Liege Bastogne Liege: Joy & Sorrow

Great joy crossed the face of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) as he raised his arms in a victory salute.  Valverde claimed is third career win in the last of the spring Monuments and in so doing, paid back all of the efforts his team had put into the race. The sorrow and frustration was etched across the face of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx Quickstep).  The young Frenchman just ran out of road as he sprinted towards the line.  Claiming the final position on the podium was Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) followed by Rui Costa (Lampre Merida) and Romain Bardet (AG2R).  Bardet was able to recover from his earlier attack to still finish in the top five.  Again, the renaissance of French cycling continues with ever more young Frenchmen getting better and better results.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2546766-249-246-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VT5AmyHBzGc

Tour Stage 17: Catching His Wheel

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) was riding like a man possessed.  He was certainly extremely focused on securing the Polka Dot Jersey of the King of the Mountians, thus far he had the legs to be the first over the first two climbs of the stage.  As they approached the summit of the penultimate climb of the day, the Col de Val Lauron Azet, Rodriguez again jumped from the pack to sprint to the peak of the mountain.  Rafal Majka (Tinkoff Saxo) did his best to catch the Virtual Polka Dots, but just didn't have enough to get around the man in red.  Perhaps if the road had turned left instead of right he could have gotten a couple of points on Rodriguez, but it went the other way and so did the points.  All Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff Saxo), Jon Izaguirre (Movistart) and Peter Velits (BMC) could do was watch the two mountain goats sprint off.  They were more interested in winning the stage and didn't want to spend the extra energy trying to get points for a jersey they couldn't possible win given how few mountains were left to climb.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting along with all of my watercolors of the 101st Tour de France will be included in my soon to be self published tome, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, the incentives for those who pledge their support, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can be a part of bringing this stunning Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But don't you want a copy of the book with all of the paintings in it?  Sure you do!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2407326---199992/Painting.html#.U9B03s_D_IU

Tour Stage 17: Out of Spain into Polka Dots

The Tour de France dipped briefly into its fourth country on the way through the Pyrenees, slipping into Spain.  As the former champion of Spain, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), sprinted towards the summit of the Col de Portillon he became the Virtual King of the Mountains, going back ahead of Rafal Majka (Tinkoff Saxo) who took the Polka Dots off his back the day before.  Mick Rodgers fought to stick with Rodriquez, hoping to minimize the points that the Katusha rider grapped at the summit, defending his teammate's lead.  For Rodriquez, there is nothing like playing to the home fans.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published collection of my art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy or to learn how you can become part of bringing this most unusual Tour to print please visit, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent Backer rewards for those who choose to back this project starting at just $5 USD and everyone who supports "Book de Tour" will have their name included on the Special Thanks page of the book.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But you know you want a copy of the book too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2407222---199992/Painting.html#.U9AoUM_D_IU

Tour Stage 17: Starting to Chase

Stage 17 may have been the shortest road stage of this Tour de France, but it featured 4 major climbs, 3 Category 1 and the finale a Haute Categorie mountain top finish.  If you combined that with the prior day's longest stage of the Tour with its multiple climbs, there were some very tired legs in the peloton today.  Joaquim Rodriquez (Katusha) has made it clear to all who will listen that he is after the King of the Mountain's Jersey in Paris.  Today he matched his legs to his mouth on the first climb of the day, the Col de Portillon.  With the break away less than a minute up the road, he set out to catch and pass them, planning on being the first to summit the climb.  The Spaniard on the Russian team pulled a rider from AG2R and Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) along on the attack.  The Luxemburg National Champion has been riding himself back into form in the latter stages of this Tour, regaining some of his climbing prowess of old.  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.  The painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published collection of my art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy or to learn how you can become part of bringing this most unusual Tour to print please visit, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent Backer rewards for those who choose to back this project starting at just $5 USD and everyone who supports "Book de Tour" will have their name included on the Special Thanks page of the book.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But you know you want a copy of the book too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2407202---199992/Painting.html#.U9Akms_D_IU

Tour Stage 14: The Top of the Tour

It is all down hill to Paris for Joaquim Rodriquez (Katusha).  He has crossed the highest point of the 101st Tour de France, securing the Virtual Polka Dot Jersey in the process.  Even if Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) were to win the stage on the top of the final climb to Risoul, as long as Rodriguez finish within the top six on the stage, the King of the Mountians competition lead is his.  The Katusha rider was able to jump away from his countryman, Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale).  Truth be told, there are quite a few more hills to climb before Paris, most notably the Pyrenees in the final days of the Tour.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and 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 to become involved in bringing the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some wonderful backer rewards all of which include the Backers name in print on the Special Thanks Page of the book.  Other incentives include an artist signed book, pins, original art, and a few lucky signed copies, signed by whomever wins this Tour de France.  If you would rather just purchase this particular painting, please follow the direct link at the end of this post, but wouldn't you rather have a copy of "Book de Tour" too?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405252---199992/Painting.html#.U8viWM_D_IU

Tour Stage 10: Flame Rouge

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), resplendent back in his Italian National Champion Jersey, jumped away from the elite group of contenders with about five kilometers left in the stage in search of time, the stage victor and another Yellow Jersey.  The only man left up the road was Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and he had been out there for roughly 150 kilometers, sprinting to the summit of every climb (and winning) against Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).  By the time Rodriguez found Nibali coming after him, he as completely baked.  After the pair went under the red kit demarking the final kilometer of the stage the Katusha leader was hard pressed to hold the wheel of the Italian.  Just around the corner was the nasty 18% gradient that would carry them to the finish line.  Nibali left the Spaniard going on by himself.  Nibali was too exhausted to raise his arms in victory, but his ride was enough to retake the Jersey he had just surrendered to Gallopin and to take his second stage victory in the 101st Tour de France.  As riders continued to trickle in, most were too exhausted to even figure out how to get off of their bicycles, all were relieved that the next morning would be a rest day, a chance to recover before riding off into the Alps in Stage 11.  This is a small original watercolor painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will also be another page in my soon to be self published. "Book de Tour" a collection of my art of the 101st Tour de France.  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can become a part of bringing this wide open Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take some time to browse around all of the art on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402568-77-72-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U8Sq48_D_IU

Tour Stage 10: Mountain After Mountain

With both Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) having decided that this would be the stage that they could claim the most King of the Mountain points, ending the stage by standing on the podium bedecked in red spots, the pair found themselves sprinting to the top over and over.  Rodriguez got the better of Voeckler mountain top after mountain top, but the little French man had no intention of backing it in.  With the number of marquee men of this Tour having had to abandon the race, starting on the very first stage way back in England, no rider can assume that he won't have a change of fortune, either for the good or the bad.  Rodriquez knows this all too well having crashed out of the Giro d'Italia when he was in the top ten on the General Classification.  The pair had finally gotten rid of the two Omega Pharma Quickstep men, Tony Martin and Michal Kwiatkowski, so they were also hoping for the stage victory to add to the King of the Mountain's Jersey.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be added to all of the watercolors of the Tour and will become 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 to get involved in bringing the watercolors of a rather wet Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour   There are some exciting backer rewards starting as low as $5 USD, with most including an artist signed copy of the beautifully printed book. If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402534---199992/Painting.html#.U8SbAs_D_IU

Tour Stage 9: Sprinting to the Top

Although most of the King of the Mountain points had been collected by those up the road, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) fought it out in a hard sprint for the final KOM point on offer at the summit of Le Markstein, the first Category One climb of the 101st Tour de France.  Rodriguez was the victim of a rather spectacular crash in the rain during the 2014 Giro d'Italia, roughly two months earlier.  He was carried off of the road by ambulance having suffered three broken ribs.  Not surprisingly he has not been at his best in the first days of the Tour, starting Stage 9 almost an hour down on the Yellow Jersey.  The leader for Katusha has had to change his goals for this Tour from overall podium finish, watching him sprint for the KOM points seems to show that the new goal is the Polka Dots in Paris.  Edet did all he could to nip the points from the Spaniard, but it wasn't to be for the Frenchman just now.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This work will appear in my soon to be self published book on the 2014 Tour de France seen through the eyes of an artist.  To learn more about the book project, "Tour de Book", to pre order your copy or to become involved in bringing this artistic race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402070---199992/Painting.html#.U8Mwz8_D_IU

Tour Stage Twenty: The Three On Top

First Rodriquez went, and Quintana and Froome chased him back.  Then Froome went, twice, and Quintana and Rodriquez chased him back, but on the second return, Quintana jumped them both.  After their attacks neither Rodriquez had the answer for the Colombian, and when Rodriquez actually went after Quintana, Froome lost the Spaniard's wheel.  But here they are the three top GC men of the 100th Tour de France on top of the final Alpine climb in this running of the Tour.  Whoever gets over the line first will be able to claim the Polka Dot Jersey for the best climber in the 100th Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183721---186227/Painting.html#.UfCdJcvD_IU

Tour Stage Nineteen: Looking for Seconds

First Valverde and Bardet went up the road, a few minutes later, Rodriquez attacked.  Once Rodriquez had gone, anyone in the upper ranks of the GC had to give chase, they are less than a minute apart from each other.  Froome, on the other hand, has five minutes on the lot of them, but still he jumps and chases all of them down.  Even more amazing than Froome answering the attacks is Richie Porte.  Yet again he is dropped when the attacks start and quickly drops off the back of the group, and yet again, he digs deep and comes back up to his team leader.  And not only does he come back up, but goes straight to the front and paces Froome to insure that they don't surrender a single second to the others.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this little painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183679---186227/Painting.html#.UfCKlcvD_IU

Tour Stage Eighteen: I'll Give It to You

I truly have no idea what this conversation actually was.  No idea at all, but the rumor mill claims that Froome offered the first Alpine stage to Quintana if he could hang on his wheel, he couldn't and Froome took the stage.  Today, it looked like Quintana wasn't listening to him, but then his face rarely shows anything, except for joy when pulling on the White Jersey.  Rodriquez just matched the two wondering why he wasn't included in Froome's touchy feely behavior.  Quintana obviously wasn't interested in any gifts today.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.  I enjoy the inclusion of the "Children at Play" sign behind the group of three.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183303---186227/Painting.html#.Ue_0dsvD_IU

Tour Stage Eighteen: Going Up, Again

Every rider either climbed the Alpe d'Huez a second time today or they abandoned the race, two took the second option.  With the remainder of the earlier break scattered up the road Chris Froome weathered all of the GC attacks and dished out his shared of his own.  At this point the only two who could match his attacks were the Colombian climber, Quintana, and the GC Spanish contender Rodriquez.  Each of Froome's accelerations would drop his team mate, but failed to get rid of these two.  However, he did managed to dispatch Contrador, Mollema, and Ten Dam.  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 from the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183299---186227/Painting.html#.Ue_zUMvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Contrador Leads Then Up

The peloton has been reduced to a very select group on the last climb of stage 7, and it is a mountain top finish the riders are headed towards.  Alberto Contrador is on the front using his climbing strengths to help his teammate Mick Rogers gain time on those just ahead of him on GC.  Chris Froome, wearing the Malliot Jeune, is keeping a close eye on the proceedings while Rodriquez seems poised to attack.  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/2162037---185083/Painting.html#.UbvQ_c_D_IU