Women's Tour of California, Stage 1: Home Girl Victory

Although she rides for a Dutch team, Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) is the USA Road Champion.  Bedecked in her stars and stripes jersey, she raised her arm in a victory celebration as she crossed the line in the first UCI Women's race on American soil.  Guarnier had followed the wheel of her teammate, Chantel Blaak on the final ascent to the line, and then jumped around her fading Dutch teammate as Mara Abbot (Wiggle High5) tried to sprint for the victory.  Guarnier was able to put 8 seconds between herself and Abbot, with the next group coming in another two seconds later.  Guarnier's victory was enough for her to trade in her stars and stripes for the Yellow Jersey of the first leader of the Women's Tour of California.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and in fact, all of my cycling art, 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-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793806-29-223355/Painting.html#.Vz9kivmDGko

Women's Tour of California, Stage 1: Feeling the Peloton's Return

Sarah Storey (Podium Ambition) used her time trialing skills (she just missed setting a one hour record early this year) to stay off of the front for most of the stage.  Alas, as she road up one of the last (uncatagorized) climbs she could feel the peloton just around the corner.  Her effort may not have gotten her onto the podium, nor the yellow jersey, but it did earn her the first blue jersey of the most courageous rider of the day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and in fact, all of my cycling art, 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-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793785-28-223355/Painting.html#.Vz9h8_mDGko

Tour of California, Stage 5: With Aplomb

Roughly a year ago, Toms Skujins (Cannondale), then riding for Hincapie Racing, went for a long solo break in a stage of the Amgen Tour of California and claimed victory on the day.  This year he did have two men with him when he was within site of the finish line, but the result was still the same.  Once he knew he had the better of Adam De Vos (Rally Cycling), he spread his arms and legs wide absorbing the cool winds off of the lake and the warm applause of the crowd.  With Skujins victory the Argyle boys have to stages to their credit and a day in Yellow, not a bad outing for the home team.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling artwork is available, along with my two cycling books (one on the 2014 Tour de France and the other on the 2015 UCI Road World World Championships) on 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.  But don't delay, since it is an original work of art, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793515-26-223355/Painting.html#.Vz6c8_mDGko

Tour of California, Stage 5: Launching

As they well knew, the sprint for the finish came down to a fight between Adam De Vos (Rally Cycling), Toms Skujins (Cannondale) and Xabier Zandio (Team Sky).  It was De Vos who opened up the sprint, a steep uphill affair, the was initially covered by Zandio with Skujins looking at the duo and checking to see if he had the legs to go with the attack.  There was one rider, Jasper Stuyens (Trek-Segafredo) trying desperately to bridge up to the three, but he was quickly running out of real estate.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling artwork is available, along with my two cycling books (one on the 2014 Tour de France and the other on the 2015 UCI Road World World Championships) on 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.  But don't delay, since it is an original work of art, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793512-25-223355/Painting.html#.Vz6YzPmDGko

Tour of California, Stage 5: Now Its Three

The duo of Toms Skujins (Cannondale) and Adam De Vos (Rally Cycling) had been caught by their former break away companions, only to jump off the front again.  The only one capable of bridging across was the oldest man in the race, Xabier Zandio (Team Sky).  The trio had over three minutes on the peloton and nearly a minute on their twice former break away compatriots.  With roughly ten kilometers left to race this trio was fairly certain it would be they contesting for victory.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling artwork is available, along with my two cycling books (one on the 2014 Tour de France and the other on the 2015 UCI Road World World Championships) on 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.  But don't delay, since it is an original work of art, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793509-24-223355/Painting.html#.Vz6Vy_mDGko

Tour of California, Stage 5: Driving It Across the Valley

Rather than on the climbs, BMC used the wind swept valley to drive the pace and split the peloton.  With the break up the road, the American team (and reigning Team Time Trail World Champions) saw an opportunity to put some time into those near both Rohan Dennis and Brent Bookwalter.  Or perhaps Taylor Phinney was driving the pace to put Greg Van Avermaet in with a chance to make up for his second place on Stage 3.  Joining the BMC armada was the pink bike riding Kiel Reiinen (Trek-Segafredo).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my cycling artwork is available, along with my two cycling books (one on the 2014 Tour de France and the other on the 2015 UCI Road World World Championships) on 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.  But don't delay, since it is an original work of art, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793506-23-223355/Painting.html#.Vz6TXvmDGko