Tour, Stage 15: Double Checking

Unlike yesterday, no one challenged Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) for the sprint points today.  It may have something to do with the experience level of those on the Maillot Vert's wheel.  Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) has ridden many Tours and is the defending Olympic Road Race champion.  Behind him, Mathias Frank (Ag2r La Mondiale) has spent years in the pro peloton, along with being a former road racing champion of Switzerland.  These guys knew why Sagan was in the early break, what his objectives are, and how very little they had to gain by challenging him.  Sagan, on the other hand, was just double checking to make sure no one was going to try and jump him to the line in Mazamet.  All Sagan has to do is finish the Tour (no small feat with the Pyrennes looming this coming week) and the Maillot Vert will be his in Paris.  But, instead, he is going in the breaks and collecting as many sprint points as he can in every stage.  He is closing in on breaking the highest point title in any Tours de France, a record he holds.

You can watch this painting come to life as I talk about what is happening in the image and the Tour up to this point.  You can see one painting from every stage come to life on my You Tube channel (were I hope you will become a subscriber).  And you may learn some things about watercolor painting, creating art, and cycling in the bargain.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3192218-79-251072/PaintingDouble-Checking--T18-78.html

Paris-Nice Stage 7: What Does He Have in HIs Pockets

Cyclist will consume upwards of 6,000 calories in a single stage of racing and if they don't get it right the resulting bonk could ruin his chances for an overall placing in the GC.  For those of you who may not know, cycling jerseys have three small pockets along the back (the easiest place for the riders to access).  Team Bretagne continued making a presence in all put one of each stage's break away.  Another rider who has benefit from getting into the break is the Lotto-Belisol rider in red, Pim Ligthart, who got over the mountains first and took over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.  Now, he will get to wear the Polka Dot Jersey into Nice on the final stage of the race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328813---195767/Painting.html#.UyUq8s_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 7: Looking Them Over

With several big climbs in the middle of Stage 7, a group of 7 riders got out in front of the peloton, continuing the near perfect matching of numbers in the break to the number of the stage.  When a group is working together they will create a pace line, where the first guy in line breaks the wind for a while then swings off the front and goes to the back of the line.  Once in the back the rider has a chance to catch his breath while the next rider breaks the wind.  Due to the slip stream created as the wind slips around the leader the second rider uses as much as 50% less effort than the guy with his nose in the wind.  Lieuwe Westra (Astana) looks over his shoulder to find where he will be slotting in when he gets to the back.  It is also a good chance to get a look at his fellow breakaway members to assess their remaining strength.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard created using Yarka St. Petersburg cake watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from Jack Richeson Company, Inc. (www.richesonart.com).  Also, this work is available for purchase from my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328811---195767/Painting.html#.UyUn3c_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 4: For the Stage and the Jersey

Once the break had been caught and the Yellow Jersey had popped getting his GC man forward, it was time to race hard and climb fast.  Tom Danielson leads a very select group of TeJay Van Garderen, Janier Aceverdo and Mathias Frank up the high climb of Bachelor's Gulch.  The best placed in the overall is Frank, only eleven seconds down, so while he is the virtual yellow on the road he is there to help his team leader, Van Garderen.  By this time the riders were in a down pour of the cold rains of the high mountains as they climbed by the quaking Aspen trees of Colorado.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251324991953