Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 8: Finishing Strong

Finishing strong is the perfect description of the last two days for Juliette Labous (DSM-firmenich).  Yesterday she started the day in tenth place moving herself up to sixth with her attacking ride on the Col du Tourmalet.  Today she still had the legs to finish sixth on the day which put her up into the top five of the second edition of the Tour de France Femmes.  Her French fans along the final kilometer were thrilled to see one of their countrywomen placing so high in their home race.  They also have another countrywoman finishing the race in the White Jersey of the best young rider.  French cycling is looking good for the future, at least in the women's peloton.

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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3969067-195-297438/Painting/finishing-strong-tdff23-51.html 

Paris Nice, Stage 4: Cheering Him On

French cycling fans, and indeed fans from all over Europe, are very enthusiastic about their sport, but none more so as when one of their own flies past them.  Particularly if they are doing as well on the day (and the race) as Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep).  Alaphilippe started the day in second place overall and in the White Jersey of best young rider.  He was hoping to exchange white for yellow at the end of the day.  A hope that could well be realized since the Yellow Jersey of Arnaud Demare (FDJ) is on more of a sprinter than a climber like Alaphilippe.  What wasn't expected was that the young French man would not only claim the Yellow Jersey, but the stage as well.  Chapeau!

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%20/2931062-352-195767/PaintingCheering%20Him%20On%20PN17-17.html#.WMBbjfkrLIU

Tour, First Rest Day

I will not claim that I am half as tired as the peloton, but I need this rest day just as much as they do.  This is just a quick glimpse of the 65 4"x6" postcard size ink and watercolors that I have created live over the first nine stages of this Tour de France.  They are piled on top of my second book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is available through your favorite online or retail bookseller, or you can order it direct from the publisher at www.artofcycling.bike.  All of this artwork (minus one) is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  My paintings of this Tour de France are at http://www.greigleach.com/thumbnail_list.php?mgd_id=224974#.V4PZqbgrLIU.  International shipping is available using USPS International Priority.  Domestic orders will ship USPS Priority.

Now to try and complete all of the other tasks around the home before going to a book signing and fundraiser for Richmond Area Bicycle Association's "Bikes for Kids" effort.

Dauphine, Stage 1: How Much?

Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) pressed on with the break, even after his compatriot, Mitch Docker (Orica-GreenEdge) threw in the towel.  One member of the rolling caravan is the team that keeps the time gaps on a chalkboard.  The bright yellow clad riders move from group to group showing each the time gaps on the road.  Admittedly, the directors sportif on the other end of the two way radios in each rider's ear can easily relay the same information, old tradition do die hard.

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/2804047-44-185083/Painting.html#.V1ZDspErLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: The Winning Move

As the leading trio reached the summit up Libbie Hill for the final time, Anthony Turgis (France) made a powerful acceleration to jump through the inside corner grabbing the lead from Simone Consonni (Italy).  The Frenchman's teammate, Kevin Ledanois, watched his countryman go keeping a sharp eye on the Italian on his wheel.  As it turned out, the winning move didn't deliver the win and the Rainbow Jersey to Turgis...

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Blistering the Course

The Frenchman, Jerome Coppel, was the next rider to post the best times along the course.  Coppel was not one of the riders that was on my radar to put in a strong ride, but then, what do I know?  However, when Coppel reached the false flat rising to the finish line, he pushed enough on the pedals to be the next to claim the top chair in the leader's holding area.  As he rolled into the hall, I yelled "Chapeau!" his head turned in my direction and smiled.  I don't think he expected to hear "hat" called out in Virginia.  Further still I had the chance to congratulate him on what became his bronze medal on the day.  It is truly amazing how much access fans have with the heroes of the sport.

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 available along with two different sizes of prints in the Richmond Convention Center just a block away from the finish line of every race of the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  Just come look for me directly across from the awards podium.  Plus you can find a live stream of my painting the works at www.richmond.com were the paintings will soon be available for purchase.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: The Final Kilometer

Aude Biannic (France) pushes as hard as she can up the false flat towards the end of her effort.  As she swung off of the short brutal climb within the last kilometer she had to be thinking that was the end of the climbing, but the course rises all the way to the line.  That fact has dashed the hopes of a number of riders that felt like that were in with a chance when that turned onto the final approach.  I was proud to see how many of my fellow Richmonders were out lining nearly every kilometer of the course cheering riders from around the world.

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.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Stopping the Clock

Alexys Brunel, riding for France, cross the UCI Rainbow festooned finish line managed to end the day in 10th place.  This is the last of the images I was able to get on the day of actual race.  Hopefully, I will be able to paint the medalist from images provided by the Richmond Times Dispatch, my partner on this project.  If that is the case, please look for the paintings here tomorrow.

This is a small original painting that was create using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  I am painting these works live at the Greater Richmond Convention Center right next to the awards podium.  You can come out to the Fanfest in the GRCC and watch me paint and then buy the original or one of two different sized prints.  Later they will be able to purchased at www.richmond.com.

Tour de France Stage 8: For the Home Fans

The French now have their first victory in their home Tour.  Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R) riding for a French team got the jump on the rest of the hopefuls to spread his arms in pure joy has he claimed the stage atop Mur de Bretagne.  Dan Martin (Cannondale Garmin) left it a little too late to reward the team for all of their work.  He did claim second a couple of seconds ahead of the group, but it wasn't what he or the team hoped for.  I do remember Tours where the French barely made an appearance on the podiums, but with their success last year, the country's cyclists looked poised to reclaim the Tour de France.  Although probably not this year.

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.  This painting, in fact all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, since this is a one of a kind original, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579348---210122/Painting.html#.VaGHp_lViko

2014 UCI Worlds: Can You Confirm?

At the top of the final climb a group of favorites got away.  Marianne Vos, Emma Johannson, Lizzie Armstead and Lisa Brennauer, had gotten the gap that they needed to contest for the Rainbow Jersey and the other two steps for the podium.  However as the quartet got inside the final kilometer, they began to slow each not wanting to be on the front of the group (a position that is very difficult to win from).  As they wove back and forth across the road and hard charging group of 10 riders driven by two women from the German team tagged onto the leading group, I was left wondering why they had let the others back into the race.  I have seen this far to many times in the professional peloton.  The four had a seventy five percent chance of landing on the podium, with the gamesmanship, none finish even in the top five.  With so many coming to the line together, it wasn't clear who had taken the victory.  The UCI will lay a hand on the winner of every race, taking them directly to drug testing (just to insure they have raced clean).  Here the shepherds of Pauline Ferrnad-Prevot (France) used their radio to confirm that she is indeed the new Women's Road Racing World Champion.  Chapeau, Pauline!  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (only $50 USD), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championships/2442636---202544/Painting.html#.VCcr1c_D_IU

Tour Stage 14: A French Led Peloton

The French are having their best Tour de France in years.  It has been a long, long time since they have had two riders in the top five, they even have the potential to have two guys on the podium in Paris.  With the hopes of a third stage win for their country, and a continuation of the battle for White and best French rider, the final climb towards Risoul, was led by four Frenchmen from three different teams.  The Italian, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was paying close attention, watching for an attack that could threaten his Yellow Jersey.  Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and his teammate, Arnold Jeannesson had chased back onto Romain Bardet's (AG2R) wheel in the valley and along with Pierre Rolland (Europcar) they all hoped to improve their placings by putting the hurt to the rest of those in the top ten.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will appear in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your copy, or to discover how you can get involved in helping to bring the art of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour   There are some excellent Backer rewards including an artist signed copy, original artwork, pins, postcards and all starting for as little as $5 USD.  Absolutely everyone who backs the project at any level will have their name included in print on the special thanks page of the book.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, please follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Wouldn't you like to have the book as well?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405266---199992/Painting.html#.U8vtwc_D_IU

Tour Stage Eighteen: Le Sommet du Monde

I am trusting Google to correctly translate, "On Top of the World", I know a little bit of French so I feel good about "du Monde".  But I am sure I feel no where near as good as Christophe Riblon who had been in the first break that got away at 17 kilometers.  To have the opportunity and ability to grab the coveted win atop the Alpe d'Huez and the long sought after win for the home team, moved him to tears of joy and fist pumbs of jubilation.  It should be noted that the last time the Tour climbed the storied Alpe, it was another Frenchman who crossed the line first, Pierre Rolland.  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 the 100th Tour de France and the first victory for France. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183647---186227/Painting.html#.UfB79MvD_IU