Strade Bianche: Victims of the Pace & the Gravel

Having done what he could for the team, Pieter Serry (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) drops off the back of the peloton and rides the rest of the way to Sienna off the back of the group.  Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan) had another reason for being off the back.  While we didn't see him crash, Lopez, seemed to have been involved in some sort of crash that left him with a broken rear derailleur.  With no team car in sight, he simply kept walking up the road in hopes of their imminent arrival with another bike.  Given that there was just 23 kilometers to race, it was unlikely he would be able to contest for even a top ten finish now.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3870318-462-195767/Painting/victims-of-the-pace-the-gravel-sb22-10.html

TDF, Stage 8: No Time to Wait

The headline for today's stage was slippery rain soaked roads on a high mountain stage.  The main story was about just how hard and fast the stage was.  With the high pace, when Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar) decided he needed to get his bike set to go after he slid out on a sweeping right hander.  Lopez is one of the contenders for the overall in Paris, but like so many others, he was not as near the front of the race as he needed to be.  He did manged to get his bike sorted and quickly got back into the main peloton.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3821668-44-291436/Painting/no-time-to-wait-tdf21-43.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Showing Their Colors

After Astana-Premier Tech pushed the pace on the way up the Col du Porte, it was Movistar hitting the front on the way back down the other side.  Carlos Verona took the team over the top, down the other side, and on up the penultimate climb of the day.  Stuck to his teammate's wheel was the designated team leader, Miguel Angel Lopez.  On the wheel of Movistar was the guy sitting second overall, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech).  He just needed to stay on the front to guarantee he would be the next to pull on the Maillot Jaune.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815290-114-185083/Painting/showing-their-colors-cd21-30.html

Tour, Stage 17: The Fruits of His Labor

 It was one of the three from the previous post.  Miquel Angel Land (Astana) was just able to hold of the fast closing peloton of the elite riders of the Tour.  It was the Maillot Jaune of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) the came across next and Maillot Jaune of Tadiej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) rounded out the podium atop the Col de la Loze. 

As the riders finish, the are a gaggle of press photograhers waiting to get the shot that tells the story of victory and perhaps, later, the struggle of defeat on the faces of those who thought they could have done better on a day of big climbs.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703130-118-282744/Painting/the-fruits-of-his-labor-tdf20-112.html

Giro, Stage 19: Losing Time

I admit that I am a little suspect of Chris Froome's (Sky) solo escape to take the Maglia Rosa today.  I can remember when Floyd Landis did much the same way back in the early 2000's in the Tour de France.  He went on to win that race only to have the title stripped due to doping.  I pray that is not why this group of Richard Carapaz (Movistar), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) Segastien Reichenbach (Groupama-FDJ) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) couldn't chase down the lone figure of Froome.  Strength in numbers should have played to their favor, that an a desire for Dumoulin to be the one in pink (as he was way back at the start of this Giro).  Others had a little less to ride for, but just barely.

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/101st-Giro-dItalia/3169150-81-249297/PaintingLosing-Time-G18-86.html

Giro, Stage 15: From the Front

As my wife said when I showed her this painting, "I am going to beat you."  Clearly this is Simon Yates' (Mitchelton-Scott) race to lose.  As the group of contenders had already swept up the remnants of the early break, they were poised to fight for stage honors on the Costalisso climb.  While riding on the front of the group containing Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain Merida) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), Yates simply road away from all of those sitting behind him on the general classification.  As he went, none were able to go with the attack.  None.  Dumoulin, still sitting second overall, now almost two minutes behind, is opening to have a brilliant time trial on Tuesday, if he is to have any chance of repeating his Giro victory from last year.  The rest are just hoping that Yates will crack on the next day of racing.  Many riders have a bad day after the final rest day in a grand tour.

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.

Apparently, my website has decided not to let me load images today.  If you are interested in this painting, please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.  All payments can be routed through PayPal for your security, and mine.

Vuelta, Stage 18: Causing a Reaction

It is not just the Spanish crowds that react when Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) goes on the attack.  As the peloton, which was over ten minutes behind the early break away, started up the penultimate climb of the Collada de la Hoz, it was Contador who jumped free of the Sky lead group.  Quickly on to the Spaniard's wheel were Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) and Miquel Angel Lopez (Astana).  Lopez is wearing the white jersey of the leader of the combination jersey (I believe it is on loan from Chris Froome (Team Sky)).   It was interesting to watch the snake like swing of the peloton to catch Contador's wheel, but it was a snake that was quickly beheaded by his effort.

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/Vuelta-2017/3030456-41-239162/PaintingCausing-a-Reaction-V-42.html

Vuelta, Stage 15: Another One for the Colombian

Many had tried to go solo to victory, but it was the Colombian, Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) who succeeded in the effort.  He is nicknamed Superman, and today he showed why he has earned the moniker.  And this is his second stage win, and the other was at the top of a mountain as well.  Lopez climbed up the GC with his effort as well, ending the day in 5th place overall.  Remember he launched his attack along with Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) and left the famous Spaniard way down the road.  Of course, Contador had gone deep to gain the overall lead, ultimately he lost power and therefore lost time on the day.  But Contador would rather go out fighting than just riding around the country, as did Thomas Voeckler in his final Tour de France.

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/Vuelta-2017/3027016-30-239162/PaintingAnother-One-for-the-Colombian-V-31.html

Vuelta, Stage 15: Going Early

Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo), racing his final professional race, started the day over three minutes off of the race leader, Chris Froome (Sky). There was no way to pull back that kind of time in the last couple of kilometers on the way to the mountain top finish.  So he launched his attack with 10 kilometers to go to the summit of the penultimate climb up the Alto del Purche.  Joining the much beloved Spaniard was the young Colombian, Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) as they jumped free of the Team Sky lead peloton.

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/Vuelta-2017/3026997-27-239162/PaintingGoing-Early-V-28.html

Vuelta, Stage 11: The Sign of the Cross

Jumping free of all of the GC contenders was the Colombian climber on Team Astana, Miguel Angel Lopez.  As he crossed the finish line he made the sign of the cross before throwing his arms in the air in a victory salute.  It is common for riders to say a quick prayer and cross themselves at the start (and often at the finish) of any race.  So much can go wrong in a day of bike racing - or even just getting out on a spin on the bike.  This is something I know all to well having been hit ten times by cars while out on my bike.  But like the pro peloton, the risk is worth the reward in, oh, so many ways!

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/Vuelta-2017/3023725-10-239162/PaintingThe-Sign-of-the-Cross-V-11.html