Il Lombardia Catching Then at the Line

Diego Rosa (Astana) had launched yet another attack with just a couple hundred meters to race, it looked like he had both Columbians beat.  But alas, it was Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) who was able to launch his sprint from the back of the threesome and just nip Rosa at the line.  Chaves' victory was the first for any Columbian in the Il Lombardia.  Rosa held on for second, which given all of the work he had done earlier was rather impressive.  The race commentators were sure it would be Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) who would out sprint the other two, but he seemed not to have the legs and took third on the day.

This is the final race I will paint before the UCI Road World Championships in Doha, Qatar.  I may follow that up with Paris Tours, but that will be it until 2017.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860585-32-206768/PaintingCatching%20Them%20at%20the%20Line%20IL8-Greig-Leach.html#.V_HIyPArLIU

Il Lombardia: Tactical

The foursome, now a trio, had enough of a lead to start to play out some race tactics.  Diego Rosa (Astana) had tried to attack Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) and Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange), but the two put him back into the fold on both occasions.  Rosa seemed to chat with Uran, perhaps trying to figure out how they could get rid of Uran's countryman, Chaves.  Chaves however was continuing his smart race, keeping his nose out of the wind and waiting for the right moment to attack.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860496-31-206768/PaintingTactical%20IL7-Greig-Leach.html#.V_HDNPArLIU

Il Lombardia: In Search of the Others

Rodolfo Torres (Androni Giocattoli) slipped away from the rest of the peloton hoping to get up to the quartet of leaders.  As he raced through the streets of Bergamo, try as he might, those ahead gained more time, and those behind closed in every closer.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860459-30-206768/PaintingIn%20Search%20of%20the%20Others%20IL6-Greig-Leach.html#.V_G-ivArLIU

Il Lombardia: Spiraling Down

The roads of Lombardia and Lake Como are nothing short of spectacular both the scenery and the engineering of the switchbacks.  The final descend was very technical and was used by the leading four to increase their lead on the more timid followers.  Tacked on the back of the chasers were Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) and Robert Gesnik (LottoNL Jumbo).  Gesnik is not known for his descending prowess, and this descent was surely not to his liking.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860453-29-206768/PaintingSpiraling%20Down%20IL5-Greig-Leach.html#.V_G7fPArLIU

Il Lombardia: One of These Four

Diego Rosa (Astana) had been given free rein by his leader Fabio Aru.  Aru seemed not to have the legs for this long race at the end of the season and felt sure that his teammate could take the win for the team.  Rosa had managed to bridge across to the other three; Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange), Romain Bardet (Ag2r), and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac).  With around a minute over those behind and just 29 kilometers to race, it was beginning to look like the winner of the race would come from the quartet.  Uran and Rosa had done quite a bit of effort to be out front, but both Bardet and Chaves had managed to keep their noses out of the wind.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860446-28-206768/PaintingOne%20of%20These%20Four%20IL4-Greig-Leach.html#.V_G3RvArLIU

Il Lombardia: Get on My Wheel!

Diego Rosa (Astana) was on great form today.  He had repetitively gone on the attack, softening up the others for his team leader, Fabio Aru.  As Aru struggled on the penultimate climb of the rather long day, pulling Davide Villela (Cannondale-Drapac) along with him, Rosa slowed to lend a hand.  Damiano Caruso (BMC) had already been put back into the fold, but others had slipped of the front.  Rosa was there to help put Aru into that group if the pair could manage it.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860440-27-206768/PaintingGet%20on%20My%20Wheel!%20IL3-Greig-Leach.html#.V_GvqPArLIU

Il Lombardia: Pushing On

With the remnants of the peloton catching them up, the trio of David De La Cruz (Etixx-Quickstep), Pierre-Roger Latour (Ag2r) and Rudy Molard (Cofidis) pushed on in hopes of staying away.  At this point, they were second through fourth on the road with still two big climbs to surmount.  More likely than not, at least Latour was riding for his teammate Romain Bardet, but the other two's team leaders hadn't been able to stay with the leading peloton.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860435-26-206768/PaintingPushing%20On%20IL2-Greig-Leach.html#.V_Grs_ArLIU

Il Lombardia: Look at Him Go!

With over 180 kilometers of the total 240 covered, Damiano Caruso (BMC) was off the front all on his own.  Behind was a vastly reduced peloton of roughly seventeen contenders trying to chase down the Italian racing on home soil.  I used  the bright blue arrow sign to create the title and to help drive the eye towards the fast descending Caruso.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860430-25-206768/PaintingLook%20at%20Him%20Go!%20IL1-Greig-Leach.html#.V_GosPArLIU

Il Lombardia: Alone at the Line

I am always baffled when riders will look at each other, each hoping the other will try be the one to go after the attacking rider.  Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) put in the hard surprise attack that left everyone looking at each other.  Finally, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was joined by Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), and Samuel Sanchez (BMC), but it was too late to catch the victorious Irishman.  Valverde's second place was enough to solidify his lead in the 2014 UCI ProTour rankings with just the Tour of Beijing to go.  This is a small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  To purchase my soon to be released, "Book de Tour," please visit http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth where you can pre-order my collection of annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France and the inaugural La Course.  The book is a soft cover 240 page retelling of all of the drama of both races as seen through the eyes of this artist.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449730---195767/Painting.html#.VDhVfs_D_IU

Il Lombardia: Hitting Them Hard

Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) made the perfect move with less than a kilometer to go to the line.  He came from the back of the very select group that had caught Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol), hitting them all at full speed before anyone knew he was attacking.  Sammy Sanchez (BMC) look across at Rui Costa (Lampre) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) to see if any one was going to try and chase the flying Irishman.  Martin had crashed out of the Giro d'Italia in the opening minutes of the Team Time Trial as the Giro opened in his home country of Ireland.  It has been rumored that the reason the Giro started with the TTT was it was almost certain that Martin would take the Pink Jersey of race leader and hold it through all of the Irish stages.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  The painting is only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449714---195767/Painting.html#.VDhOd8_D_IU

Il Lombardia: He's Got a Descent Gap

With the final ascent up from Bergamo to the ancient walled city of Bergamo Alta, Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol) took advantage of the steep 10% cobbled section of the climb to jump away from the select group that had formed off of the front of the peloton.  After whipping around the tight corner and through the narrow gate of the old city, Wellens build him self a sizable 16 second gap on the rest of the hopefuls.  It was quite the crowd of tifosi who lined the sun drenched final climb of the race.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449710---195767/Painting.html#.VDhKZc_D_IU

Il Lombardia: Down to Two

Ben Hermans (BMC) and Peter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge) had set off after the breakaway on the previous climb.  By the time they had neared the final big climb of the day, they had ridden everyone off of their wheels.  While they still had over 40 kilometers to the finish, they were looking like they had the legs to make it all the way to the finish in Bergamo Alta.  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, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Also, be sure to check out my soon to be released, "Book de Tour" at http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  The book is a complete collection (and then some) of my annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France and the inaugural La Course.  International shipping is available for this painting and for the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449702---195767/Painting.html#.VDhIS8_D_IU

Il Lombardia: Giving Chase

Il Lombardia is one of cycling's monuments, and one of the last of the season coming two weeks after the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  There was a sizable group up the road that was starting to split apart on the penultimate big climb of the day.  That was enough of an inspiration to get Ben Hermans (BMC), along with Peter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge), and Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling) to jump out of the peloton in search of the tete de la course.  BMC had a good Worlds, taking the Gold Medal in the Team Time Trial on the opening day of racing in Ponferrada, Spain.  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.  It is 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.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the artwork on offer?  In addition, "Book de Tour," my collection of annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France is about to be released.  You can pre-order your copy through my publisher's website, http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  Only $29.95 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449698-125-120-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VDhFws_D_IU