Dauphine Stage 6: On the Radio

Modern technology being what it is all of the riders now have two way radios that allow them to talk with the team car and with each other for that matter.  Chris Froome (Team Sky) is checking in with the team car to see what they should do about the 15 man break away up the road.  The teammate right in front of him seems to be radioing his opinion on the matter.  Right behind the team of Alberto Contador, Tinkoff Saxo is on the radio as well, perhaps checking to see if there is another good spot for Contador to attack Froome as he did in Stage 5.  The other pass time in the peloton, eating to keep up one's energy, a hard task considering the 6,000 calories these guys well burn in a single typical stage of racing.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting (4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting could be yours through visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to purchase this particular painting.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2388030---199476/Painting.html#.U6Oh3s_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Final Stage: Zipping Through the Park

The final stage of the US Pro Challenge was an 8 lap circuit through downtown Denver that included a run through City Park, designed by the same man who designed Central Park in New York City.  The break formed from the moment the neutral flag was pulled in to start the race.  Seven guys from six teams formed a solid effort that the sprinter's teams weren't going to have anything to do with it succeeding.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com excellent products from an excellent company.  This work is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the final day of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Not Giving Up

A fitting title for this painting and for the actions of Megias who rides for Norvo Nordisk.  The team is compose solely of riders who have Type 1 Diabetes who want to show that the disease should not prevent anyone from living a rich, full and active life.  So true to his own physical story, he refused to sit up as the charging peloton got within sight in the outskirts of Fort Collins.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Off the Front, Down to the Plains

Sensing that the break had too many passengers, first Geschke of Argos-Shimano and then Edmondson, Rogers and Megias jumped away from the others in the hopes of out racing the charging peloton to the finishing line in Fort Collins.  Mick Rogers is at the back of the group wearing the Orange Jersey of most courageous rider that he won on the last road stage into Beaver's Creek on Thursday.  This jersey is not done by points or time but is award each day by determination of the race referees much like the red racing numbers of the Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Driving the Break On

Today had a rather large group get away today numbering 14 riders which may be why Cannondale was working so hard to bring this group back, a large group can usually match the pace of the peloton.  This is Dekker on the front for Saxo Tinkoff, they also have the aggressive Mick Rogers in the break as well, he has Andrew Talansky right behind him.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Food & Drink

The morning break was a strong one today and carried a serious challenge to the over all classification in the form of Gallopin, the Frenchman on Team RadioShack Leopard Trek.  He started the day only 41 seconds down on the Yellow Jersey of Lachlan Morton.  The others in the break included Siutsou for Team Sky, Villella for Cannondale (he was out in yesterday's break, too), Mick Rogers of Saxo Tinkoff, and although you can't see him in this painting, Warbasse for BMC.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com and can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Through the Crowd, Over the Top

Picking up where he left off in the Tour, Mick Rodgers went to the front and stomped out a hard rhythm chasing down the big break up the road.  And just like the Tour, Colorado brought out its screaming costumed cycling fans to cheer the riders up the Hoosier Pass climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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Tour Stage Twenty: The First to Launch

With GC placement on the line, Froome having sewn up the Yellow Jersey for 2013, the top five were fighting it out with each other to gain time to be on the podium in Paris.  The TV commentators and I thought this was it, the big move by Quintana attacking Contrador and the Sky boys.  After I painted this image, the TV Moto pulled out to reveal that is was Joaquim Rodriquez was the one to launch the first attack and Quintana is covering that attack.  Quintana started the day in 3rd looking for 11 seconds to overtake Contrador, and Rodriquez looking for 47 seconds to accomplish the same feet.  Chris Froome had over 5 minutes in hand, so he could just watch the proceedings, however, you don't have the strength and drive to pull on a Malliot Jaune and then watch your rivals ride away from you on the final mountain top finish of the 100th Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France. 

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Tour Stage Nineteen: A Blistering Pace

With the race for the Polka Dot Jersey and the stage win going on 10 minutes up the road, there was another battle for GC positions going on in the Malliot Jaune Group.  Saxo Tinkoff, the team of second and third overall (Contrador and Kreuziger) went to the front to lift the pace and see who they could put into difficulty.  While Froome has a very solid lead for the overall, there is currently only 45 seconds separating second place from fifth place and easy amount to overcome on a mountain stage.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can buy this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Eighteen: Last Minute Adjustments

With the peloton underway after the dropping of the flag, the nervous riders fiddled with brake adustments, extra drinks and energy gels and a quick "nature break" along the side of the road.  The peloton game out swinging on the very first climb of the day like they were eager to get the day over and done.  A "nature break" is code for peeing along the side of the road, remember these guys are on the saddle for 4 to 6 hours a day and they need to drink incredible amounts of water to prevent getting dehydrated or cramps.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183279---186227/Painting.html#.Ue_nnsvD_IU

Tour Stage Seventeen: Dancing on the Pedals

Alberto Contador has a very distinctive style on a climb, he rarely sits on the saddle and seems to dance on the pedals as he slides up the hill.  It was this ability to dance away from his competitors that one him three Tours (although one was taken away from a positive doping control during the Tour).  This year's Tour shows him unable to lose some of the contendors, most notably Neive, Quintana and Froome.  Again, the fans love to run along side their heroes, cheering them on in a full throated cry, the calmer ones just take photographs.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Sixteen: Contrador Attacks

With all of the GC men together and Richie Porte trying to ride everyone off of his wheel, it was time for Alberto to dig deep and see if he could get some time on Froome and the other guys ahead of him on the General Classification.  Everyone was expecting him to do something on the final climb and the TV Motos were both in front and behind the move.  Of course the cameras always watch the group with the Malliot Jaune because that is were the moves that matter happen.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your art of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Sixteen: Pushing on Ahead

With just seven kilometers to go after the summit of the Col du Manse everyone in the big break away was trying to use it as a springboard for a stage victory.  Rui Costra jumped with Dani Navarro quickly covering the move, Nicolas Roche is trying to bridge across to the other two attackers.  Even with the famous Alpine climbs looming in the days to come, the col was lined with campers and enthusiastic fans cheering the break on with unbridled enthusiasm.  Moviestar is hoping for a stage victory to go with their almost win on Mont Ventoux, so Rui was given the freedom to fly.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183157---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9EZc_D_IU

Tour Stage Fifteen: Are They All Gone?

Team Sky did the same thing in on Mount Ventoux as it did in the Pyrenees, they put the team on the front, each guy riding as fast as he could, until he couldn't turn the pedal over another time, and then the next one in line took over.  The ploy worked just as well this time as it did then.  Richie Porte was the last one in the line and he is just checking to see Kreuziger dropping off, had he looked the other way he would see that he still has Contrador.  But then the Malliot Jaune should do some of the work, right now it doesn't look like Froome will be up to the task.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182615---186227/Painting.html#.Ue3v68_D_IU

Tour Stage Thirteen: Winding It Up

The Saxo group had enough time on the yellow jersey group that they could start playing tactics (or cat and mouse to quote my favorite announcers), with Omega Pharma playing the first card attacking inside of two kilometers to go.  The Saxo Tinkoff guys watched him go, they were riding for GC while OPQS was riding for Cavendish and another stage win.  Team Belkin was just happy to let others bring their GC guys up in the standings.  The only other major players were the three Cannondale guys including Peter Sagan.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Thirteen: Split After Split

Saxo Tinkoff, the team of Alberto Contrador and Roman Kreuziger, saw their chance to repeat the attacks of Omega Pharma Quickstep and with six teammates having made the first split, had the numbers to make it stick.  Wide awake were the next two highest placed on GC riding for Team Belkin and they made the split, along with two of the big sprinters, Sagan and Cavendish and Astana's Fuglsang.  The most important missing the split was Chris Froome and Team Sky along with BMC's Cadel and Van Garderen, and that was the inspiration to push hard on the front for both Belkin and Saxo.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France and the wild stage 13.

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Tour Stage Eleven: Long, Straight and Fast

Like every other pedaler on the road today, Alberto Contrador knew he had to put in a strong Time Trial to have any hope of staying in the race for the Malliot Jaune.  He went out strong, putting in a respectable effort, his goal was not to have lost more the 90 seconds, in the end it was roughly two and a quarter minutes.  So he is another that should have moved up in GC, I think he stayed even but lost time to Chris Froome, like every other in the race except Tony Martin.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182367---186227/Painting.html#.Ue2cMc_D_IU

Tour Stage Eleven: Pushing It Home

Each and every rider in the Time Trial is followed by his team car, were the director sportif is able to encourage, conjole and advise either through a megaphone mounted on the grill or (more commonly now) through the radio that is plugged into the hard riding pro tour cyclist.  It often feels like the car is going to pull up close enough to push the struggling riders across the line.  This is Nicolas Roche, son of the only Irishman to ever win a Tour de France and until Sunday the only one to every win his stage.  Just to keep it in the family, the new Irish stage winner, Dan Martin, is the cousin of Nicolas and the nephew of Steven Roche (the Tour de France winner of the Yellow Jersey in 1987).  While he didn't win the stage, he did manage to come in 28th, which is a very honorable ride.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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Tour Stage Nine: Where Is Sky?

I was sure that I would be painting images of the entire Team Sky on the front of the peloton with Froome tucked in behind bedecked in yellow for the next two weeks, but Moviestar and Garmin Sharp had other plans for the day.  Garmin went first and then Valverde and Moviestar pulled a page from Sky's play book and put the whole team on the front of the group and rode Sky's tired men off of the pace.  Moviestar had another advantage with Valverde and Quintana high up on GC they could attack with one and then the other, just like Sky did yesterday with Froome and Porte.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artist piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179437---186227/Painting.html#.UeSuWc_D_IU

Tour Stage Eight: Riding by the Numbers

Much has been made of the training a discipline of Team Sky, some faulting the team for only paying attention to their power meters, pedal cadence and heart rates, functioning more like machines than cyclist but today they showed what all of the work looks like in a mountain stage.  The other interpretation of the titles is they rode every single contender off their wheels, it was only Valverde, Contrador and Krueziger left when Porte swung off the front and Froome road off in search of the a stage win and a yellow jersey.  After first Froome and then Porte caught and left Quintara, Porte was free to race for second on the stage and in the GC.  So while Sky may not be very romantic they certainly preformed the plan to perfection.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a quick 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

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