Tour, Stage 5: Those Inbetween

As if proving that the three up the road were right to go, the remaining six in the break quickly dropped back towards the peloton.  Those who had hoped to light up the stage included the Polish National Champion, Rafael Majka (Tinkoff), Florian Vachon (Fortuneo Vital Concept), Cyril Gautier (AG2R) and BArosz Huzarski (Bora Argon 18).  Majka is chatting with his Director Sportif trying to figure out if it is worth spending the energy to chase those ahead.  Or perhaps to press on and hope to stay away from the peloton that is over nine minutes behind.  I think that those in this group were going to follow Majka's lead.  He is a former winner of the King of the Mountains competition in the Tour.

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%202016/2819863-28-224974/PaintingThose%20Inbetween%20TdF28-Greig-Leach.html#.V32EmLgrLIU

Tour de France, Final Stage: Away with 20 Seconds

The peloton must have heard Jens Voigt's complaints about the lack of aggression on the Champs Elysees.  No sooner had he bemoaned the tranquility of the loops through Paris than did the attacks start flying off the front.  As each group was caught another one would try their luck.  This trio of Florian Vachon (Bretagne Seche), Nelson Filipe Santos (Lampre Merida) and Kenneth Van Bilsen managed to open up the largest gab thus far on the Champs.  While twenty seconds is nothing...  It was more than anyone had gotten thus far.  Plus this would be the last chance for the LCL sponsored time keepers to show the time gabs in the 102nd Tour de France.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company that has some of the best paints and materials I have ever used, like these watercolors for example.  This painting and all of my cycling art is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since this is an original one of a kind work of art, when it has sold, it is gone.  Therefore, I wouldn't recommend delaying your purchase.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2586323-146-210122/Painting.html#.VbYxYvlVikr

Paris Nice Stage 3: Checking the Time

While this trio had a sizable gap earlier in the stage with under 25 kilometers to go they were down to just a two and a half minute advantage.  The race organizers still use a time keeper that will go between groups on the road showing the racers the various time splits with a chalkboard from the back of a bright yellow motorcycle.  Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and Florian Vachon (Bretagne Seche) look over to see just how close the chasing peloton has gotten.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.   To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you are enjoying reading about bike racing with this accompanying artwork, be sure to check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually all online booksellers, please google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2523630---195767/Painting.html#.VQCFhPzF-xU

Paris Nice Stage 3: A Predictable Group

This is a truly predictable trio to go off on a break away.  All three have won stages and made names for themselves in just this manner.  Most notably is Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) whose breaks have put him in Yellow in the Tour de France for extended periods on two different occasions.  Philippe Gilbert (BMC) now wears the Rainbow bands of a former World Road Race Champion, a title he won on a long break, and the final member of the trio is Florian Vachon (Bretagne Seche) whose team has had a representative in every break of this year's Race to the Sun.

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.  In addition, this painting is painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.   To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you are enjoying reading about bike racing with this accompanying artwork, be sure to check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually all online booksellers, please google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2523610---195767/Painting.html#.VQCA7PzF-xU

Tour Stage 12: In With a Chance

After his heroic effort to finish Stage 11 and to do it inside of the time limited the leader for Garmin Sharp, Andrew Talansky, decided with his team to not take to the start for Stage 12, the pain was too much.  All involved thought it would be better for him to recover and finish the season strong, than to push on possibly causing serious damage with no hope of getting back into the podium hunt.  Sebastien Lengeveld took up the mantle for his fallen leader, he was the first to start the break at only 5 kilometers of racing before being joined by Simon Clark (Orica GreenEdge), David De La Cruz (NetApp-Endura), Florian Vachon (Bretagne-Seche) and Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing).  The stage looked like a good opportunity for the break away to succeed, it was too hilly for most of the sprinters and not steep enough for the climbers to carry the day.  So to quote Paul Sherwen, "The break is in with a chance."  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).  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published book of my art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become involved in bringing this amazing edition of the Tour to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some wonderful rewards for backers at a wide variety of levels, all include your name in print on the special thanks page, and starting at $5 USD.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2404214-88-84-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U8h2DM_D_IU