Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Beside the Lake

Continuing the beautiful scenery art, the organizers route the peloton (and the break away) over the dam and around the edge of Thirlmere.  Tucked onto the back of the rather large break was Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL Jumbo).  Ahead of the Dutchman was the Irish National Champion Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) who was following Conor Dunne (JLT Condor) and Loic Vliegen (BMC).  The beauty of today's course is making me ache to travel to the Highlands.  My wife's relatives would like it if we did.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848030-37-189075/PaintingBeside%20the%20Lake%20ToB11-Greig-Leach.html#.V84NEpgrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 4: What Sky Does

Team Sky is known for this particular tactic.  There is no surprise, nor finesse, and everyone knows what they are doing.  The team is well trained and disciplined, simply riding a hard tempo, slowly working through the domestiques and the rest of the peloton.  Nicholas Roche was the last man left with three kilometers to the summit.  As he began to flag Thomas Geraint was the first to attack the remaining contenders, challenging the isolated TeJay van Garderen (BMC) and others, to pick whether they should counter that move or wait to see what Richie Porte would do.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  International shipping is available.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about professional cycling with this accompanying artwork, please check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  It is available through virtually every online bookseller, so google the title to find where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2524506---195767/Painting.html#.VQIPtvzF-xU

Giro d'Italia Stage 20: Coming Back

Tinkoff Saxo managed to get two men into the big break of the day which put them in a very competitive advantage, particularly when Mick Rodgers over shifted his chain into the rear spokes requiring a new bike.  Without Nicholas Roche to help pace him back to the others, he would never have had a hope of seeing the break away again.  Once Roche had pulled him back, his Director Sportif passed him a bottle and led them get on with the job at hand.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard (4"x6") that is available for purchase for only $50 USD at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 97th Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2373526---198213/Painting.html#.U4o398vD_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 14: Watching Nico Go

Nicholas Roche (Tinkoff Saxo) used the penultimate climb of the day to launch his attack on the break away, hoping to use the descent to put time into his rivals.  That way he would have a good head start up the climb to Oropa.  Roche has hit out a couple of times usually when the road points up.  The race has several cars that contain referees that watch the proceedings making sure that the rules are followed and the motorcycles don't interfere with or assist the rider's progress up the mountain.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2369370---198213/Painting.html#.U4GJZM_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 11: Looking to See Who's There

With the peloton closing in on the final climb four of the fourteen in the early break went out on the attack.  The other Irishman still in the break, Nicholas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) was the first to go and was then joined by Daniel Mareno (Katusha), Georg Preidler (Giant Shimano) and Barbin (Bardiani CSF).  With 8 kilometers of climbing ahead of them, there was a real chance to put in some time to those behind.  After the crest of this climbe up Naso di Gatto, the rest of the stage was all down hill, so if you had a minute or two at the summit, there was a very good chance of a stage victory.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard (4"x6") that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse through the rest of the cycling art on offer?  All of the small watercolors are only $50 USD.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2367699---198213/Painting.html#.U32BG8_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 8: On the Pirate's Hills

Perhaps I should explain this title.  The famous (and infamous) Italian champion cyclist, former winner of the Giro, multi stage winner in the Tour de France, and contemporary of Lance Armstrong, Marco Pantani lived and trained in this region of Umbria.  The stage was dedicated to his memory, and memorials, bill boards and banners dotted the course the these new found heros pedaled.  With the break away now strewn all over the road in groups of twos and threes, this select group  of the main rivals churned their way up the Cippo di Carpeona, paced along by Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R) and is team mate, Domenico Pozzovivo.  They were watched by Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff Saxo) and Cadel Evans (BMC), in case someone who mattered went up the road.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2365131---198213/Painting.html#.U3huqs_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 1: Pushing It

There are two Irishmen in this year's running of the Giro, both hoping to ride well on the first three stages that are being raced on their home soil before the race makes its way to southern Italy.  One, Nicholas Roche rides on the Belgium team, Tinkoff-Saxo.  There are seen here sprinting for the line in the opening Team Time Trial in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland.  It was very exciting to see just how many screaming fans lined the entire 21.9 kilometer course that kicked of the weekend of racing on the Emerald Isle.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com, or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the Big Start.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361639---198213/Painting.html#.U23uHc_D_IU