Tour of California, Stage 3: Less Than One Kilometer

Peter Stetina (Trek-Segafredo) was the next to go on the offensive.  He waited a little longer than the youthful Nielson Powless (Axeon Hagens Berman).  As he went under the flame rouge that de-marks the final kilometer of the stage, he had a good ten seconds on those who had set their hopes on victory atop the brutal climb.  Alas, like Powless before him, Stetina couldn't hold on to his advantage and had to settle for second on the stage, and for being second overall in the General Classification.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792279-14-223355/Painting.html#.VzvL1PmDGko

Tour Down Under Stage 5: Chatting by the Sea

The longest and penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under started innocently enough with a couple of laps that ran along the beautiful coastline of Southern Australia.  Michael Schar, Danilo Wyss and Peter Stetina (BMC) chatted amiably as they road tempo pass the beach in defensive of their man, Rohan Dennis, wearing the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  It is usually the job of the team with the leader's jersey to ride tempo at the front of the peloton, often in pursuit of the early break away.

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.  They are a wonderful family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about bike racing with the accompanying watercolors, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It is available world wide and can be ordered from the publisher's website, http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2501184---194179/Painting.html#.VMPRJ9g5DIU

US Pro Challenge Stage 1: Less Than Amused

The very select peloton was about to let Jens Voigt (Trek) steal their thunder and pulled the strong man back into their midst.  Although most of the true sprinters and three quarters of the riders in the race, were dropped in the chase of the fabled German.  With his teammate Janier Alexis Acevedo (Garmin Sharp) on the front, Tom Danielson gestured angerly for something.  Most likely he wanted more of his teammates on the front so he could gain as much time as possible.  Tucked onto his wheel was most of BMC, bringing their man and defending champion of the race, Tejay van Garderen into the business end of the petite peloton.  Van Garderen had Peter Stetina and Michael Schar, both of whom had shepherded the American through the most recent Tour de France.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  If you would like to purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202013/2421476---201508/Painting.html#.U_MHj8_D_IU

Tour Stage 7: Take Mine and Go!

Teammates are called upon to do whatever they can to help their team leader move up the general classification, from going back to the team car for waterbottles, (or taking back rain capes, arm warmers, etc.) riding with their noses in the wind and offering moral support.  But when it is absolutely necessary, a good teammate will pass his bike to the leader, which is what Peter Velits (BMC) did for his man, Tejay van Garderen.  A team will keep a rider near the leader who is roughly the same size in case the guy who's number ends in one damages his bike.  When a race gets spread out, or like in this case a wreck happens too close to the finish, it is quicker to pass a bike and let the domestique wait for the team car.  Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen maintain a near constant mantra about the importance of staying to the front of the peloton, thus being safe from crashes.  While the BMC boys were doing just that it didn't safe for members of the team from going down.  Peter Stetina was able to get back on his machine and pace Tejay, while Velits gave him a hardy push and waited for a bike change.  With just 15 kilometers to the line in Nancy, it would be a hard chase to get their leader back into the peloton.  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 tome of the Tour, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, and to possibly get involved in bring the art of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  If you would like to purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not browse around all of the art on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2400984---199992/Painting.html#.U8B9Ys_D_IU