Donostia Classica: Celebration

Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) held everyone off all of the way to the line.  I wasn't happy with the camera angles provided at the finish, so I waited for something better.  I felt that Mollema hugging one of his teammates once he got over the line as well, capture the joy of the Dutchman.  Mollema had been riding a great Tour de France, until the final luck when a combination of bad luck and a sore body that dropped him to eleventh overall.  Chapeau!

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830795-327-195767/PaintingCelebration%20Dono9-Greig-Leach.html#.V52Oa7grLIU

Donostia Classica: Headed for Home

It was Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) who got to the top of Bordako Tontorra first.  The Dutchman took a bag from Chris Froome's Tour de France, and went hard just as the others sat up for a moment.  Mollema pushed out a small opening and hammered all of the way down the back side of the climb to town.  The three chasing, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and I can't remember the third, never saw Mollema again.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830793-326-195767/PaintingHeaded%20for%20Home%20Dono8-Greig-Leach.html#.V52L_bgrLIU

Donostia Classica: Leaving the Others

The first attack on the Bordako Tontorra was launched by the leader (and former winner of this race), Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  The first to respond to the Englishman's attack was the Spaniard on the Russian team of Katusha, Joaquim Rodriguez.  Rodriguez bridged across and then went off on his own.  He left all of them behind as he neared the summit of the climb, could he reach the top still off the front?  With the finish line just seven kilometers from the top, it would be a fast dangerous ride down to the line in San Sebastian.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830790-325-195767/PaintingLeaving%20the%20Others%20Dono7-Greig-Leach.html#.V52JGLgrLIU

Donostia Classica: Up the Final Climb

Luke Durbridge (Orica-BikeExchange) hit the final climb up the Bordako Tontorra, pulling hard for his man, Adam Yates.  The race organizers have a group of motorcycle riding officials who stop along the way and warn riders of potential dangers along the route.  Sometimes the motorcycles them selves are the danger, but not today.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830787-324-195767/PaintingUp%20the%20Final%20Climb%20Dono6-Greig-Leach.html#.V52GybgrLIU

Donostia Classica: Using the Turbo

The peloton took a quick ride through the finishing town of San Sebastian (or Donostia) before heading back out for the final climb in the race.  The young star from the Tour de France, Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) is the defending champion, and his team was eager to have him repeat.  Orica-BikeExchange put the powerhouse, Luke Durbridge, on the front, follow closely by Christopher Juul Jensen.  Waiting in the wings are the domestiques of BMC and Katusha, ready to bring their team leaders to the business end of the race.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830784-323-195767/PaintingUsing%20the%20Turbo%20Dono5-Greig-Leach.html#.V52DbLgrLIU

Donostia Classica: Taking Fluids

With the peloton approaching just 20 kilometers to go, riders were dropping back to their team cars to grab water bottles and gels.  Once there is less than 20 k to race, riders can no longer get any thing to eat from their team cars.  Mikel Nieve (Sky) was the man on the team to go back to the car.  He may have not only been collecting water for the team, he probably collect some information of the final climb as well.  It is less usual to see a rider with a bib number that end in a 1 being the one to go to the team car.  His #41 designates him as the team leader of Team Sky.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830783-322-195767/PaintingTaking%20Fluids%20Dono4-Greig-Leach.html#.V51-SbgrLIU

Donostia Classica: Looking for Help

The champion of Luxembourg, Bob Jungels (Etixx-Quickstep) drop back through the race caravan looking for his team car.  I never did find out whether he had a problem on the climb up the Arkale, or was just headed back in search of water bottles for his teammates.  Later he could be seen back near the front of the peloton on the other side of this climb.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830782-321-195767/PaintingLooking%20for%20Help%20Dono3-Greig-Leach.html#.V516o7grLIU

Donostia Classica: Riding Together

Movistar hit the front to toughen up the race and place Alejandro Valverde into position for the second trip up the Arkale.  Tucked onto the Spanish team's wheel were Cannondale-Drapac and Team Sky.  The pace they were pushing was drawing the peloton out into a long thin line as each rider struggled to hold onto the wheel in front.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2830780-320-195767/PaintingRiding%20Together%20Dono2-Greig-Leach.html#.V514frgrLIU

Donostia Classica: Going Left

After several groups escaped and were pulled back, this foursome managed to stay off the front towards the end of the race.  Four teams were represented in the group as the rode through downtown Lezo as they prepared to go up Arakale.  On the tail of the group was Premyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida), Moreno Moser (Cannondale-Drapac), Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data) and Jamie Roson (Caja Rural-Seguros).

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2830777-319-195767/PaintingGoing%20Left%20Dono1-Greig-Leach.html#.V511p7grLIU