Paris Nice, Stage 6: Damn, They're Here!

Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) must have been disappointed when he looked back over his shoulder and saw the closing Sky led peloton.  Alessandro Di Marchi (BMC) seemed more resigned to the inevitable capture so didn't seem to find the need to look over his shoulder.  With the last of the break now cauight, it was only a matter of time before the attacks for stage victory or placing on the general classification.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2932282-362-195767/PaintingDamn,%20They're%20Here!%20PN17-26.html

Paris Nice, Stage 6: An Attacking Duo

As this duo of Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo Vital Concept) and Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) went up the slopes of Col de Bourigallle, they were all that was left of the early break away.  Just behind the two attackers was the neutral service moto, ready to provide a quick wheel change for either rider given how far back their team cars are.  The other moto is one belonging to race officials, keeping an eye on just what the pair were up to.  Early in this year's Paris Nice, Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) was pulled out of the race for getting to much assistance from his team car.  He was holding on to the car while bogus repairs were being "made" as he was dragged back into the race.  Today, everything was on the up and up.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2932259-360-195767/PaintingAn%20Attacking%20Duo%20PN17-24.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Leaving the Others

Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) knew that the peloton would soon be upon this quartet, so on a small rise out of town, he decided to see if he could create the surprise.  At first it seemed that the other three weren't interested in chasing the fleeing Frenchman, but Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Axel Domont (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) eventually caught back up to Di Gregorio's wheel.  Ironically, it was Di Gregorio who was finally caught first by the charging peloton, not that it was much longer before everyone was back in the fold.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2932045-357-195767/PaintingLeaving%20the%20Others%20PN17-21.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Ever Hopeful

The early break had been larger, as had their gap on the peloton, but this foursome of Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), Pierre-Luc Perichon (Foruneo-Vital Concept) and Axel Domont (Ag2r La Mondiale) were able to keep working together.  As they worked to stay off the front, hoping against hope that they would make it to the end of the stage, the peloton was getting it together for a sprint royale.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2932040-356-195767/PaintingEver%20Hopeful%20PN17-20.html

Paris Nice Stage 1 Sprinting to the Top

Romain Hardy (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) had taken the maximum points in the King of the Mountain competition on the first climb of the day so as the lead group approached the summit Hardy jumped out for more points  Regardless of the outcome of the day Hardy will be wearing the first Polka Dot jersey of the 75th Paris Nice  Chapeau!

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2929393-337-195767/PaintingSprinting%20to%20the%20Top%20PN17-2.html#.WLzlkvkrLIU

Tour, Stage 14: Water Boy

When I use to bartend (ah yes, the life of an artist), I had one group of regulars who would call me by saying, "Oh, water boy!"  It did amuse me, although that may have more to do with how well they tipped than the cuteness of the joke.

Every member of the team has a job to do, sometimes those jobs change based on the stage or their GC position.  One of the jobs of a domestique is to drop back to the team cars that are riding behind the peloton in the race caravan and bring water bottles and energy gels back up to this teammates.  Today the duty of stuffing his jersey full of bidons fell to Brice Feillu (Fortuneo Vital Concepts).  After getting as many bottles as he can, he will then ride back up through the following vehicles and then work his way through the peloton passing them out to his teammates along the way.  By taking this duty on, the others who may be high on the general classification, or the team's sprinter/lead-out train, can save their energy for their task in the team.


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%202016/2824402-99-224974/PaintingWater%20Boy%20TdF100-Greig-Leach.html#.V4qNK7grLIU

Tour, Stage 11: Echelon

The title of this piece describes this feature of the peloton.  The riders will form a diagonal line when they are hit by a cross wind.  To gain the most advantageous slipstream from the rider in front of you, you must tuck in as close as possible to his rear wheel.  When the wind comes from the rider's left, you shift about 45% to his right to gain the same advantage.  A rider can use as little as 70% of the energy that the rider on the is expending.  However, there is eventually no room left on the right of the road, so little gaps in the peloton can open.  This is the second, rather large peloton that is suffering from one of those gaps, that is struggling hard to get back onto the group containing the Maillot Jaune.  Two French teams, Fortuneo Vital Concept and FDJ are taking the responsibility for bring back those up the road.  At this point, the Maillot a Pois of Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) is losing time on the general classification, however, that part of the competition is out of reach for Pinot.  At least there was only two points total in the King of the Mountain competition in this stage, so he really has no big worries.  Tomorrow, however, the beast of Provence, Mont Ventoux, lurks at the end of the stage.

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, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2823088-75-224974/PaintingEchelon%20TdF75-Greig-Leach.html#.V4acXLgrLIU

Tour, Stage 6: Making It Three

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was wise to have saved his energy back in Montbezans.  He had the legs to come around Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) as well as holding off both Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Daniel McLay (Fortuneo Vital Concept).  Apparently the time that Cavendish has spent on the track has revived his sprinting prowess of old.  There have been five group sprints in this Tour and Cav has claimed three of them!  Sagan's sixth place finish meant that not only did Cavendish take the stage, he also reclaimed the Maillot Vert!  In fact, Sagan has now dropped to third in that competition,  I believe that he has never lost the Green Jersey once he pulled it on in any of his previous Tours.  It seems as though nothing is going to go to script in this 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.  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%202016/2820817-40-224974/PaintingMaking%20It%20Three%20TdF40-Greig-Leach.html#.V37Ge7grLIU

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, Stage 3: Two for France

Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie) went straight from the back of the peloton to the very tete de la course in about ten kilometers.  Whether he was merely bored with the rather slow pace of the race, or trying to alleviate the burden of chasing from his team, the ever entertaining Voeckler jumped away from the peloton and joined his lone countryman up the road.  I am quite sure that Armindo Fonseca (Fortuneo Vital Concept) was glad of the company, particularly when it was such an experienced and strong rider who came up to join him.  The French fans along the side of the road were very pleased to have two of their compatriots to cheer on and wave the tri-colore for.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2818126-17-224974/PaintingTwo%20for%20France%20TdF17-Greig-Leach.html#.V3qzTLgrLIU

Tour, Stage 3: All by Himself

I doubt that Armindo Fonseca (Fortuneo Vital Concept) planned to take on a solo breakaway attempt.  He jumped out from the peloton just as the racing got underway, assuming that some others would go with him.  Fortuneo Vital Concept has put a different rider into each break away thus far in the 103rd Tour de France, although this was the first solo effort.  Here, Fonseca is being informed that he has six minutes and 55 seconds by the LCL sponsored slate board.  The peloton behind was welcoming the relative day off and let the local born Frenchman ride off the front while they tooled along at a pace that I might even be able to manage (although not for over 223 kilometers).

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2818117-14-224974/PaintingAll%20by%20Himself%20TdF14-Greig-Leach.html#.V3qrrrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 2: Time to Go

With the peloton finally starting to close the gap and the final climb of the day just a few kilometers up the road, Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) decided it was time to attack.  The Belgium rider quickly opened daylight between himself and this now former compatriots of the break.  It was only Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) who had the legs to try and chase down the attacking Stuyven.  Poor Vegard Breen (Fortuneo Vital Concept) just didn't have anything left after leading the peloton for over 180 kilometers.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817838-11-224974/PaintingTime%20to%20Go%20TdF11-Greig-Leach.html#.V3lWobgrLIU

Tour, Stage 2: Well Played

Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) reached out to congratulate Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo) after chasing down the early break.  Stuyven had just managed to win both of the small climbs on the day effectively taking the Maillot a Pois off of Voss's shoulders.  At this point the pair are tied on points with just one more climb on the day, a climb that summits just a kilometer and a half from the finish of the stage.  Riding with the pair vying for the King of the Mountains were Voss's teammate, Cesare Benedetti and another rider from Fortuneo Vital Concept, Vegard Breen.  This group has over four minutes on the peloton, that doesn't seem overly interested in chasing them down anytime soon.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817814-7-224974/PaintingWell%20Played%20TdF7-Greig-Leach.html#.V3lODbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 1: The Arrival of the Peloton

When asked about the changes of the break away succeeding all the way to the end of the stage, Jens Voigt (now commentating for NBC Sports) replied, "as much as a drop of water in hell."  So beautifully put, and so accurately as well.  Anthony Delaplace (Fortuneo Vital Concept) glances back over his shoulder to discover that the peloton is very close behind indeed.  Delaplace and his companion, Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac) were the last two left off the front of the original break away.  Coincidentally, the pair had a bit of a struggle getting across to the now missing three from the original escape.  Delaplace would eventually garner the "most agressive rider" prize for his efforts on the day.  Perhaps a bit of a French bias, n'est pas?

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817379-5-224974/PaintingThe%20Arrival%20of%20the%20Peloton%20TdF5-Greig-Leach.html#.V3f3nLgrLIU