Tour, Stage 9: That Was Bold!

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) went out on the attack on the first climb of the day up the Port de la Bonaigua, surprising the whole of the peloton and putting Chris Froome's team into a bit of bother.  However, by the time they were near the top of the long climb, Contador was already sliding back through the ranks of the main body of the race.  As he came along side Tour veteran, Frank Schleck (Trek-Segafredo) the man from Luxembourg reached out to let the Spaniard know just how impressed he was with the attempt.  Little did any of us know at the time, that this could have been Schleck saying goodbye to the man who has won all three of the Grand Tours.  Even before the next climb of the day, Contador pulled over to the side of the road and pulled out of the 103rd Tour de France.  He was said to have awoken with a fever this morning.  Perhaps the attack with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was a final test to see if he would be able to continue, the answer must have been, "No."

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%202016/2822065-58-224974/PaintingThat%20Was%20Bold%20TdF58-Greig-Leach.html#.V4LFHLgrLIU

Tour Stage 17: Starting to Chase

Stage 17 may have been the shortest road stage of this Tour de France, but it featured 4 major climbs, 3 Category 1 and the finale a Haute Categorie mountain top finish.  If you combined that with the prior day's longest stage of the Tour with its multiple climbs, there were some very tired legs in the peloton today.  Joaquim Rodriquez (Katusha) has made it clear to all who will listen that he is after the King of the Mountain's Jersey in Paris.  Today he matched his legs to his mouth on the first climb of the day, the Col de Portillon.  With the break away less than a minute up the road, he set out to catch and pass them, planning on being the first to summit the climb.  The Spaniard on the Russian team pulled a rider from AG2R and Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) along on the attack.  The Luxemburg National Champion has been riding himself back into form in the latter stages of this Tour, regaining some of his climbing prowess of old.  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.  The painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published collection 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 learn how you can become part of bringing this most unusual Tour to print please visit, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent Backer rewards for those who choose to back this project starting at just $5 USD and everyone who supports "Book de Tour" will have their name included on the Special Thanks page of the book.  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 the book too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2407202---199992/Painting.html#.U9Akms_D_IU

Tour Stage 13: Getting Some Separation

The climb up to the top of Chamrousse was a long, hot 18 kilometer slough that took the fast climbers nearly an hour of incredible effort.  The fourth group on the road contained about ten guys including Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and the White Jersey clad, Romain Bardet (AG2R), the jersey of the best young rider.  The pair kept trying to get separation from the group and from each other, they were very close to each other in the GC, and the next two up the road were the next guy above them both in the overall and the man who could threaten Bardet's White Jersey.  After multiple attempts, the two slipped off of the front riding away from Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) and the rest of the wanning peloton.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published book of the 101st Tour de France art, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order a copy, or to discover how you can be a part of bringing the art of the sport we love to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent incentives for backers at every level starting at $5 USD.  Everyone who backs the project will have their name included in the special thanks page.  If you would like to purchase this painting directly, just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2404856---199992/Painting.html#.U8nR8c_D_IU

Tour Stage 10: All Kinds of Pain

As the various small groups of athletes of the Tour started the final climb of the most grueling of stages these guys had been up and over six categorized climbs and at this point over a hundred and fifty kilometers of rain soaked narrow twisted roads.  This is the group that was the second on the road, the one that the Maillot Jaune was tangling on the tail end of, and held some of the other names that may now have a chance to climb onto the podium in Paris.  Seemingly to have been hiding for ten days, the camera found the National Champion of Luxemburg, Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) riding pedal stroke to pedal stroke with the World Road Champion, Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and his teammate, Chris Horner, along with Christophe Riblon (AG2R) amongst others.  Everyone of them harboring dreams of being the first to summit the climb and claim the stage victory.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will be the next page in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour", a complete collection of my paintings and writings on the 101st Tour de France.  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your own copy, or to discover how you can be part of bring this wide open Tour to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent rewards for those who choose to back the project at a wide variety of levels of participation.  Most include an artist signed copy of the book, some with original artwork starting for as little as $5 USD.  International shipping is available at all levels of support.  If you would rather simply purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402536---199992/Painting.html#.U8SgUM_D_IU

Paris-Nice Final Stage: One for the Home Team

This has been a wonderful Paris Nice for the French.  The French team AG2R claimed the Yellow Jersey for their man, Carlos Betancur, both Team Bretagne and Europcar lit up the breakaways nearly every stage and Sylvan Chavanel wore the Polka Dot Jersey for two days.  But the ultimate feather in the cap was Arthur Vichot (FDJ - another French team) winning on the Boulevard des Anglais wearing the Tri-Colour Jersey of the French National Champion.  This was truly a race for the home team.  It does make you wonder how the French will fair in the Tour de France.  The final standing for Paris Nice were; Carlos Betancur (AG2R) - Yellow Jersey, John Degenkolb (Giant Shimano) - Green Jersey, Pim Ligthat (Lotto Belisol) Polka Dot Jersey, Carlos Betancur (AG2R) - White Jersey (the best placed rider under 24) and Movistar for the best team.

This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2329441---195767/Painting.html#.UyY8uc_D_IU

Paris-Nice Final Stage: The Cat Amongst the Pidgeons

Frank Schleck's first attempt at an attack was pulled back but he simply jumped again this time joined by Simon Spilak (Katusha).  The pair came off of the final climb of Paris Nice at full speed hitting the streets of Nice with 10 seconds on the peloton.  The titled of this painting is a quote from the commentators on www.cycling.tv, Marty MacDonald and Brian Smith, as they described the attack by Spilak who was only 40 seconds down on GC.  Even with that incentive to catch the pair, it was a hard chase to pull this pair back before the finish line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2329375---195767/Painting.html#.UyY4v8_D_IU

Paris-Nice Final Stage: Out of the Saddle, Dancing on the Pedals

No sooner than the peloton was all back together than the attacks started up.  One of the first to go was Frank Schleck of Trek Factory Racing who was quickly joined by Edvardo Sepulveda of Team Bretagne.  Bretagne really raced hard in Paris Nice certainly proving them a wise choice for on of the wildcard slots.  This attack was well timed coming just before the crest of the Col d'Eze allowing the pair to start the descent on their own.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2329365---195767/Painting.html#.UyY2Ks_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 6: Schleck Slides Up the Road

Yet another break caught and another group charges off up the road.  Trek Factory Racing has the honor having both of the Schleck brothers in their team.  Here Frank shows that he has some strong early season form and is joined by the two attacking teams of IAM Cycling and AG2R.  This time it was Stefan Denilf and Alexis Villermoz respectfully, with the AG2R rider making his second attempt of the stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase from my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328169---195767/Painting.html#.UyPAnsvD_IU