Milano-Sanremo 2021, Ready for a Long Effort

 Milano-Sanremo is known as the longest race of the year, a complete race of 299 kilometers with another 7 kilometers of a neutral roll out.  This year the broadcasters decided it would be a good idea to show the race from start to finish.  I confess, I did skip some sections of the race.  Hell, I even took a break and went out for a sixty kilometer ride myself.  After all, it was a beautiful, mild, Sunday afternoon.  Yes, yes, I know the race was held on Saturday, but I couldn't get enough time together to paint the race until Sunday.  The early break got away at just six kilometers with seven guys, an eigth joined a little bit later on.  Included in this painting are Nicola Conci (Trek-Segafredo), two riders from Novo Nordisk (the team composed of riders whom all have type II diabetes); Andrea Peron and Charles Planet, and Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty-Gobert).  It is unlikely that they will all stay away for the remaining 289 kilometers but it could happen... it didn't.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801704-12-290150/Painting/ready-for-a-long-effort-sr21-1.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Shedding a Few

With the peloton breathing down the necks of the five early escapees, it was Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk) who decided to use the final rise in the highway to shed his break away companions.  At first it was only Michael Hernandez (USA Cycling) who could go with the attack.  The two traded attacks as the pair of teammates Jonny Brown and Ian Garrison (Hagen Berman Axeon) bridged back up to them.  They had to be racing for the Most Courageous jersey, the peloton was far too close to hope to be able to take the stage.

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/3332812-75-223355/Shedding%20a%20Few%20%20ToC19-21.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Along the Coast

As per race tradition, today featured yet another break away, this one was not given the king of gap that happened yesterday.  Today's escapees where all contiental teams and included both the champion of Israel and the United States.  It is very unlikely the sprinters and their teams where going to let these guys, Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk), Michael Hernandez (USA Cycling), Roy Goldstein (Israel Cycling), along with the two Hagen Berman Axeon teammates, Jonny Brown and Ian Garrison, steal their chance at a stage victory.  It must have been a treat to ride along the Pacific Coast Highway with the dramatic rocky coast for scenery dispite the unrelenting head win for 130 miles.

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/3332810-74-223355/Along%20the%20Coast%20%20ToC19-19.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

Tour of California, Stage 1: Gaining Points

At two different points along the course of each stage the organizers will have designated sprint points.  This is where racers will be given sprint points towards the sprinters jersey and bonus seconds reduced from their overall time.  With shorter stage races the bonus seconds can mean the difference between winning the overall or missing the podium altogether.  Michael Sheehan (Jelly Belly) was able to be the first across the line both times ensuring that he will pull on the sprinters jersey at the end of the day (even if he doesn't win the stage - because whomever wins today will have the yellow jersey of overall race leader).  Just missing out on maximum points were Daniel Eaton (UnitedHealthcare) and Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, 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-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791097-3-223355/Painting.html#.VznmuPkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 1: Way Off the Front

This is my first time painting the now 11 year old Tour of California.  Normally I am all wrapped up in the Giro d'Italia but I thought that this year it would be a treat to paint a race that happens within the USA.  Besides, I do love to watch Peter Sagan race.  Most stages will feature an early break away frequently populated with members of the smaller Continental teams.  Today was no exception, amongst the seven to build up a six minute lead on the peloton were, Danny Pate (Rally Cycling), Daniel Patten (Team Wiggins), Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk) and Daniel Eaton (UnitedHealthcare).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, 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-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791079-1-223355/Painting.html#.VznigPkrLIU

US Pro Challenge Stage 7: Zipping Along

In a repeat of is break away efforts of stage 4, Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing), was off the front in hopes of ending his professional racing career with a final race victory.  Today he had the company of four others.  He did attack that group, too, with only Javier Mejias (Team Novo Nordisk) able to catch the wheel of the fast disappearing German.  The pair managed to hold off the charging peloton until the start of the final or bell lap of the downtown Denver, Colorado circuit.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this 4"x6" watercolor painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember, this is a first come first served sale of artwork, so don't delay!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202014/2424534---201508/Painting.html#.U_rBYM_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 7: The Final Summit

Not only was Lookout Mountain the final climb of the 2014 US Pro Challenge, it was the last climb of the man on the front of the break, Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing).  I'm sure he will continue to ride up many, many mountains on a bike, but this was the last one under racing conditions.  He was one of the five remaining members of the early break that still included, Mick Rodgers (Tinkoff Saxo), Reuben Zepuntke (Bissell Development), Tiago Machado (NetApp-Endura) and Javier Mejias (Team Novo Nordisk).  A side note, Novo Nordisk is a team comprised completely of riders with type 2 Diabetes.  They were started to show how one can live a full active life with the disease. Mejias hanging with three men who did well in the 2014 Tour de France certainly underscores the team's point.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular 4"x6" painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/US%20Pro%20Challenge%202014/2424528---201508/Painting.html#.U_q-R8_D_IU