Olympics 2020: Popping on the Final Climb

With over two hundred kilometers in their legs already, the final climb was taking its toll on many at the back of the peloton.  Some, like Jan Polanc (Slovenia) had been working on the front for their team.  Others, like Eddie Dunbar (Ireland) had launched an attack and been pulled back by the peloton.  And then still others just found the distance and the pace too much like Merhawi Kudus (Eritrea) and the Spanish duo of Alejandro Valverde and Jesus Harrada.  

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 from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Summer-Olympics/3826099-3-291661/Painting/popping-on-the-final-climb-o21-3.html

Giro, Stage 8: Rising

For once I chose this image to paint because one of the fans at the side of the road.  I was struck by the most enthusiastic baker, still clad in his apron, getting pictures of the break away with his cell phone.  I admit to trying to find an appropriate pun to go with a baker and the break climbing the mountain.  I may not have succeed.  The original group of seven was starting to thin out on the final climb of the day.  At 15 kilometers left to the summit and the end of the stage, it qA mrrwo Montaguti (Ag2r La Mondiale) followed by Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) and Tosh Van Der Sande (Lotto Fix-All).  Each had tried to leave the others, but couldn't succeed.  Meanwhile, the peloton had closed to within a minute and a half.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3162087-33-249297/PaintingRising--G18-33.html

Giro, Stage 8: Seven with Sevens

Okay, this title might be a little bit of a stretch, but...  The early break was comprised of seven men.  All of their bib numbers included the number seven except one, that of bib 44, Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Merida).  Clearly Davide Villella (Astana) is bib 37, led next by Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirate) bib 207, Tosh Van Der Sande (Lotto Fix-All) bib 107, Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r La Mondiale) bib 17 and Rodolfo Torres Agudelo (Andronni Giocattoli) bib 27.  As the group rode along the coast after the intermediate sprint, they had little time to enjoy the sights of Agropoli.  They did have quite a bit of time on the peloton, with over five minutes on the gruppo Maglia Rosa.

You may have notice, there were no paintings of Stage 7.  Sometimes, life takes over even painting the Giro.  I will be missing a couple of the 21 stages of this race, but I truly enjoy painting and watching this most beautiful of sports.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3162081-31-249297/PaintingSeven-with-Sevens--G18-31.html

Giro, Stage 4: A Huge Effort

Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) was the sole survivor from the early break of the day.  With just three kilometers left to race, he had over a minute and a half on the remnants of the peloton.  It would be touch and go, but it was looking like this would be one of those rare times that the break away succeed.  Spoiler alert, he did take the stage by a whole ten seconds over the closest chaser.  He was too far down on GC to take over the Maglia Rosa, but I think the stage victory was his target.  He now as one two stages of the Giro in his career.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2964240-30-235247/PaintingA-Huge-Effort-G17-30.html

Giro, Stage 4: Not Amused

The duo of Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data) and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) vied to be the first to summit the Portella Femmina Morta.  Van Rensberg had the lead and drifted towards the barriers closing the door for Polanc to get through.  Perhaps the move kept Polanc from taking the climb, most likely he wouldn't have gotten it regardless.  Polanc reached out a pushed Van Rensburg over and exchanged a few displeased words with his rival.  The pair argued most of the way down the climb, but then got back to working together to stay away from the 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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2964143-25-235247/PaintingNot-Amused-G17-25.html

Giro, Stage 4: On the Way Up

Today's break away was made of four riders, only one from a contiental team.  The group, who gained almost eight minutes on the peloton was facing two huge climbs on the day.  The first may have been a rather distressingly named, the Portella Femmina Morta, the second, the infamous Volcanic Mount Etna.  The break away riders were, Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data), Pavel Prutt (Gazprom-Rusvelo), and Eugenio Alafaci (Trek-Segafredo).

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2964139-24-235247/PaintingOn-the-Way-Up-G17-24.html

Tour, Stage 1: Caught Out

The open flat roads of Normandy combined with the winds off of the Atlantic and the English Channel, provided the peloton with yet another element to contend with.  The race course had the riders switching direction almost constantly.  A few like Borut Bozic (Cofidis) and Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida) were caught out by a strong crosswind and the acceleration of the front end of the peloton.  These eight or ten riders were left scrambling to catch back onto the fast disappearing tail of the leaders.  They could take comfort in knowing that the road was sure to change direction yet they could ill afford to lully-gag in hopes of it all coming back together.

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%202016/2817373-3-224974/PaintingCaught%20Out%20TdF3-Greig-Leach.html#.V3fyYLgrLIU

Giro Stage 5: Thank Heaven!

Jens Voigt has been asked why he would always get into a break away when they have such a slim chance of succeeding.  His response is almost as well know as his mantra, "Shut Up Legs."  He answered, "If you go in the break you have maybe a 10% chance of winning, if you don't, you have a 0% chance."  Today, it was Jan Polanc (Lampre Merida) who took the chance and beat the odds.  His celebration seemed to show both disbelief and pure joy.  The celebration was watched with a rather dispassionate gaze from the race director standing through the roof as Polanc crossed the summit to claim victory in a stage of the Giro.

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.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the upper midwest of the United States.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  And yes, international shipping is available.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553668---184157/Painting.html#.VVQGyiFViko

Giro Stage 5: Climbing Alone

Jan Polanc (Lampre Merida) had spend the lion share of the 150 kilometer stage out in front of the peloton in the five man break.  Once the small group hit the 17 kilometer climb up to Abetone and the finish of the stage, Polanc saw his chance to go for the win.  The younger man left the more experienced Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) behind, perhaps relying on the ignorance of youth.

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.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the upper midwest of the United States.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  And yes, international shipping is available.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553626---184157/Painting.html#.VVP-cCFViko

Giro Stage 5: A Big Welcome

For many small towns along the route, the Giro's arrival is most likely the biggest event to ever happen for miles around.  It seems like every inhabitant of Poggio turned out to see the arrival of the five man breakaway.  I'm sure they stayed to cheer every single member of the peloton, remaining until the broom wagon had passed them by.  Today seemed to be the perfect day to be in the break with the peloton letting these men gain almost eleven minutes.  The best placed member of the group is over nineteen minutes behind the Maglia Rosa of Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge).  As they rolled through the cheering crowd, Jan Polanc (Lampre Merida), Silvan Dillier (BMC), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Axel Domont (AG2R) and Seghei Tvetcov (Androni Giocattoli) could entertain thoughts of taking a stage in the 98th edition of the Giro d'Italia.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553582---184157/Painting.html#.VVPRgCHBzGc