Tour, Stage 9: A Long Time Coming

Daryl Impey (Dimension Data) clearly had the legs after 170.5 kilometers to take out the sprint.  Impey has worn the Maillot Jaune for two days in years past, but this is his first stage win in the Tour de France.  The French will have to consul themselves with a Maillot Jaune, but no stage win on Bastille Day.  Behind the South African Champion was a clearly exhausted Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal).  Both climbed up the general classification with the top of the GC coming in a full sixteen minutes after this pair crossed the line in Brioude.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3360004-49-263530/A%20Long%20Time%20Coming%20%20TDF19-49.html

Tour, Stage 9: LIning It Up

Out of the original fifteen in the break by the time the leaders reached the last kilometer, it was down to just Daryl Impey (Dimension Data) and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal).  Benoot had the superior position for the sprint, but Impey is can win a field sprint.  It was going to take a true surprise to give the Belgium rider a chance to beat the national champion of South Africa.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3359992-48-263530/Lining%20It%20Up%20%20TDF19-48.html

Tour, Stage 8: Southern Hospitality

Virginian born Ben King (Dimension Data) shows the Dutchman Niki Terpstra (Total Direct Energie) a little southern hospitality, offering him a waterbottle after noticing he had none.  We Virginian's like to be helpful (at least the nice ones do).  The duo was being led by Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and had just been joined by Alessandro De Marchi (CCC).  This group had a long day ahead of them if the break was to succeed.  They did have an advantage, their position on GC meant the peloton wasn't too interested.  Then combined that with De Gendt's teammate had the Maillot a Pois, so Lotto Soudal wasn't going to chase them down for King of the Mountains points.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3359443-38-263530/Southern%20Hospitality%20%20TDF19-38.html

Tour, Stage 5: Trying to Catch Back On

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) had a truly badly timed  flat tire at the base of the final climb.  Just as the teams of the climbing sprinters (Peter Sagan and Michael Matthews) drove the pace to shed the rest of the sprint masters, Boasson Hagen had to chase from behind up the climb of the Cote des Cinq Chateaux.  He could take some solace know he was the only guy in the caravan behind the race going forward as everyone else was dropping way of the pace.  He eventually caught the peloton at the top, but he was too gassed to feature in the finale.

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%20de%20France%202019/3358263-24-263530/Trying%20to%20Catch%20Back%20On%20%20TDF19-24.html

Tour, Stage 3: Getting Sorted

I call Richmond, Virginia (in the USA) my home, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to include a painting of Richmond area native, Ben King (Dimension Data).  I would have prefer that it was because he was off the front like he was in the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, but you never know when you will see any rider again.  King had gone down (and tangled his handlebars) with Simon Geschke (CCC) and Pat Bevin (CCC).  No one was hurt, but the roundabouts, islands and other traffic furniture are a constant danger to the peloton.  At least they are not dealing with vechile traffic (most of the time).  The race organizers will distribut hay bales in hopes of protecting the riders should they fall - sometimes they even use foam padding.

See this painting come to live as a time lapse video here...

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%20de%20France%202019/3357396-12-263530/Getting%20Sorted%20%20TDF19-12.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: Get on Our Wheel

First Simon Geschke (CCC) and then Richmonder, Ben King (Dimension Data) jumped clear of the peloton in the closing kilometers of the stage.  The duo caught the flagging Alex Hoehn (USA Cycling).  Both men tried to encourage Hoehn to catch their wheels (and draft) but he was just unable to get up to their speed.  I have been in that exact situation (although not in a race) and know just how much you want to latch on, and how disappointing it is when your legs just won't respond.  Hoehn could consol himself with the knowledge that he will be pulling on the Polka Dot jersey regardless of when he finishes the stage.  King was able to out sprint Geschke for second on the stage, lifting the moral of his team and teammates.  And he moved himself up the general classification rankings as well.

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/3332344-71-223355/Get%20on%20Out%20Wheel%20%20ToC19-16.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: Not the Time for This

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) is just not having the race of his dreams, his nighmares, maybe.  Yesterday he struggled valiantly (and successfully) to beat the time limit.  Today he must have been feeling much better, he was still with the peloton as they approached the Haute Catagorie climb of Mount Hamilton.  Alas, he had a mechanical right at the base of the climb.  That was bad enough, but then he had the slowest bike change I have ever watched during a bike race.  He did managed to get back to the forming grupetto and come in far ahead of the broom wagon today.  I think his body language says all you need to know about his mood at this point.

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/3332328-67-223355/Not%20the%20Time%20for%20This%20%20ToC19-12.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 2: Rough Day at the Office

Facing a long day of climbing in the thin air of the California Sierra Nevada Mountains, it wasn't looking good for the sprinter from the Isle of Man, Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).  Mark was being paced by his faithful teammate, Bernhard Eisel.  The duo were followed by one of the race commissares, and just behind him, the broom wagon.  Riders must come in within a percentage based time limit that looked like it would be about 45 minutes today.  Cav made it in 36 minutes behind the race winner, about ten minutes ahead of the last man to cross the line in South Lake Tahoe.  No one was disqualified due to the time limit today, but it must be worrisome for the team going into the next five days of racing.

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/3331445-61-223355/Rough%20Day%20at%20the%20Office%20%20ToC19-6.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!

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: New Colors, New Season

There are many reasons to love the Tour Down Under, many indeed.  One is a chance to see the new kits (and new team names) for the start of the World Tour season.  One of the newly named teams, and one that almost went belly up, is EF Education First - Drapac, once known as Cannondale - Drapac.  I must say I am happy to see some bright pink back in the peloton.  Showning of the colors is William Clarke, one of a two man early break that included neophyte, Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data).  Dlamini claimed the only mountain points on the opening stage, so his break away efforts paid big dividends.  The duo built up a 4 minute advantage, but the peloton was seeing the ride into Lyndoch as a day for the sprinters.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com  To purchase this artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3098214-94-194179/PaintingNew-Colors,-New-Season-TDU18-1.html

Paris Nice, Final Stage: Opening Up a Gap

Even though there was a large break away up the road, these three decided that there just wasn't a hard enough pace in the peloton, so off they went in search of stage glory.  Up the road Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) was grabbing up all of the King of the Mountain points, by the summit of this climb he made sure that he would be the winner of the Polka Dot Jersey for the whole of this year's race.  All he has to do is make sure he finished along the coast in Nice.  The trio of David de la Cruz (Quickstep), Simone Petilli (UAE Abu Dhabi) and Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) used the upper slopes of the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote de Peille to simply ride the others off of their wheels.  Not only was this the penultimate climb of the day it was the same for the entire 75th Paris Nice.

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%20/2932872-373-195767/PaintingOpening%20Up%20a%20Gab%20PN17-37.html

Paris Nice Stage 3 Over Three Minutes

By the time television coverage began this three man break had three minutes on the following peloton  The trio of Ben King (Dimension Data) Pierre-Roger Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marsielle Provence KTM) had built a lead of over seven minutes - certainly the larges gap thus far in the 75th running of Paris Nice  King is no stranger to the long break away attempt he made his home town crowd very proud riding out ahead of the peloton in the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships  They had to be happy to be dry for a change since the sun finally showed her face today

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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%20/2930311-345-195767/PaintingOver%20Three%20Minutes%20PN17-10.html#.WL7wuPkrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7b: Cav Leads Them Round

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) seemed to announce that he would not be going for the stage victory today.  He went to the front of the peloton and with the help of  Ian Stannard (Sky) and Robert Power (Orica-BikeExchange) set about the task of bringing the escapees back.  Dimension Data has the Yellow Jersey in the fold, on the back of Steve Cummings, so letting those in front gain time wasn't really in the cards.  More of a threat were those in on the team leader's wheel, Rohan Dennis (BMC) sitting just inside of a minute behind.  Dennis is equal on time after this morning's time trial with Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  So it could be that Cavendish was just making the race hard for everyone rather than actually trying to chase down Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and company.

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/Tour%20of%20Britain/2849913-78-189075/PaintingCav%20Leads%20Them%20Round%20ToB52-Greig-Leach.html#.V9SbN5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: In Defense of Yellow

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) was the last to start the individual time trial in Bristol.  An honor (and advantage) given to the wearer of the Yellow Jersey (or whatever color signifies the race leader).  Cummings is strong against the clock, but the two riders just behind him are the National Champions of their respective countries.  In fact the field held at least five TT Champions and two previous World Champions in the race of truth.  Cummings managed a fourth on the day behind the stage winner, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) and the two who are now tied for second overall, Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  His fourth place was enough to defend his race lead, which he carries into the second half of the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain.

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/Tour%20of%20Britain/2849795-76-189075/PaintingIn%20Defense%20of%20Yellow%20ToB50-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RvNZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: Climbing Out of Town

As the peloton headed out of the town of Selsley they started a steep climb up the final categorized climb of the day.  There had been a intermediate sprint in the center of town, but there were no points left for those in the peloton to worry about.  When they reach the top of the climb there will only be one point left towards the King of the Mountains competition (all the others having been sucked up by the breakaway).  It was Bert-Jean Lindeman on the front for LottoNL Jumbo followed by a rider from Lotto Soudal and then the entire Dimension Data team.

I have been surprised to see park cars along the side of the road, many sticking well in to the tarmac.  Several riders collided with the back of a line of cars in town, with some having to swerve onto the sidewalk to avoid a similar fate.  Fortunately, all were able to get back up and riding.  And they all eventually rejoined the peloton.

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/Tour%20of%20Britain/2849121-57-189075/PaintingClimbing%20Out%20of%20Town%20ToB31-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Hk_pgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: Is Anyone Going to Chase?

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was clearly frustrated with the way the stage was playing out.  The peloton had let four guys get away at the start of the day, and three were now over six minutes ahead with just 32 kilometers left to race.  This was a stage that the sprinters like Cavendish had marked as one for them, and now a stage victory was slipping away up the road.  Cav had tried to lift the pace, but no one would go on the offensive with him, or with his team.  With the highest place rider up the road still way behind the Yellow Jersey's time, no one felt like putting in the effort to bring the escapees back.  So here was going to be a time when the risk of going in the break paid off, much to Cavendish's disappointment.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848540-46-189075/PaintingIs%20Anyone%20Going%20to%20Chase?%20ToB20-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-185grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Down to Two

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) had bridged across to the leaders, dropped all of them and all but Julian Vermote (Etixx-Quickstep) of the leaders' group.  Cummings usually goes solo to the line when he wins a stage, but he welcomed the help of Vermote in getting away from everyone else.  The two quickly put forty seconds between themselves and the rest of those on the road.  So with just three kilometers left to race the winner was sure to be one of these two.  Spoiler alert!  It was Vermote who had the legs on the final short climb to claim the win and the Yellow Jersey.  Cummings held on for second and now sits second on the general classification.

I wasn't satisfied (nor all that interested) in the victory salute as Vermote crossed the line, so this has to do for the painting of his win.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848051-41-189075/PaintingDown%20to%20Two-Greig-Leach.html#.V84hH5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Getting Away

This foursome, Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac), Jochem Hoekstra (Giant-Alpecin), Dan Martin (Etixx-Quickstep), and Steve Cummings (Dimension Data), was trying to drop the rest of the group that they were with.  None of them felt like pulling passengers along to catch the five that were still up the road.  Hoekstra took a quick peak over his shoulder to see if they had dropped the rest, it looked like Van Baarle would soon be added to the number who was dropped.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848049-40-189075/PaintingGetting%20Away%20ToB14-Greig-Leach.html#.V84bP5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Riding for the Team

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) may have been dropped on the second climb of the day, but he used his faithful teammate Bernhard Eisel to bridge back to the peloton ahead of the final climb of the day.  It was Cav who went to the front as the peloton started up the aptly named The Struggle and drove the pace another teammate, Steve Cummings.  Cummings normally hangs out at the back of the peloton, so you know when he is on the front, he as something up his arm warmer.  Sorry couldn't resist the joke.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848034-38-189075/PaintingRiding%20for%20the%20Team%20ToB12-Greig-Leach.html#.V84SwpgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 1: Untangling Cav

So the answer to the previous post, "Where is Cav?" has been answered.  Mark Cavendish (Dimensiona Data) was under a pile of bikes and people.  The last kilometer included a sharp left turn and not everyone made it around safely.  Others held up by the wreck included the Dutch National Champion, Dylan Groenwegen (LottoNL Jumbo) and his teammate Robert Wagner.  Another was the Sky rider Danny Van Poppel who looked on as Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar) reached down and twisted Cavendish's ankle.  As a cyclist, I know that he was helping out the Manx Missile get unclipped from his pedals so he could get up.  While all involved could not contest for the stage victory, at least they would be given the same time as the bunch.  All they have to do is get themselves and their bike across the line.  As far as I know everyone was able to finish, whether they will be able to start tomorrow remains to be seen.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2846917-33-189075/PaintingUntangling%20Cav%20ToB7-Greig-Leach.html#.V8z5SJgrLIU