Ruta del Sol Final Stage: Head of the Race

Maciej Paterski (CCC Spandi) was feeling good on the final day of racing, he seemed to drag the rest of his break away companions along, thinning the group out in the process. With less than 30 kilometers left to race, the original six was now down to three.  Those that were able to hold the Polish rider's wheel, Merhawi Kudus Ghebremedhin (MTN-Qhubeka) and Johnny Hoogerland (Roompot).  Hoogerland always sticks in my mind as the most unfortunate rider from a number of years ago in the Tour de France.  He was the rider who was hit by a VIP vehicle during an Alpine stage and knocked into a barb wire fence.  The inspiring part of the story, he got back on the bike a finished the stage.  That night, he went to the hospital to get something like forty stitches, then lined up for the start the next day.  These are hard men who race in tight lycra!

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Yes, international shipping is available.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you have enjoyed reading about bike racing with the accompanying artwork please be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"  The book is available through most online book stores worldwide.  Just Google the title to find where you can purchase the book and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Other%202015%20Cycling%20Art/2515978---206768/Painting.html#.VOvKufnF-xU

Ruta del Sol Final Stage: Six Away

As per usual, the final stage of the Ruta del Sol had the requiste early breakaway.  This time one team managed to put more than one rider into the group.  With only six riders in the break, two of them ride for MTN-Qhubeka (my vote for the best kit in the peloton).  The group was comprised of Merhawi Kudus Ghebremedhin and Jim Songezo (MTN-Qhubeka), Dario Martin Hernandez (Burgos BH), Johnny Hoogerland (Roompot) and Maciej Paterski (CCC Spandi),  With today's stage the last chance for the sprinters to show their legs, this break wasn't given more than a two minute gap on the peloton.  Giant-Alpecin was still looking for a stage win for their man, John Degenkolb.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the family run art supply company, www.richesonart.com.  In additon, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Yes, international shipping is available.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you have enjoyed reading about bike racing with the accompanying artwork please be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"  The book is available through most online book stores worldwide.  Just Google the title to find where you can purchase the book and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Other%202015%20Cycling%20Art/2515766---206768/Painting.html#.VOu0iPnF-xU

Giro d'Italia Stage 11: Having to Chase

With such a large break up the road and only 40 kilometers left to race it may for an aggressive chase from the peloton for those teams who had missed out.  Ironically, in a pre-race interview, it was Johnny Hoogerland (Androni Giacatolli) who said the stage would have a big break and that it would get away at 50 K into the race.  The only part he got wrong was when the break would get away.  It got away at 80 K, and he didn't manage to be in it.  So he and his team were left to try and chase the 14 up the road down.  Sadly, they couldn't do it and spent far more energy than they got in return.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard (4"x6") that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  If you want this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2367689---198213/Painting.html#.U319o8_D_IU

Tour Stage Sixteen: Want to Go?

There was time to chat in the break with one topic being when are we going to get rid of everyone else.  Hoogerland seems to be asking Andreas Kloden and Navardauskas if they want to go for the attack now or wait for the final climb.  Hoogerland had the opportunity to show off his Netherland's Championship jersey for a long time with his break away companions.  The decision apparently made to wait for the Col du Manse, partly because it was a dive from the top to the finishing line.  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 of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182977---186227/Painting.html#.Ue7aL8_D_IU

Tour Stage Fourteen: Trying to Get Across

Johnny Hoogerland, the Champion of the Netherlands, realized that the break he missed today was the one that was going to work.  So he jumped from the peloton in a lone search for the guys up the road.  Hoogerland has the dubious honor of being the rider that was hit by a press car in the Tour several years ago and knocked head over heals into a barbed wire fence.  He was pretty cut up, but given that you must finish every stage in order to stay in the Tour, he had to untangle himself and keep going, leaving a trail of blood along the roads of France.  The bright side was that he got to pull on the Polka Dot Jersey for his efforts before the crash, even if it did delay his trip to the hospital to get 90 stitches.  And yes, he was at the start line the next morning to finish the remain stages of the Tour.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182545---186227/Painting.html#.Ue3Eoc_D_IU

Tour Stage Eight: First to the Base

The first mountain stage of the 100th Tour de France had a long flat approach to the tallest pass that the Tour will cross in this edition of the Gande Boucle. This was the break that went early hoping that they could have a big head start on the big contenders of the GC.  The group contains Johnny Hoogerland in the colors of the Champion of the Netherlands, Jean-Marc Marino, Christophe Riblon (who is hoping to repeat his win on the same climb 3 years ago) and Rudy Melard all thinking they will be the ones to overturn the machine of Team Sky.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com, a great company that makes excellent art supplies.  The work is also available at my artist website,  just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179361---186227/Painting.html#.UeSaFsvD_IU