US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Thanking His Fans

When asked if he would be given an honorary lap of the Champs Elysees before riding his final stage of the Tour de France, Jens Voigt replied, "Honor in cycling is not given, it is earned."  Today he was not given a stage victory and he came 750 meters short of earning the victory as well.  Just as he attacked on the Champs Elysees, but did not win the stage.  However, he has won the hearts of cycling fans around the globe, and today reached out, high fiving scores of those along the side of the road as he rolled towards the finishing line behind the peloton.  Once he had been caught, there was no reason to keep racing.  He will need a very long arm indeed to high five all of those who are fans of this senior statesman of cycling.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Be warned, this is a first come first served chance to own one of the last paintings done live from Jens Voigt racing.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202014/2423516---201508/Painting.html#.U_e-xM_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 4: A Perfect Sprint

Nothing is given in the professional peloton, no prizes for a retiring warrior, just hard fast racing in every stage of every race.  Despite all of his effort and the will of nearly every sportscaster, cyclist, racing fan and German, Jens Voigt (Trek) was caught with just 750 meters left to the finish line by the men that wanted to get their sprinter first across the line.  Cannondale had been doing quite a bit of work at the front of the peloton all day to keep the break away in check and had done a heroic effort to catch Voigt by the final kilometer.  Elia Viviani (Cannondale) seemed too far back to be a factor at the outset of the sprint, but then found the wheel of the Hincapie Sportswear man and waited for the right moment to bounce.  Viviani had raced well in the early season, so it was a pleasure to see his excitement with this victory.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202014/2423514---201508/Painting.html#.U_e8Qc_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 4: One for His Fans

Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing) went to the sign in board with a variation to his team's jersey.  Written in a lovely script were the words, "Thank you, fans!"  It was a lovely sentiment from a pro of 17 years who knows were the support ultimately comes from.  He may have planned to combine the jersey with the actions he has now set into play.  With the ascent up into the Garden of the Gods, Voigt quickly got a sizable gap on the break away and set off in search of the stage victory that would cap an already brilliant career.  Voigt has said that he wanted to leave racing while he was still competitive and he certainly proved his capabilities in the final lap of the Colorado Springs circuit.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202014/2423500---201508/Painting.html#.U_e12s_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Can I Get a Drink?

Daniel Summerhill (UHC) may have been channeling his inner bar fly as he raised his bottle aloft to let the race referee and his team car know that he wanted another drink.  It is one way to catch a busy bartender's eye, lifting you bottle in the air, a universal sign for I want another, please.  While you will see the same gesture in the ProTour races, here it is more important as the teams are without radios to let their needs be known.  Summerhill and eleven others form the sizable break away on the circuit race around Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods.  Some of the other riders included Wesley Sulzberger (Drapac), Ben Jacques-Magnes (Jamis) and the irrepressible Jens Voigt (Trek).  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and to get this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202014/2423468---201508/Painting.html#.U_elEc_D_IU