign like the one the fan is showing to the riders (and the camera).  On the reverse, the logo of Vittel water is displayed, and on the front their is space to write any message the fan chooses.  I do wonder if they are providing markers.  Their have only been one or two that I have been able to read thus far.

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%202016/2824393-97-224974/PaintingRolling%20Through%20Town%20TdF98-Greig-Leach.html#.V4qD4rgrLIU

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

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

Dauphine Stage 3: Are They Here?

After not seeing the peloton for nearly 120 kilometers, the three man break looked back over their shoulders to see the Team Sky and Tinkoff Saxo led pack coming up behind them.  Cesare Benedetti (Netapp-Endura) considered giving it one more attack, but thought better of it, while Blel Kadri (AG2R) said his thank yous to Natnael Berhane (Europcar),  The three had rode well together sharing the work load equally, but three are no match to the peloton when the sprinters want to have their day.  This is an original small, 4 inch by 6 inch, watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387232---199476/.html#.U6I2ls_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 3: Tete de la Course

The "Tete de la Course" or the head of the race, in this case a three man break away comprised of Natnael Berhane (Europcar), Blel Kadri (AG2R) and Cesare Benedetti (Netapp-Endura).  The three got away from the very first kilometer of the stage.  One of the hold overs from the days before race radios and GPS transponders, is the time keepers with the chalkboard.  The guys in the bright yellow of the LCL race sponsors go between each group on the road and the peloton informing them of the time gaps between each group of cyclist on the road.  This is an original small (4"x6") watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the North American company, Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post for your chance to buy this piece of art from the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387202---199476/.html#.U6Iw-M_D_IU