Donostia Classica: Leaving the Others

The first attack on the Bordako Tontorra was launched by the leader (and former winner of this race), Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  The first to respond to the Englishman's attack was the Spaniard on the Russian team of Katusha, Joaquim Rodriguez.  Rodriguez bridged across and then went off on his own.  He left all of them behind as he neared the summit of the climb, could he reach the top still off the front?  With the finish line just seven kilometers from the top, it would be a fast dangerous ride down to the line in San Sebastian.

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, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830790-325-195767/PaintingLeaving%20the%20Others%20Dono7-Greig-Leach.html#.V52JGLgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Over His Last One

It has been reported that Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) his hanging up his cleats at the end of this season.  If that is the case, than this is him cresting his last alpine pass in the Tour de France.  Not wanting to go out with a whimper, Purito jumped from the Yellow Jersey group and went on the offensive along with his teammate, Ilnur Zakarin.  It was a long shot thinking that they could catch those up the road, the leaders were two and a half minutes and there is only eleven kilometer (downhill) to the finish.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Perhaps he could go down the wet roads faster than anyone ahead or behind.

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%202016/2828173-152-224974/PaintingOver%20His%20Last%20One%20TdF153-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Q6LbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 19: Suffering

This title sums up the nineteenth stage of this Tour.  Many had crashed once the rains came down.  Amongst those to leave some lycra and skin on the alpine roads was the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome (Sky).  Due to Team Sky's planning for every scenario, Froome was surrounded by his teammates.  One of whom, Geraint Thomas, happens to have a bike that fits Froome rather well.  Certainly much better than the one he got from neutral service on the climb of Mont Ventoux.  With Bardet up the road, everyone was racing hard leaving Froome no chance to trade back to his own steed.  Like sharks, the rest of the peloton was sensing blood in the water, almost literally given how wet the roads were.  For the first time since he pulled on the Maillot Jaune, Froome was losing time to his rivals.  But never one to panic, he reeled his biggest fear, Richie Porte (BMC) back in, but most of the others were able to pull back some time.  Froome was tended to by his faithful teammate, Wouter Poels the whole way up the climb.  As the pair crossed the line, Froome first act was to reach out, pat Poels on the back in thanks for all of his work.  Riding away from the Yellow Jersey are Fabio Aru (Astana), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and several others.  One the day, the big loser was Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), and losing time to his rival for the Maillot Blanc was Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  Although neither Froome nor Yates lost their jersey in the end.

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%202016/2827782-143-224974/PaintingSuffering%20TdF144-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LNHrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 18: Back Underway

As the broadcast came back from commercial, this is what greeted my eyes.  Naturally I assumed Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) had crashed.  Nope.  He had a planned by change at the base of the climb.  Since this time trial was predominately uphill, riders were using all sorts of different variations of time trial versus road bike configurations.  The Katusha leader decided that rather than a hybrid of both bike technologies, he would simple switch from his time trial bike after covering the first flat four kilometers.  He then road the climb on the lighter road bike.  He did opt to take it all of the way to the line, which may have helped him get safely through the final corners at speed.  His mechanic managed to make the bike trade very quickly, aiding Rodriguez to finish in eighth place on the day.  I wonder if the skull and cross bones painted on the road was the reference point for where to make the change.

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%202016/2826666-129-224974/PaintingBack%20Underway%20TdF130-Greig-Leach.html#.V5E5ULgrLIU

Tour, Stage 8: Dangling Off the Back

With Team Sky and Movistar pushing a vicious pace up the final big climb of the day, many riders have already been dispatch off the back.  As they neared the final summit of the day, the Col de Peyresourde, Warren Barguil (Giant Alpecin) dangled off of the back of the elite group.  Barguil was yet another of the GC contenders that was on equal time with so many of the others.  He did have the advantage of knowing that the finish line was not at the summit of the Cat 1 climb, but back down in the valley.  The finishing town of Bagneres de Luchon was almost 14 kilometers from the final peak of the day.  Just ahead of the stuggling Frenchman was Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

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, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2821645-53-224974/PaintingDangling%20Off%20the%20Back%20TdF53-Greig-Leach.html#.V4Hq1rgrLIU

Dauphine, Stage 1: Scratching His Head

Today's stage was 168 kilometers long, plenty enough time to get rather uncomfortable.  I certainly would be.  Add the distance to the heat of the day and one could find a sweaty head getting rather itchy.  Tom Jelte Slagter (Cannondale) took the calm moments in the peloton to remove his helmet, scratch his head, and then suit back up for battle.  The peloton is full of many nationalities including the Spaniard. Joaquim Rodriguez and his Austrian teammate, Marco Haller (Katusha), riding shoulder to shoulder with Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and the Italian on the Spanish team Daniel Moreno (Movistar).  This sport of power, speed, endurance and beauty is truly and international endeavor.

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/2804044-43-185083/Painting.html#.V1ZAxZErLIU

Tour de France, Stage 18: Making the Polka Dots His

Even though Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) has been wearing the Maillot a Pois, he has only had it on loan from Chris Froome (Team Sky).  With Froome's ownership of the Maillot Jaune, the wearing of the next jersey in importance goes to the rider in second position in that competition.  Today, Rodriguez put himself into the early break going over the early climb of the Col Bayard first with Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka) just off of his wheel.  With the five points on offer, the Polka Dot Jersey of the King of the Mountains was now his by rights (on the road).  It does remain to be seen if he can out score any off the others in the break with him.  The second stage in the Alps still has 180 kilometers and six more categorized climbs to go.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Co., www.richesonart.com.  They are a small US based family run art supply company that has really wonderful products for art making.  This painting, and 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.  Be aware that because it is an original one of a kind work, once it has sold it is gone. So, don't delay.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2583577-115-210122/Painting.html#.VbE_wflVikr

Tour de France, Stage 12: Saluting the Fans

Roaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) cross the line all on his own having dropped, Jakob Fulgsang (Astana), the last man to attempt to hold the Spaniard's wheel.  With Spain just a few kilometers down the road, he blew kisses and gestured to the crowds surely filled with many of his fellow countrymen.  Rodriguez has now claimed to stage victories in the 102nd Tour de France and today marked his first long hoped for big mountain stage victory.  He was rewarded for his hard work by taking over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.  Behind, while Nairo Quintana nor Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) were able to dislodge Chris Froome (Team Sky) from the lead, they were able to move their Movistar team into the lead in the team competition.  Finally, after all of his efforts to solo to a stage victory that came to naught, Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quickstep) will be wearing the red bib number of the day's Most Combative rider tomorrow.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes that came from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com), a small mid western family run art supply company with excellent art supplies.  This painting, along with 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.  International shipping is available.  Don't delay, it is a one of a kind original painting, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2581416---210122/Painting.html#.VahuEvlViko 

Tour de France Stage 3: A Brutal End to a Brutal Day

It is beginning to feel like the Tour de France organizers are searching out every piece of road that is used in the fabled Spring Classics, today being a perfect example.  While there were some differences in the course, the stage ended on the same climb up the vicious Mur de Huy that concludes Fleche Wallone.  Experience with the climb was the ticket for Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) who had won Fleche Wallone before and taken second on two other occasions.  Rodriguez had enough to claim victory but Chris Froome's (Team Sky) second on the day was enough for him to claim the Maillot Jaune.  He had enough time on Tony Martin (Etixx Quickstep) to take the jersey outright, but the bonus seconds were icing on the cake.  The surprise of the day was Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) who ceded 11 seconds to the other main rivals on a climb.  Perhaps he has not recovered as well as he thought from winning the Giro d'Italia in May.

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, a family run art supply company with incredible products for all sorts of artistic endeavors.  Their website is www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting 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.  But don't delay, since it is an original there is only one of these paintings available and you wouldn't want to miss your opportunity to have a piece of art from the 102nd Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2577160---210122/Painting.html#.VZt98flViko