La Course: What's Left?

Laura Stephens (Tibco Silicon Valley) looked into the eyes of Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv) trying to determine if she had anything left.  The two were joined in the next break by Amy Pieters (Wiggle High 5).  With just eight kilometers left to go, they were in with a real chance.  In less than a kilometer they would hear the welcome sound of  the bell signifying one lap to go.  As the race has gone on the crowds have grown by leaps and bounds.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2828543-20-207546/PaintingWhat's%20Left?%20LC5-Greig-Leach.html#.V5W4K7grLIU

La Course: Making the First Attack

It was a power foursome that were to get off the front of the third annual La Course.  La Course is a Pro Tour Women's race contested on the finishing circuit of the final stage of the Tour de France.  It was the newly minted British National Champion, Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM), who was joined by Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv), Olga Zabelinskaya (BePink) and Chantal Blaak (Boels Dolmans).  The women used the downhill section of the Champs Elysees to open up a bit of a gap on those behind.  It was rather early in the race, so it was unlikely that they would be able to stay away for the rest of the day.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2828532-16-207546/PaintingMaking%20the%20First%20Attack%20LC1-Greig-Leach.html#.V5WrZLgrLIU

Women's Tour of California, Stage 3: Back on Form

Marianne Vos (Rabo Liv) proved that she was back on form after a rough 2015 season.  And she should that just because she crashed in a sprint one month ago, doesn't mean she isn't up to mixing it up in a bunch sprint.  Although I will not that she held herself to the middle of the road.  Vos was able to get past Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare) who had been the first to launch her sprint.  With Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) finishing with the winners, the Yellow Jersey stayed firmly on her shoulders.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was painting using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com).  This painting along with all of my cycling art, is 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.  While you are at the website, be sure to check out my two cycling art books, "Book du Tour: Art of the 101st Tour de France" and, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".

Coryn Rivera is on of the riders feature in my book on the Richmond 2015 races.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2795402-53-223355/Painting.html#.V0NKN_krLIU

Women's Tour of California, Stage 2: Through the Curves

Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun...  While I am thrilled that Amgen Tour of California is hosting a women's race, I am a little disappointed with the accessibility of video of these incredibly talent racers showing just how good they are.  What I was able to find was through the UCI Women's YouTube channel - Amgen TOC is suppose to replaying the videos, but alas, they aren't up to date.  So while I am forced to use highlights of the day's racing, it is certainly better than nothing.  So this is the second team I got to watch race, and they have now posted the new best time.  Rabo Liv Women's Cycling did  well to move Maranne Vos into striking distance on the GC.

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.  This painting along with my book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI World Road Racing Championships," is 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.  Remember, it is a one of a kind piece, so once it is sold, it is no longer available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2794160-37-223355/Painting.html#.V0DECPkrLIU

Women's Ronde van Vlaanderen: Off the Front

The Women's Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) started fast and hard, so it was almost a hundred kilometers in before someone managed to escape off the front of the peloton.  It was Thalita De Jong (Rabo LIV) who lead the peloton up the fan lined road.  Unfortunately for De Jong, the peloton had bigger plans and dragged her back into the fold shortly after this was painted.

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.  Plus this painting and all of my cycling art is available at my website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, as the painting is an original work of art, it is first come first served.

Be sure to check out my most recent book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  It is available internationally through most online bookstores, and at www.artofcycling.bike.  Or you could ask your local bookstore to get it for you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2761675-12-207546/Painting.html#.VwNJi_krLIU

La Course: Taming the Champs Elysees

When the peloton still hadn't caught the lone rider it inspired them to take even bigger risks through the final corners of the race.  Unfortunately, those risks let to a crash that claimed sprinters and lead out trains alike.  The disruption may have been that extra advantaged that allowed the lone figure off the front, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo-Liv) to hold off the charging peloton and claim victory on the cobbled Champs Elysees.  Rabobank had gotten frustrated with the doping scandals in men's professional cycling back around the turn of the century, eventually pulling all sponsorships from the male side of the sport.  They have stayed in women's cycling and were rewarded yet again as their logo will be on newspapers all over the world.  I will let you take your own conclusions about their use of their sponsorship dollars.

This is an original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As this is an original painting, don't hesitate, once it is sold it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2586133-11-207546/Painting.html#.VbUmz_lViko

La Course: Racing for Home

Rabo-Liv had the perfect tactical advantage on the final lap of La Course.  They had the Dutch National Time Trial Champion, Anna Van Der Breggen, holding off the entire peloton 15 seconds ahead.  This move forced the other teams to do the chasing allowing the team to sit in and save their energy for getting their leader, World Champion Pauline Ferraud Prevot to the line in her homeland capital.  Another advantage for them is should the others not manage to catch Van Der Breggen before the line, then they still win the day.

This is an original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50n USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As this is an original painting, don't hesitate, once it is sold it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2586122-10-207546/Painting.html#.VbUjT_lViko

La Course: Looking for Her Teammates

After yet another crash in the peloton, World Women's Road Racing Champion, Pauline Ferraud Prevot (Rabo-Liv) is looking around for her teammates.  Prevot didn't go down in this crash but she was caught out and was hoping to have some teammates to help pace her back to the business end of affairs.  Riding next to the World Champion is Helen Wyman (Matrix Fitness) who among others, wasn't enjoying the wet conditions nor the cobbles.

This is an original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50n USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As this is an original painting, don't hesitate, once it is sold it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2586115-9-207546/Painting.html#.VbUhQ_lViko

La Course: Leading Them Around

With Orica-Ais finally put back into the peloton, it was Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo-Liv) who lead the peloton around the l'Arc de Triomphe for the fifth time.  During the 100th Tour de France the organizers finally convinced Parisian official to allow the race to swing around the famous Arc providing TV viewers with a beautiful image of another piece of Napolean's ego.  It also makes for a safer turn around point as the riders do multiple laps up and down the Champs Elysees.

This is an original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50n USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As this is an original painting, don't hesitate, once it is sold it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2586109-8-207546/Painting.html#.VbUfcflViko