Gent-Wevelgem, The Best Sprint

 It turned out that Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) had the best sprint of the five that came to the line together.  They had managed to drop the group that contained the two favorites and John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) who, on paper, was the best sprinter of the two groups coming into the last 500 meters.  On Pedersen's wheel was Florian Senechal (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who was the best of his three teammates out of the group, claiming the second step on the podium.  The two aggressors in the final kilometers, Matteo Trentin (CCC) and Alberto Bettiol (EF) took third and fourth respectively.  This was Pedersen's first victory after surrendering his Rainbow Jersey three weeks ago.  It was great to see that he was congratulated by all of those who just finished unable to get around the young Dane.

With the way the virus is resurging throughout Europe, and the USA, it may be unlikely that I will be painting any more racing this strange season.  Hopefully, I wll be back with the Tour of Flanders next week, but I'm not holding my breath for the start of La Veulta.  But then, I usually only paint one Grand Tour a year anyhow.  The Giro is looking like a great race this year, but I just don't have the energy, nor strenght to try and paint it right now.  I am still not anywhere near whole after my kidney donation surgery or the pneumonia complications that followed.  Better, but not all better.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718368-29-280747/Painting/the-best-sprint-gw20-7.html

Tour, Final Stage: Time to Start Racing

 With the formalities of the final stage our of the way, it was time to get to racing.  Although, I didn't see the honorary champagne toast between the winner, his teammates and his director sportif.  In the past the champagne was once replaced with a good English Cider, but I don't think I have ever not seen the toast.  Nevertheless, now it was time to race for the victory of the final stage of the Tour.  I was unable to identify who the Ag2r La Mondiale rider who was just rolling of the front of the peloton, but it is Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) taking over with the pace making and Christoph Laporte (Cofidis) waiting to do his part to get a break away established.  While there are many iconic images of Paris, this is the one that is Paris and the Tour de France.  Every year the Champs Elysees plays host to the final stage, and everyone in the peloton is thrilled to have made it to the end of the Tour.  Many hope to achieve the rare feet of making a break stick for the stage, but it rarely succeeds.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705808-141-282744/Painting/time-to-start-racing-tdf20-133.html

Tour, Final Stage, The Art of Cycling

 Rigoberto Uran (EFPro Cycling) wanted to make sure his teammates, TeJay van Garderen and Hugh Carthy were taking in the beauty of the moment they were experience as they road across the plaza at the Louvre.  The art that resides past the entrance within the glass pyramids designed by Pei, is some of the most important artworks in the world.  As the peloton rounds the corner ahead, they will allow UAE-Team Emirates and Tadej Pogacar to have a promenade onto the Champs Elysees before the race for the final sprint begins.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705777-140-282744/Painting/the-art-of-cycling-tddf20-132.html

Tour, Stage 20: Getting Himself Going

 It was great to be able to see TeJay van Garderen (EF Pro Cycling) out and visible on the road today.  I have always been a fan of this Coloradian cyclist and I have been hoping to include at least one painting of him in the 2020 Tour de France.  I feel like it was his job to be the wise veteran on this Tour offering his guidance on how to handle what the Tour can do to your phsyche and your body over the three week Grand Buclee.  He is in 90th place almost four and a half hours behind the Maillot Jaune.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704376-130-282744/Painting/getting-himself-going-tdf20-122a.html

Tour, Stage 18: It Doesn't Get Any Easier

 There is an adage in cycling that seems to be attributed to Greg Lemond the only American to win the Tour that has not had is victories expunged for doping.  He is quoted as saying that riding never gets easier, you just get faster.  This was the opposite for this quartet on the lower slopes of the Montee du plateau des Glieres.  Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) was drifted back through the peloton having once been in the break away.  He is now hoping to latch on to the EF Cycling trio of their leader, Rigoberto Uran and his domestiques Daniel Felipe Martinez and Hugh Carthy.  It may not be fair to call Martinez a domestique, after all he has won a mountain top finish stage in this year's 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703945-124-282744/Painting/it-doesnt-get-any-easier-tdf20-117.html

Tour, Stage 16: The Next Group

With the peloton (and all of the general classification riders) seemingly taking the day off, it was clearly the day to be in the break away.  Three chasers had already bridged up to the ever growing break away.  So was the hope of this next group on the road.  Simon Geschke (CCC) was making sure his team had a man up front, as was poth Mikel Nieve (Mitchelton-Scott) and Romain Sicard (Total Direct Energie).  For the other two, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) and Pavel Sivakov (Ineos-Grenadiers) it was about getting up to help out their teammates make the best of their presence in the break.  They did get there, but then that seemed to be the last I ever saw of them.

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-de-France-2020/3701729-108-282744/Painting/the-next-group-tdf20-102.html

Tour, Stage 13: Beating the Odds

 Despite the odds being against him, Daniel Felipe Martinez (EF Pro Cycling) was able to drop both Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hasgrohe) and just fading from view, the other Bora man, Lennard Kamna.  Martinez was able to make his team look brilliant for putting three guys in the early break.  Behind, his team leader Rigoberto Uran, lost a handful of seconds to the Maillot Juane, but he is still within striking distance should those ahead on the GC falter.  But for now, the team can celebrate their frist stage victory in the 107th Tour de France (the Tour that almost wasn't).

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-de-France-2020/3699246-87-282744/Painting/beating-the-odds-tdf20-81.html

Tour, Stage 13: Waiting in the Wings

 I may be revealing my theatre background with this title.  I have worked as a scenic artist and a set designer and then I also have the great pleasure of being married to the actress, Bridget Gethins (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0315220/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1).  So the title refers to the position of Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe) who has sat on the wheel of Daniel Felipe Martinez (EF Pro Cycling) as he bridged up to Kamna's teammate, Maximilian Schachmann.  Martinez had to just ignore the other German from Bora has he went in search of the stage victory atop the Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol.  Martinez's team had put three guys in the break and he was the third to attack in hopes of the stage.  Bora-Hansgrohe obviously had two guys in the break and they were still there with just two kilometers to race.  Odds are one of the two would take 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-de-France-2020/3699225-86-282744/Painting/waiting-in-the-wings-tdf20-80.html

Tour, Stage 13: In the Picture

 You must know by now that I enjoy a good pun, particularly when I can use it in a painting title. Plus, if you've ever wondered how all of these great photographs are shot during bike races, this is how.  It takes a special photographer to hang off the back of a motorcycle as he concentrates on getting the shot with out knowing where the road goes, or just how fast the driver is going to have to go.  These two, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) and Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) were the next to ride away from the now splintering break away.  With twenty kilometers left to go, and the main peloton over ieght minutes back, it was going to be one of the guys in the break who would win the day.  With that knowledge, it was time to try and become the guy who would claim the day.  For Powless, in his first Tour, this is the third time he has gone it a break, would he have the same good fortune that Hirschi (Sunweb) did on this third try yesterday?  Spoiler...  He did not.

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-de-France-2020/3699144-84-282744/Painting/in-the-picture-tdf20-78.html

Tour, Stage 13: Down in the Super Tuck

The American, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) is a demon descender.  He let the rest of the large break away down the other side of the mountain in what has come to be known as the super tuck.  It is when a rider comes off the saddle, sits on the main tube and gets as low over the handle bars as possible.  It is not very stable or safe, but it is aero-dynamic. Behind the stone falling down the mountain are Pavel Sivakov (Ineos-Grenadiers) who had finally recovered from his double falls in stage one, along with Daniel Felipe Martinez (EF Pro Cycling), Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) and Marc Soler (Movistar) amongst others.  EF was in a great tactical position having put three men into the seventeen man break, it is their stage to lose.  Only Bora-Hansgrohe had managed to get more than one guy into this front group.

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-de-France-2020/3699083-82-282744/Painting/down-in-the-super-tuck-tdf20-76.html

Tour, Stage 13: Scooting Off the Front

 The peloton let the large early break go, the best placed rider was over an hour down on the general classification. So it was looking like it was going to be a stage with two separate races playing out at the same time.  With seventeen guys in the break it was too large to be manageable.  With that understood, it was Hugh Carthy (EF Pro Cycling) that scooted off the front with Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) in tow.  Impressive as it is that Carthy was able to ride away at the best of times, it is even more so today.  The EF rider has been riding with a broken wrist for the last couple of stages, so being able to ride others off his wheel on a climb is super human (or super nuts).

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-de-France-2020/3699071-80-282744/Painting/scooting-off-the-front-tdf20-74.html

Tour, Stage 9: Commiserating

As the group of GC contenders hit the final climb, the Col de Marie Blanque, the pace became brutal. Riders began losing the wheels from the bottom of the slope.  As they slide away, Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) and the Spanish Champion, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) had time to commiserate about the toughness of the effort.  Just ahead, bedecked in the red of the National Champion of Switzerland, Sebastien Riechenbach (Groupama-FDJ) was starting to yo-yo off the back just ahead of the Director's car and the Mavic neutral service car.  Both Sanchez's and Reichenbach's National Champion jerseys are examples of teams honoring the national flags and not adding them as a side note to the team kit.  Primoz Roglic's jersey is an example of how not to do it.  You can't even find the Slovenian flag on his kit.

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-de-France-2020/3693434-56-282744/Painting/commiserating-tdf20-51.html

Tour, Stage 7: Riding Mad

Given the way Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) was riding, I think he was still mad about being given a 20 second time penalty, a penalty that took away his Yellow Jersey.  After the lead group turned for the last twenty five miles to the finish, Team Ineos-Grenadiers hit the front and drove the pace up again.  They split the field of some of the GC contenders.  Once that happened, Alaphilippe was only too happy to help push the pace.  Behind him, sharing the work load was Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling).  Other teams, including Jumbo-Visma and Astana were only to happy to help in the effort of leaving other 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/Tour-de-France-2020/3692256-42-282744/Painting/riding-mad-tdf20-38.html

Tour, Stage 6: Starting His Attack

The youngest and the only first time Tour rider in the break was Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling).  It may have been his youthful vigor, or the fact that today is his birthday, but he definitely had the legs to go on the attack from the break on the final climb of the day.  As they hit the steeper section of the Col de la Luscette, it was only Nicolas Roche (Sunweb) who had the legs to go with the American's attack.  Was Powless about to give himself a Tour de France stage victory as a birthday present?

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-de-France-2020/3690693-36-282744/Painting/starting-his-attack-tdf20-31.html

Tour, Stage 2: Just About Back

Daniel Felipe Martinez (EF Pro Cycling) had the misfortune of crashing on the penultimate descent of the day, the Col d'Eze.  With just three teammates up the road, two of whom were the teams GC contenders, it took some time of the only available teammate, Hugh Carthy, to drop back to help out.  The EF duo road incredible hard through the streets of Nice in their successful attempt to rejoin the peloton.  Sadly for Martinez, the effort left him unable to hang on to the peloton on the final climb up the Col des Quatre Chemins.  The lost time most likely ruined his chances of repeating his Maillot Jaune winning Criterium de Dauphine, but the team still has two cards to play in the race for 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-de-France-2020/3687333-16-282744/Painting/just-about-back-tdf20-10.html

Strade Bianche, Vastly Reduced

As it was with the Elite Women earlier, the peloton was vastly reduced by the final 50 kilometers.  On the front Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) was talking over possible options with Jakob Fulgsang (Astana).  On there wheels, Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) must have been trying to eavesdrop over the rattling bikes on the white gravel roads.  Stretched out behind the trio was about the remaining twenty or so that made up who would have a chance to win the 2020 Strade Bianche.  Some of the big names, and last year's winner, Julian Alaphilippe (Decuninck-Quickstep) were way off the back, or even already off of the bike.

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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3609637-7-280747/Painting/vastly-reduced-sb20-7.html

Strade Bianche, Looking for Company

After Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) jumped free of the reduced peloton, he looked back to see if anyone was going to join him.  With 57 kilometers and four sections of gravel to go, it was far too long to go for a solo break.  Behind he did have a teammate, he may have been looking to see if he was coming across.

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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3609537-5-280747/Painting/looking-for-company-sb20-5.html

Paris Nice, Final Stage: Taking on the Race

It was this group of five were taking the race on.  With today having been set as the final stage, it was a now or never situation.  In the middle is Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who at this point is the Maillot Jaune Virtuale.  With another 36 K to race, the final 20 being a climb up to Valdeblore la Colmaine, it remains to be seen if the peloton was going to let them all stay away.  Joining the rather popular Frenchman were, Aurelien Paret Peintre (Ag2r La Mondiale), Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and leading the group the Maillot a Pois of Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).  Edet clearly got back into the group after his mechanical.

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/Paris-Nice/3492469-32-272742/Painting/taking-on-the-race-pn20-32.html

Paris Nice, Stage 2: Riding Away

The crosswinds were playing their part again today.  This group had managed to drop a number of the big names (with big expectations) of this year's Paris Nice.  They were building a 20 second lead on a number of contenders.  Leading the push to pull away were Mads Schmidt (Israel Start Up Nation) and Mads Pedersen, current World Champion (Trek-Segafredo).  Some of those benefitting from their efforts were the race leader Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nils Politt (Israel Start Up Nation) and Segio Higuita (EF Pro Cycling).  While still cold, it was nice to see the sun peak out and cast some shadows on the race.

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/Paris-Nice/3488566-8-272742/Painting/riding-away-pn20-8.html