Doha 2016, Elite Men's Road Race: Still Okay?

Daniele Benati (Italy) looks back over his shoulder to check on his two teammates, Jacopo Guarnieri and Giacomo Nizzolo,  Further back in this front group is a fourth member of the team, Elia Vivianni.  Mixing in with the Italian trio is on of Norway's two sprinters in the group, Edvald Boasson Hagen, along with the Aussie, Mathew Hayman.  With around twenty kilometers left to race, it was time to see what could be organized for each teams respective designated sprinter.  Others lurking about in this group that I have yet to mention are the two Brits, Adam Bythe and Mark Cavendish, and the Slovakian duo of Michal Kolar and Peter Sagan.  With those two marquee sprinters, it was going to be hard to figure out how to take the win at the line.

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/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2866439-63-227958/PaintingStill%20Okay?%20Doha63-Greig-Leach.html#.WAULj-ArLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6, You Got This

With just eight kilometers left in the sixth stage (the final road stage), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) was in a powerful position.  He had a 20 second lead on most of the peloton and had two teammates, Oscar Gatto and Daniele Bennati in the break with him.  However, he wasn't the only one with two teammates alongside.  Race leader, Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep) had two men in blue at his side, previous stage winner, Fernando Gaviria, and Matteo Trentin.  The other two managing to connect to this elite escapees, were the former World Champioin, Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quickstep) and the man second overall, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).  It was beginning to look like the stage winner was going to come from this group.  Sagan's teammate, Gatto, reached out to Sagan as the World Champion swung to the back of the group, perhaps to make sure the sprinter had enough to take the stage given the opportunity.

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

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743049-282-195767/Painting.html#.VudyBvkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6: Picking Up Points

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) traded in his rainbow jersey for the red of the points leader for Tirreno-Adriatico.  With just an Individual Time Trial on the final day tomorrow, he was doing his best to ensure that he would take the overall Magila Rosso.  Sagan and his teammates Daniele Bennati and Oscar Gatto sprinted out from the peloton to grab the points and bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint.  Plus with the sprint line and the finish line being the same, it was a good chance to check out the finish and how they wanted to race it at the end of the stage in Cepagatti.

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

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743003-280-195767/Painting.html#.VudNYfkrLIU

Tour Stage 15: Flurries of Attacks

The peloton had managed to stay together until the reached the edges of Nimes with the rather unusual exception that the two man break was still off of the front and seemingly not very willing to be caught.  As they swung around the traffic furniture, opportunistic riders kept trying their luck at getting away.  Niki Terpstra (OPQS) drove hard to catch up with Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff Saxo) as Peter Sagan (Cannondale) drove on the peloton in hopes of riding them all off of his wheel.  Sagan is still searching for his first stage win in this Tour although he has proven his ownership of the most consistent sprinter's Green Jersey having finished in the top five in all but the mountain top finish thus far.  Bennati had the misfortune of puncturing and had to pull off from his chance of a win.  With Bennati unable to continue Terpstra's chance were rather reduced.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting will appear along with all of my 101st Tour de France paintings into my soon to be self published cycling art book, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your own copy, or to discover how you can become involved in bringing the 2014 Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous incentives for those who choose to back this projects, rewards start at just $5 USD, and you can get an artist signed copy for only $25 USD, any amount contributed will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, even for just a $1 pledge.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but you know you want a copy of this visual treasure of the Tour too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405590---199992/Painting.html#.U8yHy8vD_IU

Tour Stage Nineteen: A Blistering Pace

With the race for the Polka Dot Jersey and the stage win going on 10 minutes up the road, there was another battle for GC positions going on in the Malliot Jaune Group.  Saxo Tinkoff, the team of second and third overall (Contrador and Kreuziger) went to the front to lift the pace and see who they could put into difficulty.  While Froome has a very solid lead for the overall, there is currently only 45 seconds separating second place from fifth place and easy amount to overcome on a mountain stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can buy this painting.  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%202013/2183663---186227/Painting.html#.UfCEzM_D_IU