Amgen ToC, Stage 1: With a Throw to the Line

A lot has been written about Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) not being at his best.  He has troubles in his personal life and hasn't been winning much this season.  Hopefully, today he was able to put that behind him.  Seemingly out of nowhere he emerged to take the first stage of the Tour of California.  It took a bike throw to the line to hold off the fast closing Travis McCabe (Team USA).  It must have been a thrill to the young McCabe to find himself closing in on the three time world champion.  Finishing out the podium (and paying back the work of his teammates) was Maximilian Walscheid (Sunweb).  Just missing out in his new team colors (and team name) was Kristoffer Halvorsen (Team Ineos).

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3331168-59-223355/With%20a%20Throw%20to%20the%20Line%20%20ToC19-4.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 1: Checking on the Team

With the peloton all together on the streets of downtown Sacramento, it was time to get the sprint trains organized.  Perhaps fearing the power of the Deceuninck-Quickstep, it was Team Sunweb stringing out the race for their man Maximilian Walscheid.  The splash of white and green is the colors of Dimension Data riding for the former world champion, Mark Cavendish.  With five kilometers to race, it may have been a touch early to put there noses in the wind, but risks must be taken.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3331143-58-223355/Checking%20on%20the%20Team%20%20ToC19-3.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Stage 1: Against Hope

These two weren't ready to follow the lead of those that had been with them and go back to the peloton.  Tyler Stites (Team USA) and Charles Planet (Team Novo Nordisk) must have know that they had little hope of holding off the peloton, but they weren't willing to surrender the effort either.  Both men ride for contiental teams and wanted to be sure to show their team colors on the opening stage of the Tour of California.  Charles Planet rides for a team that is comprised entirely of riders living with diabetes, clearly he was making the point that one can live strong with the disease.  He was awarded the first most aggressive rider's jersey of the Tour for his efforts on the roads of Sacramento.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3331135-57-223355/Against%20Hope%20%20ToC19-2.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 1: Starting Off the Week

Normally, I like to spend May painting the Giro d'Italia, but I am a little too busy with mutliple projects to devote three weeks to one of the great Grand Tours.  So I am delighted to be able to focus my attention on the Amgen Tour of California, the biggest professional cycling event in the North America.  Despite the surity of a sprint finish on the flat roads around Sacramento, these four decided to give a break away a try.  Laurens De Vreese (Astana), Charles Planet (Team Novo Nordisk), Michael Schar (CCC) and Tyler Stites (Team USA) build a lead of nearly two minutes, however after the first intermediate sprint the group began to fall apart.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3331123-56-223355/Starting%20Off%20the%20Week%20TOC19-1.html

Women's Tour of California, Final Stage: Riding Off the Front

The final stage of the Women's Tour of California featured a twenty lap circuit race through the streets of Sacramento. The course was the same as the final section of what the men would ride after their ride along the Sacramento River.  With a flat course and only six turns per lap, it was going to take an extreme effort to ride away from the peloton.  Perhaps it would take a miracle or a disaster to stay away.  One of the attempts to fly off the front was launched by Amber Neben (Bepink).  She did managed to prize out ten or twenty seconds, but like others before her, she was soon back with the ladies of the peloton.

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".

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2795690-54-223355/Painting.html#.V0O_j_krLIU

Tour of California, Final Stage: Not Done Yet

The Tour of California may be over, but Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) isn't finished being a great sprinter.  Many have begun to write of the Manx Missile, but today he came around both Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) to affirm that he is still a very powerful sprinter.  A few riders back you can just see the raised arms of the winner of the overall classification of the Tour, Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep),  Chapeau!  And well done to all who raced over the last eight days.  It has been my pleasure to watch you race, and to paint your exploits.

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".

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2795063-49-223355/Painting.html#.V0Km3PkrLIU

Tour of California, Final Stage: As Hard as They Can

Team Katusha was now at the front with just one man left to launch their man, Alexander Kristoff.  The peloton was inside of the final kilometer, so it was beginning to look like he might pull of two wins in a road.  In behind the wheel of the Norwegian sprinter was a rider from BMC followed by Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) sporting his Green Jersey of most consistent sprinter.  Just peeking into the edge of the painting is the Yellow Jersey of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep).  Alaphilippe most likely wasn't racing for a stage victory, he should just be making sure that he doesn't lose a second to any of his rivals.

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".

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2795060-48-223355/Painting.html#.V0KksfkrLIU