Tour of Britain, Final Stage: Riding Around with Yellow

Unlike the Tour de France, there was no promenade around the streets of the capitol city of the Tour of Britain.  With a group up the road, it fell to Team Dimension Data to ride tempo, not letting the escapees get to far away.  So Mark Cavendish rode in behind the Yellow Jersey of Steve Cummings with the rest of the team on the front including, Johann Van Zyl, Jay Robert Thomson, Mark Renshaw, and Bernhard Eisel.  It is reported that Cavendish has been ill for much of the Tour, but stayed in the race to help his teammate ensure Yellow on the final podium of the race.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2850500-85-189075/PaintingRiding%20Around%20with%20Yellow%20ToB59-Greig-Leach.html#.V9ZIfJgrLIU

Tour, Stage 3: Full On Now!

With everyone back into the peloton (or out the back) it was time for the sprinters' teams to hit the gas full on.  Who better to set a high pace than three time World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) for his sprinter, Marcel Kittel?  Following on the wheels of the boys in blue and black was Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Dimension Data) joined by his teammates Mark Renshaw and Mark Cavendish.  Cavendish is currently wearing the Maillot Vert on load, but it looks like he fully intends to make it his own.  I am sure Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) won't mind passing over the Green Jersey, since he still has both the Maillot Jaune of race leader and the Rainbow Jersey of the Road World Champion.  Behind Cavendish is Micheal Matthews sporting the new colors (and newly named) Orica-BikeExchange.  He has traded in his bright green helmet for the yellow helmet of best place team overall.

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%202016/2818186-19-224974/PaintingFull%20On%20Now!%20TdF19-Greig-Leach.html#.V3q4abgrLIU

Tour de France Stage 5: All for Mark

It is a true testament to the quality of the team spirit of Etixx-Quickstep that one of the two most prized jersey of professional cycling, the Maillot Jaune, was leading out their sprinter, Mark Cavendish.  Just before I painted this, Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quickstep) rolled off of the front of the pace line wearing the other prized jersey, the Rainbow Stripes of the World Road Racing Championships.  Just ahead of Cavendish, was his long time lead out man, Mark Renshaw.  The quartet of Etixx-Quickstep men were riding away from Astana and the rest of the greatly reduced peloton, not unlike the way Tony Martin claim the Yellow Jersey at the end of Stage 4.

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.  They are a small family run art supply company located in north central United States with incredible high quality supplies for artists and crafters alike.  You can learn more at their website, www.richesonart.com.  This work, and all of my cycling artwork, is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember, this is a one of a kind original, so don't delay, once this painting is gone, it is gone!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2578270---210122/Painting.html#.VZ3N__lViko

Tour Stage 15: One for the Sprinters

Even with the TV announcers and myself rooting for the two men of the break away, it turned out to be the day for the sprinters that all had expected it to be.  Alexandrer Kristoff (Katusha) had the legs to best the rest and claim his second stage win and the third for the team.  He beat out Henrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) and the perpetual bridesmaid, Peter Sagan (Cannondale).  The others that stormed by Jack Bauer (Garmin Sharp) also included, Mark Renshaw (OPQS) and Bryan Coquard (Europcar).  Bauer was so close to winning the stage ahead of the sprinters that he still managed tenth on the stage.  The poor guy collapse after crossing the line, dejected and exhausted for a long, long break that almost was.  Noticeably absent from the finale was the fast man for Giant Shimano, Marcel Kittel.  The painting will appear along with all of my 101st Tour de France paintings into my soon to be self published cycling art book, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your own copy, or to discover how you can become involved in bringing the 2014 Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous incentives for those who choose to back this projects, rewards start at just $5 USD, and you can get an artist signed copy for only $25 USD, any amount contributed will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, even for just a $1 pledge.  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 this visual treasure of the Tour, too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405594---199992/Painting.html#.U8yPgsvD_IU

Tour Stage 6: One for Greipel

Andre Greipel and his Lotto-Belisol team flipped the script on Marcel Kittel and Giant Shimano today.  Lotto-Belisol has had their boys in red on the front of every flat stage that has been raced thus far in the Tour.  Today they held back and Giant Shimano took up the tempo riding mantle.  To complete the script flip, it was Greipel who flung his arms wide in victory at the line in Reims.  Kittel was no where to be seen.  It wasn't until later that we all learned that Kittel had a very badly timed puncture and wasn't there to contest for his fourth stage in the 101st Tour de France.  Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) added another second place finish, changing out who it was that beat him to the line.  Sagan managed a fifth place, enough to safely hold onto the Malliot Vert for yet another day of racing.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour", a complete collection of my paintings and writings on the 101st Tour de France.  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, and to become involved in bringing the art of bike racing to print please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  You will find all sorts of wonderful backer rewards to help motivate you to get involved.  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 the time to browse around at all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2400106---199992/Painting.html#.U78v_M_D_IU

Tour Stage 3: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) proved that not only is he a fast sprinter, but he is a smart one too. he let other sprinters fight out the Intermediate sprint, and then kept his lead out train off the front of the peloton and out of the wind until the last 750 meters of the stage.  Multi-stage racing is about husbanding one's energy, using the absolute minimum until it can give you the maximum return.  Watching Kittel in the three days of racing in the United Kingdom, is a tutorial on how to put this into practice.  Rather than expend massive amount of effort trying to keep the Jersey during Stage 2, he and his team accepted his limitations, let the Maillot Jaune go, and then be ready to fight for another stage win today.  Peter Sagan (Cannondale) continued to prove that he is the rightful owner of the Green Jersey, the Jersey of the most consistent sprinter, but pulling second on both of the stage's sprints.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  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 get involved in bringing this 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2397784---199992/Painting.html#.U7tSzMvD_IU