Paris Tours: And Then There Were Three

With some wet roads and sharp corners, the original break was reduced to just Brian Van Goethem (Roompot Nederlandse Loterij), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marsielle Provence).  Michael Goolaerts (Veranda's Williems) had gone into a turn too fast and went of course rather than risk sliding out on the slippery surface.  With his mis direction and the speed of the three leaders he wasn't going to get back into contention - try as he might.  These guys were hoping to beat the odds, but the peloton was closing and there was still many kilometers left to race.

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/Other-Cycling-Art/3047041-39-206768/PaintingAnd-Then-There-Were-Three-PT-2.html

Paris Tours: Not Much to See

Apparently, I was wrong... I did decide to paint one more race before the end of the season, Paris Tours.

This one day race doesn't ever start in Paris (although I suppose it once did) but it always ends in Tours after 250 kilometers of racing.  While the race is usually one for the sprinters, opportunists like these five can give it a go off the front.  Stephane Poulhies rides for Armee de Terre, he is a member of the French Army whose job is to race his bike.  He is still active duty and could have year ended should he get sent to a war zone (not that a full sprint isn't oft consider a war).  Joining Poulhies is Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence), Brian Van Goethem (Roompot Nederlandse Loterij), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic) and Michael Goolaerts (Veranda's Williems).

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/Other-Cycling-Art/3047037-38-206768/PaintingNot-Much-to-See-PT-1.html

E3 Harelbeke: On to the Kruisberg

The race today was being led by a small six man escape that had gotten away at the 60 kilometer mark and they were still away with about 96 kilometers left to race.  The escapees were comprised of Taco Van Der Hoorn (Roompot Nederlandse Loterij), David Per (Bahrain-Merida), Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale), Roger Wagner (LottoNL Jumbo), Laurens De Vreese (Astana) and Christophe Masson (WB Veranclassic Aquality Protect).  They had about four minutes on the chasing peloton as they started up the Oude Krisberg.  E3 Harelbeke is punctuated with short steep cobbled climbs that jar the riders teeth and zap the strength from their legs.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2939881-380-195767/PaintingOn%20to%20the%20Kuisberg%20E317-1.html