Tour Femmes '25, Stage 8: The Mountains Are Waiting

Well, technically, more mountains are waiting for the peloton since they have already been over a category one climb already today.  Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) in her French National Champion's kit is coming back up to her teammates ladened with water bottles from her team car.  Today's stage still includes a climb over the category two climb of the Cote de Saint Georges d'Hurtieres and then the mountain top finish on the haute catagorie climb of the Col de la Madeleine.  With that much still facing these women, it is imperative that they be fueled up for what lays ahead.  

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Mountains Are Waiting TdFF25-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour: Stage 20: One for You, One for Me

Reaching out and grabbing a musette, Luke Rowe (Team Sky) came away with two instead.  Simplifying things, he kept one and passed it to the hero of stage 19, Geraint Thomas.  Team Sky was riding tempo up the penultimate climb of the Tour, the Col de la Colombiere.  None of the men up the road were any threat to the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome, so the team wasn't in the mood to chase.  Sky figured that the teams who were being challenged by Romain Kreuziger's (Tinkoff) presence in the break away, would eventually be the ones to commit to the chase.  You know they were right...

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.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828156-148-224974/PaintingOne%20for%20You,%20One%20for%20Me%20TdF149-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QUILgrLIU

Dauphine, Final Stage: All Strung Out

You don't need a speedometer to tell when the peloton is going full speed, you just have to look at its shape.  When it is in a long thin line, it means the guys on the front are hammering!  Etixx-Quickstep went into the final stage with a plan.  The team had Dan Martin sitting fourth overall, and Julian Alaphilippe was sixth while wearing the White Jersey of best young rider.  With both riders less than a minute down on the Maillot Juane of Chris Froome (Sky), they were doing their best to weaken Team Sky and the others that sat before them on the General Classification.

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/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2807368-79-185083/Painting.html#.V12R7vkrLIU

Dauphine, Stage 5: Out of the Saddle

The first man to jump out of the severely reduced peloton was the Spaniard, Mikel Landa (Sky).  His attack could be seen as a softening blow for Team Sky, or a way for his team leader, Chris Froome, to sit in. Whatever the tactic, Landa quickly open up a sizable gap and may shortly catch the remnants of the breakaway that was falling apart up the road.  This final climb had some beautiful vistas.  I have always wonder just how much pleasure the racers can take in their stunning surroundings.

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/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2806615-67-185083/Painting.html#.V1u67_krLIU

Tour de France, Stage 16: The Mountains Await

The early break away formed about 30 kilometers into the second longest stage of the 102nd Tour de France.  Originally, it was a group of twenty four riders, but it broke apart under the influence of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Saxo).  The Slovak rider was in the break to amass maximum points in the Maillot Vert competition and arriving at the sprint with no other sprinters in tow seems the best way to claim his fourth Green Jersey in as many years.  Imanol Ervitti (Movistar), Michal Golas (Etixx-Qucikstep), Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) found themselves part of the second group on the road.  Everyone had to cross this long flat valley road with the Alps looming over their heads.  Today featured two climbs over the Col de Cabre and the Col de Manse on the run into Gap and the second Rest Day.

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.richesnonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the North Central United States.  In addition this painting, along with 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.  Remember it is an original painting, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2582664---210122/Painting.html#.Va1uxflViko

Tour Stage Sixteen: Only Fourteen More to Go

The Tour is charging towards the Alps ending today's stage at the gateway to the mountains in Gap.  They zoomed through the false flat valleys of wheat fields and orchards steadily climbing toward the first of the remaining fourteen mountains that they will have to cross by Saturday night.  If someone doesn't make it over all fourteen, they will not be riding into Paris with the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183153---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9BIM_D_IU

Tour Stage Sixteen: The Big Break

Today's stage was wedged between the second rest day and the last time trial before Paris, so it was deemed to be a day for the break.  All of the GC men are going to want to save as much energy as they can get away with, so once the break didn't have anybody in the top 20, they were off up the road.  This break had 26 riders at the last valley before Gap and by that time is was twelve minutes.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolor, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   Believe me, the quality of the supplies does effect the quality of the work.  Also, this work, and all of the works in this series, are available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182971---186227/Painting.html#.Ue7Yf8_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Eight: French Fans Over the Top

Even in the pouring rain these French fans came out to the penultimate climb of the day to cheer the racers over the top.  At this point the morning break has been scattered all over the climb with Alessandro Di Marchi and Meyer ahead of everyone on the Col de Vars.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162045---185083/Painting.html#.UbvVPc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Two: Here They Come

Today's break wasn't given much of a gap and now the peloton is catching all but the Cofidis rider who jumped away from the break, even though he just prolong his agony.  I always enjoy the image of the riders looking behind them to gauge what is happening, either as they are caught by the peloton or to see how much of a gap they have gained by their attack.  Either way it makes for an encaging image.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website,  just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161065---185083/Painting.html#.UbkylM_D_IU