Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's ITT: Off the Radar

Lawson Craddock (USA) showed, yet again, his strength of character.  No one seemed to be paying any attention to his ride despite his posting great times all along the route.  There was plenty for commentators and TV cameramen to focus on, but it was dedication to craft that brought Craddock to the line in second at the time he finished.  He later dropped to 6th overall.  Not a bad ride at all, and the best posted by an American in the Men's ITT.

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3395485-26-266225/Off%20the%20Radar%20%20UCI19-26.html

Tour, Stage 21: Around the Place du la Concorde

Some day someone will invent a pen with spell check...  I try to be as much in the moment when creating these works as possible and sometimes I get my titles wrong.  When I published my Tour de France book in 2014 (on my website under "Cycling Books Gallery") there were lots of edits, and I had to correct spelling on everything I tried to use French words for.

Now back to the race.  With the traditions of the day honored, it was time for some bike racing.  Every time, someone tries to surprise the peloton and jump off of the front.  In very, very rare occasions, this gambit has worked.  This quartet of Omar Fraille (Astana), Tom Scully (EF Education First), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain-Merida) and Niels Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) thought they would be the ones to beat the odds.  They weren't.  As they rounded the corner to go into the tunnel under the Place de la Concorde they had built up a twenty-five second lead over the currently contented 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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3366688-123-263530/Around%20the%20Place%20de%20la%20Concorde%20%20TDF19-123.html

Tour, Stage 20: It's a Long Shot

The early break that included Micheal Woods (EF Education First), Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and two others hoped that the peloton would be too interested in each other to bother with them.  With such a short stage, but a long climb, it was going to be a bit of a long shot to stay off of the front.  Behind there would be efforts to drop one another which will inevitably increase the peloton's pace.  Woods has been racing most of this Tour with two broken ribs, which makes his position off the front on a big climb just that much more impressive.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3366048-114-263530/It's%20a%20Long%20Shot%20%20TDF19-114.html

Tour, Stage 14: The Right Wheel to Follow

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) really had only one job today, stay on Geraint Thomas' (Ineos) wheel.  The Frenchman started the day with a minute fifteen on the defending champion, so he didn't need to attack.  Around him, both Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First) and Jakob Fulgsang (Astan) were both needing to attack the leader of Team Ineos.  As yet, neither seemed capable of breaking the hold of Movistar and Ineos on the front of the very small 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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3363090-80-263530/The%20Right%20Wheel%20to%20Follow%20%20TDF19-80.html

Tour, Stage 13: Out of the Gate

One of the first of the start of the race favorites to roll down the start ramp was Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First), The Colombian has been having a quiet Tour up until today.  He got around the course in thirty five and a half minutes, putting him near the top of the leader board at the line in Pau.  His efforts did help move him up the general classification, but not far enough for his liking.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3362557-70-263530/Out%20of%20the%20Gate%20%20TDF19-70.html

Tour, Stage 12: The Next to Try

Once Calmejane had been pulled back into the fold in the valley, it was Simon Clarke (EF Education First) who went on the Hourquette d'Ancizan.  He, too, hit the climb alone.  Well, alone except for the fans screaming in his ears while wrapped in the Dutch flag.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3361687-63-263530/The%20Next%20to%20Fly%20%20TDF19-63.html

Tour, Stage 10: Those Who Lost Time

On a day that should have been a simple formula, of break goes - sprinters' teams chase, catch is made - sprinter takes the stage, today was anything but.  While a non-sprinter won the stage, the rest of the podium was manned by the fast men of the sport.  However, behind the winning group, were three distinct groups full of general classification riders losing between a minute thirty seconds and over two minutes.  Again, today was not a day to win the Tour, but many lost their chance of winning.  Or in other words, today, they lost the Tour.  Coming in a minute and a half down this group contained some of those that started the Tour thinking they could win like, Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo, Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First), Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ). These king of time losses shouldn't have happened on a flat stage before the rest day, but they did.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3360521-54-263530/Those%20Who%20Lost%20Time%20%20TDF19-54.html

Tour, Stage 7: Man Down!

The Tour is filled with constant dangers.  Thus far we have seen freak occurances, lapse of attention, and road furniture cause multiple crashes and delays.  Today it was TeJan van Garderen (EF Education First) going down hard after hitting a traffic arrow atop a traffic island.  He was quickly assisted by Alberto Bettiol and another of  his teammates/  Fortunately, his injuries appear to be minor and he was soon back up and back into the peloton.  He finished with the same time as the stage winner before being taken to hospital to get a thorough check out.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3359053-35-263530/Man%20Down!%20%20TDF19-35.html

Tour, Stage 5: Grabbing Lunch

Another road stage, another early break away.  Although today, early, may be a misnomer.  It took quite some time for these four to be the ones to escape the clutches of the peloton.  This foursome of Simon Clarke (EF Education First), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) and Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha Alpecin) didn't get away until almost forty kilometers into the stage.  The peloton needs to consume an amazing amount of calories during a stage, so along the course there is a designated area for riders to grab a musette from their soigneurs full of all kinds of high protein goodies to eat and drink.  Clarke deftly grab his before the end of the "feed zone" but it looked like the others decided to give it a pass.  They can get drinks and such from their team cars up until the last twenty kilometers of the stage.

Watch this painting being created as I talk about my art making process and the Tour thus far.  I usually throw in more bike racing information and whatever else pops into my head.

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/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3358238-21-263530/Grabbing%20Lunch%20%20TDF19-21.html

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Counter Move

There wasn't much chance to change the over all standings on the final stage of this Tour of California today.  The two climbs of the day were only Category 3 and 2 and came midway through the relatively short stage.  But, there is always a possibility that riders will crack, even on the easiest of climbs.  So it was that George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) going on the offensive from the main peloton.  The only one able to match his initial acceleration is Sergio Higuita (EF Education First).  Behind, Higuita's teammate, Lawson Craddock, is ready to go with anyone trying to bridge across to his defacto team leader.

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/Tour%20of%20California/3333910-87-223355/Counter%20Move%20%20ToC19-32.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: Stage and Jersey

While most everyone tried, it was Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who won atop Mount Baldy.  Behind him, Segio Higuita (EF Education First) pounds his handlebars in frustration.  The young Colombian had missed judge the final turn and couldn't recover his speed fast enough to out sprint the UAE rider.  While Higuita might have been able to win the stage, he would not have taken over the Yellow Jersey of race leader (he had started the day behind Pogacar's time).  However, Pogacar will be adding Yellow to his White Jersey of best young rider.  Clearly as race leader, he will be the best placed rider regardless of his age.

With only one day left to race, it remains to be seen who will win the 2019 Tour of California, but it is looking good for the young Slovenian.

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/Tour%20of%20California/3333669-86-223355/Stage%20and%20Jersey%20%20ToC19-31.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: On the Offensive

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) has been quite all week.  But not on the closing kilometers of the climb up Mount Baldy.  Once Schachmann was back in the fold, Porte launched out of the greatly reduced peloton, leaving the others trying to get back on the Tazmanian's wheel.  Behind the top three on GC were losing ground as those like Porte saw their chance to take over the Yellow Jersey of race leader.  Just behind Porte, Sergio Higuita (EF Education First), George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) tried to get themselves organized to chase the leader of Trek-Segafredo.  All knew they would be moving up on GC, it was only a question of who would take the stage and the Yellow Jersey.

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/Tour%20of%20California/3333662-85-223355/On%20the%20Offensive%20%20ToC19-30.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: His First Ever

His team must have know something was about to happen for Ivan Garcia (Bahrain-Merida), they had been on the front most of the day driving to pace to pull back the break away.  And they were right! Garcia had the legs to hold off Maximilliano Richeze (Deceuninck-Quickstep) and Serio Higuita (EF Education First) to take his first win in a Pro Tour race.  The final climb had dispatched the marquee sprinters, but it was still a hard fast sprint to the line for the young Spaniard.  Deceuninck-Quickstep finally had its winning streak broken, but only by about a bike length.  They still had two men in the top four on the stage!

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/Tour%20of%20California/3333249-81-223355/His%20First%20Ever%20%20ToC19-26.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Get on Mine!

I had gotten into a discussion on twitter about how race mechanics are who make successful bike racing possible, unfortunately for Tejay van Garderen (EF Education First), he found out just how true that was.  With just ten kilometers left in the stage, his chain snapped and the resulting loss of resistances caused him to crash.  With time of the essence, a heads up move by Lachlan Morton of giving his bike over to his team leader (and race leader) minimized the time loss.  However, as Tejay went into the first hard corner on Lachlan's bike, he was unable to make the turn almost crashing again.  Then just has he and his team were about to catch back onto the peloton with about three and a half kilometers to go, another crash slowed down his return.  By the end of the stage, he had lost almost a minute.  His Yellow Jersey was saved by the commissares decision to give all of those effected by the final crash the same time.  I'm a fan of Tejay, but I feel he was the beneficiary of a bad decision.  However I am glad he is still in Yellow.

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/Tour%20of%20California/3332837-76-223355/Get%20on%20Mine!%20%20ToC19-21.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: A Job to Be Done

The team of EF Education First had a job to do today, and the peloton was going to make sure they did it.  Every time the camera showed the peloton, it was the boys in pink riding tempo for their man in the Yellow Jersey, TeJay van Garderen.  Leading the group on the way up Mount Hamilton was Alex Howes, followed in turn by Lachlan Morton, Segio Higuita, Tejay himself, and Lawson Craddock.  Taylor Phinney had already done his time on the front and had dropped off to make his way to Morgan Hill as best he could.  I'm not sure where Rigoberto Uran was at this point.  With those up the road way down on the general classification, there was no reason to chase the escapees.

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/Tour%20of%20California/3332329-68-223355/A%20Job%20to%20Be%20Done%20%20ToC19-13.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 2: Arms Spread Wide

Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) had spent the entire stage attacking the break away, yet refuse to give up each time he was caught by the break nor the peloton.  With a final response to Tejay van Garderen's (EF Education First) attack, he went off the front for the final time.  With that he was the one to spread his arms, and beat his chest in victory.  While Tejay wasn't able to get back around the Dane, he had done enough to take over the leader's Yellow Jersey.  Claiming the final step of the podium was the clearly exhausted, Gianni Moscon (Ineso).  Just coming into frame was the young Slovenian, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  While he may have missed the podium, he did pull on the White Jersey of Best Young Rider.  Asgreen will also pull on the Green Jersey of points leader, making it two trips to the stage ceremonies.

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/Tour%20of%20California/3331465-65-223355/Arms%20Spread%20Wide%20%20ToC19-10.html

LBL: Anyone Coming?

As this pair climbed the Cote du Rosier, it was Omar Fraile (Astana) looking back to see if anyone else was bridging across.  For Tanel Kangert (EF Education First) it was more about the effort of getting over yet another short steep climb.  For a break away, it is a delicate balance of numbers, particularly when there is still 60 kilometers to race.  You need numbers to help with the work load, but not so many as riders are able to sit on and use their saved energy to beat you to the finish line.  For Fraile and Kangert, two was too few.

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%20/3325625-444-195767/Anyone%20Coming?%20%20LBL19-2.html

Paris Roubaix: Ill Timed

Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First) had been following every move until an ill timed mechanical took his hopes of winning away.  Vanmarcke called for his team car once the Mavic neutral service vehicle realized they could be of no help.  Vanmarcke was joined in the chase by Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Yves Lampaert (Decenunick-Quick Step) tried in vain to chase down the two leaders up the road.  It appears that Sagan, was not going to be able to repeat his victory from 2018.  Apparently only one rider has ever managed to win back to back Paris Roubaixs, and that was Tom Boonen.

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-Classics-/3319284-438-195767/PaintingIll-Timed--PR19-9.html

Paris Roubaix: Tete de la Course

I look forward to this, my most favorite of the Monuments, Paris Roubaix.  I picked up the race as the leaders, the "tete de la course" entered the 24th section of "pave."  The large break, almost the leading peloton, was taken onto the cobbles by Matti Breschel (EF Education First).  The cobbled sections of the race are numbered in descending order starting with #29 with the final section being comparably as smooth as glass just before the velodrome in Roubaix.

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-Classics-/3319159-430-195767/PaintingTete-de-la-Course-PR19-1.html

Tour Down Under, Final Stage: Is There Enough Road?

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) has been dubbed the King of Willunga Hill, having one this climb the last five years running.  As he went under the flame rouge, the final kilometer of the race, he check to see how much of a gap he had opened up on his main rivals.  If he could win the stage by nine seconds over Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott), he would win the 2019 Tour Down Under.  While he could only see Wout Poels (Team Sky) and Michael Woods (EF Education First) behind him, the question remained, did he have enough road left to get the kind of gap he needed on the South African Champion.

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/Tour-Down-Under/3286988-142-194179/PaintingIs-There-Enough-Road?--TDU19-24.html