Tour de France, Stage 12: Three Chasing One

Eventually, Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx Quickstep) was able to drop everyone who had tried to hold the World Road Racing Champion's wheel and head up the Plateau du Beille on his own.  Behind him this trio led by Roaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and including Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) and the recovering Romain Bardet (AG2R), hoped to be able to chase back up to the fleeing Polish rider.  On a flat road, three riders working together should always be able to catch a lone man, but on the extend 8% climb of the final climb of the day the advantage of numbers fades away.   It can be stunning just how bad one day can be for someone like Bardet, and then how much better they can feel the following day.  However, in the days of rampant doping in the peloton, it was a little easier to understand how it could happen.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes that came from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com), a small mid western family run art supply company with excellent art supplies.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.  Don't delay, it is a one of a kind original painting, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2581406---210122/Painting.html#.VahkUPlViko

Tour de France Stage 10: Not a Good Day

The defending champion of the 2014 Tour de France, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) isn't having the same luck that charmed his previous ride around France.  Here is ever faithful lieutenant, Jakob Fulgsang is waving his team leader to push on behind himself and Tanel Kangert.  Also losing contact along with the Astana trio is the man who won on the top of the Mul du Hoy, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).  The teams of Movistar and the Team Sky, had succeeded in putting many of the early race favorites on their back foot (or pedal in this case).  Unlike last year, when Nibali traded his newly one Tricolore Italian National Champion Jersey for yellow, it now appears he will be left to ride around France in his country's colors.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company with some fabulous supplies for artists and crafters alike.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, this is an original painting, so there is only one like it.  When it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2580526---210122/Painting.html#.VaVxbflViko

2014 UCI Worlds: I Can Do This!

As he looked back over his shoulder with just over a kilometer to go this time, he could see a small group closing in.  And the peloton not far behind them.  He saw that former World Champion, Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) was leading, Cyril Gautier (France) and the two Spaniards, Roaquim Rodriquez and Alejandro Valverde, back towards his wheel.  With just about another 4 or 5 minutes of effort, Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), must have been thinking, "I can do this!"  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championships/2443438---202544/Painting.html#.VCi1Ps_D_IU

Tour Stage 14: Headed to the Top of the Tour

Joaquim Rodriquez (Katusha) started the day in second place in the King of the Mountains competition, while he was wearing the Polka Dot Jersey on loan from Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) he would prefer to be the holder of the Jersey outright.  Since Nibali is also the holder of the Maillot Jaune he is wearing the more important of the two jerseys, and it is the only time when the guy in a leader's jersey is not the leader of the competition the jersey represents.  The last man to win all three of the top Jerseys was Eddy Merckx, he would have had the White Jersey as well, but he was too old.  Rodriquez went on the attack on the fabled Col d'Izoard to try and gain enough points to claim the Polka Dots on his own.  He was followed up to the highest point of the 101st Tour de France by Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling), Mikel Nieve (Team Sky) and Rein Taarame (Cofidis) all of whom hoped to gain some extra time for the final assault up to Risoul.  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, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre-order your copy, or to discover how you can get involved in helping to bring the art of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent Backer rewards including an artist signed copy, original artwork, pins, postcards and all starting for as little as $5 USD.  Absolutely everyone who backs the project at any level will have their name included in print on the special thanks page of the book.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, please follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405248---199992/Painting.html#.U8vbqc_D_IU

Tour Stage 10: Leading Them Up the Col

Yesterday, Tony Martin (Trek Factory Racing) went out in the early break, about half way through the stage he got rid of his break away companion and soloed the remaining 60 kilometers to claim victory and the Polka Dot Jersey.  All of that was very impressive, what is astounding, is that he joined the break again today, and then went to the front of the group and pulled them and his teammate, Michal Kwiatkowski along the road and away from the group with the Yellow Jersey.  Rein Taaramae (Cofidis), Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and Roaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) new they had been handed a great wheel to follow.  Voeckler and Rodriguez had started the day with getting the Polka Dot Jersey off of the shoulders of Martin foremost in both of their minds.  Martin was doing the work for the team hoping to move Kwiatkowski from second to the leader on the GC.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting, along with all of my other paintings of the 101st Tour de France, will appear in my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to get involved in bringing my art of the Tour to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2402500---199992/Painting.html#.U8SNHM_D_IU

Volta Catalunya Stage 3: Flying Across the Line

Team Katusha had worked hard chasing back the break, put riders on the front in the cross winds, and finally used Daniel Moreno to chase down the last attacks he could, all for their leader, Joaquim Rodriquez.  So when Chris Froome attacked and Contrador, Quintana went after him it was up to Rodriquez to catch them all and take the stage victory in honor of his team's hard work.  The convincing win (notice no one else is even in site), beating the closes competitor, Contrador, by  seconds was more than enough to let him pull on the leader's jersey and spray the spectators with Champagne.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2335669---195767/Painting.html#.UzOV2s_D_IU