LBL: Anyone Coming?

As this pair climbed the Cote du Rosier, it was Omar Fraile (Astana) looking back to see if anyone else was bridging across.  For Tanel Kangert (EF Education First) it was more about the effort of getting over yet another short steep climb.  For a break away, it is a delicate balance of numbers, particularly when there is still 60 kilometers to race.  You need numbers to help with the work load, but not so many as riders are able to sit on and use their saved energy to beat you to the finish line.  For Fraile and Kangert, two was too few.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/3325625-444-195767/Anyone%20Coming?%20%20LBL19-2.html

Tour, Stage 17: Picking Them Off

The attacking pace of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was just barely held by the Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe).  The two caught (and passed) the erstwhile leader on the road, Tanel Kangert (Astana).  Kangert had gotten away on the first climb of the day.  He had been leading the race until being caught with just over ten kilometers left to climb.  It hadn't been as far as a normal stage, but it certainly had been as hard, if not harder.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3193951-92-251072/PaintingPicking-Them-Off--T18-91.html

Fleche Wallonne: Speeding On

After the final climb of the Cote De Cherave, it was Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) that drove the pace back down the other side of the climb.  Surprisingly he and Maximilian Schachmann (Quickstep) were opening up a gap on Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Tanel Kangert (Astana).  With just five kilometers left to race, Haig and Schachmann were able to hold off the peloton to the base of the final ascent of the Mur de Huy. 

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148323-418-195767/PaintingSpeeding-On--FW18-5.html

Giro, Stage 11: Finishing It Off

It is truly impressive that Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) was able to recuperate from his early efforts in the break away, pull even in King of the Mountain points and still take the stage victory at the end of the day.  Fraile out smarted Rui Costa (UAE Emirates) who claimed second.  They were followed home by Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac) in third, Tanel Kangert (Astana) in fourth, and Ben Hermans (BMC) in sixth.  All in all, it was a great day of racing, that saw some movement in the general classification.  And yet, the top spots of the leader board all stayed as they were at the start of the day.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2968108-80-235247/PaintingFinishing-It-Off-G17-81.html

Tour de France, Stage 19: Riding All In

With Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) pulled back into the group containing all of the main contenders, it was Astana that went to the front to raise the pace up the Col du Chaussy.  Riding for their team leader (an Italian National Champion), Vincenzo Niblai, both Tanel Kangert and Michele Scarponi were working hard with their jersey flapping in the hot breeze.  Nibali, who had one the previous Tour de France, as been growing stronger and stronger as the Tour nears its final stages.  Too bad his form wasn't this strong when the Tour was in the Pyrennes.

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 business in the mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available, along with all of my cycling art, at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is an original painting, so once it has sold, it is gone.  I would recommend not delaying.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2584682-127-210122/Painting.html#.VbKcA_lViko

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

Giro Stage 20: Attacking the Mountain

Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL Jumbo) has been having a "almost" Giro.  The Dutchman has been in multiple breakaways that have succeed all the way to the line, although he has only managed a second place on each of two stages.  One of those second places put him into the lead of the King of the Mountains competition, only to have the Blue Jersey taken from him yesterday by Giovanni Visconti (Movistar).  Today he was hell bent on taking back the jersey and claiming a stage victory.  On the last remaining stretch of hard surface road on the way up the Colle Delle Finestre, Kruijswijk attacked those that were left of the breakaway.  With Tanel Kangert (Astana) stuck on his wheel, he managed to escape from both Benat Intxuasti (Movistar) and Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale Garmin).  With seven more kilometers to the summit of this climb and then another 12 kilometers of climbing up to the mountain top finish, it was a tall order to achieve both of his goals for the day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available for purchase from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But be advised, this is a one of a kind painting, so don't delay, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2561486---184157/Painting.html#.VWqk5c9Viko

Giro Stage 18: Not Enjoying Their Own Medicine

Tinkoff Saxo and Alberto Contador got the opportunity to exact revenge on the pale blue boys of Team Astana today.  Try as they might, Tanel Kangert, Fabio Aru and Mikel Landa were unable to chase back onto the wheel of the Maglia Rosa.  It was a bit curious that Astana's Director Sportif called back Landa, to help assist Aru's chase.  With Landa starting the day 50 seconds ahead of his teammate, and obviously climbing better that the Italian in the Maglia Blanco, it seems that Astana's valuable asset should have been put to the aide of the man who had given the team two stage victories thus far.  I'm sure there were factors that I am unaware of, but the strategy left all three Astana riders losing time to Contador although Kangert is well out of the classification chase.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com,  They are a lovely family run art supply business with some really fine products.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2560836---184157/Painting.html#.VWfbQM_BzGc

Giro Stage 16: Taking Advantage

Astana hit the front of the peloton as soon as they realized that Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) was off the back of the group.  The professional peloton has a long tradition of not attacking the race leader when they have a mechanical problem.  Apparently, Contador had a flat tire on the previous descent so Astana saw their chance to gain time on the Maglia Rosa for their top riders, Fabio Aru and Mikel Landa.  Astana had the opportunity to hide behind the excuse that Katusha had already put in an acceleration that jeopardized Landa's position on the GC.  After race interviews revealed that Astana knew exactly what was going on behind and decide to not respect the age old tradition.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The 4"x6" painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular art work for $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2559978---184157/Painting.html#.VWULnflViko

Giro Stage 12: Checking One More Time

Tanel Kangert (Astana) was given leave from riding for his team leader, Fabio Aru, and went off in search of a stage victory for the boys from Kazakhstan, although Kangert is an Estonian.  Kangert had first chased down the attacking Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli).  Once under the flame rouge signifying the final kilometer of the stage, he looked over his shoulder to discover that he was dropping the Italian.  Unfortunately, what he couldn't see was the charging peloton that contained both stage hopefuls and GC men who wanted the time bonuses of a podium finish.  With their umbrellas held high, the fans lining the barriers were being treated to some very aggressive racing, while the competitors had no need to fear another wet descent off 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 the American family run art supply company, Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for the low price of $50 USD, plus shipping (including international shipping).  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2557684---184157/Painting.html#.VV4-DvlViko

Liege Bastogne Liege: Through the Ardennes

Astana now has managed to get two of their riders off of the front of the peloton.  Michele Scarponi and Tanel Kangert have been joined by Jhoan Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge), Romain Kreuziger (Tinkoff Saxo) and Julian David Arrendondo (Trek Factory Racing).  The group, surprisingly, was able to build up a minute advantage on the following peloton as they ripped through the valley before the next leg zapping climb on their way to Ans.  The weather forecast had called for rain throughout the day, and while the clouds continued to threaten the peloton, they managed to stay mostly dry.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2546712---195767/Painting.html#.VT4kKCHBzGc

Tour Stage 16: Isolating the Yellow Jersey

The Tour de France brings out the most avid fans, many of whom will follow the race for days, camping out in RVs along the race route.  They can become a traveling city independent of the race entourage, who will line the roads of the big climbs with their satellite dishes turned to race coverage.  They will come out to cheer every rider on, from there heroes to the last guy struggling of the back.  Team Movistar came out of the rest day with a plan to break Astana's hold on the race and to try and put Vincenzo Nibali on the defense.  As they started up the final climb of the day they put man after man on the front.  It was the efforts of Benat Intxausti who shuck the last Astana support rider, Tanel Kangert.  Alejandro Valverde still had one more guy in reserve, the Frenchman John Gadret.  As Kangert cracked, Nibali looked over to thank his teammate for all of the effort on the long climb and the long stage.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  This painting and all of my art of the 101st Tour de France will be included in my soon to be self published book, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can be a part of bring the 2014 edition of the Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some wonderful Backer Rewards starting as low as $5 USD, and at only $25 USD the reward includes an artist signed copy of the book.  Everyone who pledges their support will see their name in print on the Special Thanks page in "Book de Tour."  If you would like to purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But don't you want a copy of the book as well?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2406694---199992/Painting.html#.U87v5s_D_IU