Watch One of the Paintings from Tirreno-Adriatico Come to Life

Would you like to see how I painted this painting?  Watch this time lapse film clip of this piece being made on You Tube by following this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIbNz78vp7s&feature=youtu.be

Tirreno-Adriatico Final Stage: The Effort on the Day

The announcers for Eurosport, Carlton Kirby and Daniel Lloyd felt that the stage and therefore the race could go to either Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) or Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) depending on the "effort of the day."  Sagan certainly put everything he had into the day and managed to move himself up from third overall into second.  But that elusive first place finish still seems to be just out of his reach, but then he has been here before last season but ended it by winning the World Championships in Richmond, VA.  He did manage to keep the Maglia Rosso of the points leader, but the Maglia Azzuro of overall winner went to Greg Van Avermaet.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743994-289-195767/Painting.html#.VukOePkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Final Stage: The Last to Go

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) managed to claim the overall lead by just beating out Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) at the line in Stage 6.  His victory gave him bonus seconds leaving him 8 seconds ahead of Sagan and 7 seconds ahead of the previous race leader, Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep).  The short 10 kilometer course made it possible for the Slovakian sprinter, Sagan, to have a legitimate chance of beating the Belgium rider for BMC.  Van Avermaet would have the advantage of knowing the time splits of Sagan who had left this start gate four minutes earlier.  In the end, Sagan's ride was almost enough but Van Avermaet ceded only 7 seconds to the reigning Road World Champion, Sagan.  So as he crossed the line, Van Avermaet knew he had won Tirreno-Adriatico.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743992-288-195767/Painting.html#.VukMQPkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Final Stage: Under Escort

Jean Christophe Peraud (Ag2r La Mondiale) rode a hard time trial, although not fast enough to move himself up on the general classification.  As he approached the final couple of hundred meters of the course, the foreshortening of the camera made it appear as though he was drafting off of the police motorcycling that was ensuring that no one was in his way.  Peraud represents the renaissance of French cycling, one that has been further glorified by the stellar team time trial of FDJ to start Tirreno-Adriatico.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743990-287-195767/Painting.html#.VukJ8PkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Final Stage: New Best Time

Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) hit the line 13 seconds faster than the previous best set by Johan Le Bon (FDJ) just nipping past a rider who had started two minutes before him.  The Swiss rider had thrown down the gauntlet that few who even dare to pick up.  Cancellara's over all time meant that he had little chance of upsetting the overall classification, but it had to feel good to take out the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743987-286-195767/Painting.html#.VukHW_krLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Final Stage: Passing Them All

Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) came out of the start gate on fire in the last stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico.  Cancellara is a specialist in the short individual time trial, having started many Tours de France in Yellow due to his speed in the Prologue TTs.  This may well be his final season and he obviously wants to go out with a spectacular year.  With just under a kilometer to go, he is passing Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF) who had started the 10 kilometer course a minute ahead of the Swiss rider.  Just up the road is the man who had started a minute ahead of Colbrelli.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743983-285-195767/Painting.html#.VukFb_krLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6: At the Line

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) resplendent in his Maglia  Rosso, lead the quartet from the moment he launched his sprint, only to be caught at the line by Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).  The two have been going at in this early spring and I am quite sure that Sagan is getting sick of Van Avermaet continually getting the better of him.  Unable to stay with the two, Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) held on for third while Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep) missed the podium altogether.  In so doing, Van Avermaet's win, with its bonus seconds added to the bonus seconds he gained out on course, moved the Belgium rider into the Maglia Azurra of race leader.  With just an individual time trial left to race, it will remain to be seen if Van Avermaet can recover enough to ride a really fast 10k ITT.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743113-284-195767/Painting.html#.Vud8LfkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6: Absolute Power

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), the current World Champion, swung out of the slipstream of the former World Champion, Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), and drove for the line.  Reacting just a pedal stroke or two slower is the man whose attack lead to his counterattack that won him the World title was Greg Van Avermaet (BMC);  The fourth man in the very select group was race leader, Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep).  He was keeping a close eye on affairs knowing that with the cancellation of the mountainous Stage 5 due to snow mere seconds separated his lead from those of his break away companions.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743111-283-195767/Painting.html#.Vud3O_krLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6, You Got This

With just eight kilometers left in the sixth stage (the final road stage), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) was in a powerful position.  He had a 20 second lead on most of the peloton and had two teammates, Oscar Gatto and Daniele Bennati in the break with him.  However, he wasn't the only one with two teammates alongside.  Race leader, Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep) had two men in blue at his side, previous stage winner, Fernando Gaviria, and Matteo Trentin.  The other two managing to connect to this elite escapees, were the former World Champioin, Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quickstep) and the man second overall, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).  It was beginning to look like the stage winner was going to come from this group.  Sagan's teammate, Gatto, reached out to Sagan as the World Champion swung to the back of the group, perhaps to make sure the sprinter had enough to take the stage given the opportunity.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743049-282-195767/Painting.html#.VudyBvkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 5: Who Is That?

With a small, but powerful group up the road, the peloton set off in hot pursuit.  The sprinters had pulled a sneaky move, after getting a gap going for the intermediate sprint, they kept riding (usually, they will sit up and wait for the peloton to come back together).  The Eritrean National Champion, Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data) gave chase, hoping to set up another victory for the team.  He had FDJ on his wheel.  The men from FDJ looked over to see who in pale blue had jumped out from the group.  The tricolore of the Italian colors should have told them that Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) had seen the danger of letting those up the road get too much of a lead.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743035-281-195767/Painting.html#.VudXPfkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6: Picking Up Points

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) traded in his rainbow jersey for the red of the points leader for Tirreno-Adriatico.  With just an Individual Time Trial on the final day tomorrow, he was doing his best to ensure that he would take the overall Magila Rosso.  Sagan and his teammates Daniele Bennati and Oscar Gatto sprinted out from the peloton to grab the points and bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint.  Plus with the sprint line and the finish line being the same, it was a good chance to check out the finish and how they wanted to race it at the end of the stage in Cepagatti.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743003-280-195767/Painting.html#.VudNYfkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 4: An Absolute Flyer

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) had been marking the attacks and hanging around with the escapees in support of his teammate, Edvald Boasson Hagen.  When the group Cummings was with got to far ahead of the peloton containing Boasson Hagen, Cummings was free to ride for himself.  And ride he did!  The Brit, after refusing to help those he had been with (at team orders), had the legs to ride everyone off of his wheel, taking an "absolute flyer" to the line for a solo victory in Foligno.

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.  This painting, and most of my cycling art, 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Plus, be sure to check out my newest book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" a complete telling of the 2015 Worlds through art and word painted live as the racing happened on the streets of my home town.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2742078-279-195767/Painting.html#.VuWaBvkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 4: There Goes Sagan

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) traded in his Rainbow Jersey for the Magila Rosso of points leader (a jersey he has won four times in a row at the Tour de France - although it is a different color there).  Sagan tried to jump away from the peloton just as he did in Richmond but he didn't have the steep climbs and technical course to help him escape.

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.  This painting, and most of my cycling art, 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Plus, be sure to check out my newest book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" a complete telling of the 2015 Worlds through art and word painted live as the racing happened on the streets of my home town.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2742066-278-195767/Painting.html#.VuWXyfkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 4: Marking the Attackers

One of the many team tactics in a stage race is for teammates of the protected riders (or of high place riders on the GC) is to chase down threatening break aways or attacks.  So when Mirko Selvaggi (Androni-Giocattoli) looked over his shoulder to check his gap on the peloton, he found Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) on his wheel.  The duo was swiftly joined by Peter Kennaugh (Sky) and Steve Cummings (Dimension Data).  All but Selvaggi were riding in support of teammates either to protect their general classification position or for their stage victory aspirations.

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.  This painting, and most of my cycling art, 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Plus, be sure to check out my newest book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" a complete telling of the 2015 Worlds through art and word painted live as the racing happened on the streets of my home town.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2742061-277-195767/Painting.html#.VuWV1_krLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 4: Shredding the Peloton

The peloton reeled in the early escapees on the circuit back to the base of the Montagna di Montefalco and then it was Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) and his teammates that hit the front of the peloton.  The Swiss powerhouse stormed up the climb to the picturesque Tuscan town dropping rider after rider off the back of the peloton.  Waiting to his left is Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and to his right, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), neither wanting to let Trek-Segafredo ride away with the stage.

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.  This painting, and most of my cycling art, 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Plus, be sure to check out my newest book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" a complete telling of the 2015 Worlds through art and word painted live as the racing happened on the streets of my home town.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2742058-276-195767/Painting.html#.VuWSIvkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 4: Off on His Own

Today's stage took the riders over the final climb of Montagna di Montefalco twice.  On the first assent, the early break still had 3 minutes on the closing peloton, so Valerio Conti (Lampre Merida) saw his chance to grab some King of the Mountain Points.  Leaving his other three break away companions, he sprinted off to the summit in hopes that he may still be away on the second trip up the climb.  Cycling is a special sport for many reasons, with one being just how close fans can get to their bicycle mounted heroes, and without the price of an admission ticket.

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.  This painting, and most of my cycling art, 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Plus, be sure to check out my newest book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" a complete telling of the 2015 Worlds through art and word painted live as the racing happened on the streets of my home town.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2742049-275-195767/Painting.html#.VuWQIvkrLIU

Tirreno Adriatico Stage 3: Embracing the Speed

Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Etixx-Quickstep) did a great job paying the team back for all of its hard work on the road to Montalto di Castro.  Just missing out on the stage victory was the rising star for Orica-GreenEdge, Caleb Ewan.  Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) is still looking for a European victory in his snappy new Rainbow Jersey.  Today he missed the podium, too.  Others that made the painting, but not the podium, are Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling) and Sacha Modolo (Lampre Merida).  Etixx-Quickstep also did enough to keep Zdenek Stybar in the Maglia Azurra of the race leader.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created live using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Plus be sure to discover my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".  You can purchase it online at www.artofcycling.bike or ask for it at your local bookstore.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2741323-274-195767/Painting.html#.VuM2yvkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 3: Timing the Catch

The peloton did not want to catch the break too early.  For the sprinter's teams it would mean they had to work that much harder to control the front of the group, to keep other opportunists from attacking off of the front.  As they rolled under the 10 K banner, Etixx-Quickstep had all of their train together, the question was, were they setting up their sprinter or just protecting the Maglia Azzura of Zdenek Stybar?  Riding in the second train was Orica-GreenEdge undoubtedly setting up their youn fast man, Caleb Ewan.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created live using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Plus be sure to discover my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".  You can purchase it online at www.artofcycling.bike or ask for it at your local bookstore.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2741312-273-195767/Painting.html#.VuMz3vkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 3: Pushing to Stay Away

Never one to resist a good pun (defined by the groan it produces), the quartet of the early break were pushing themselves as hard as they could to keep away from the fast approaching peloton.  They had just 12 kilometers left to race, but the peloton could almost see them on the long straight roads on the way into Montalto di Castro.  Giorgio Cecchinel (Androni Gattoli) gave Domingos Concalves (Caja Rural) a little push forward in line, skipping a turn at the front hoping to safe a little energy for the finale.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created live using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Plus be sure to discover my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".  You can purchase it online at www.artofcycling.bike or ask for it at your local bookstore.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2741306-272-195767/Painting.html#.VuMx1vkrLIU

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 3: On Country Roads

I know some people who watch cycling on television more as a travelogue than as a sporting event.  This race from sea to sea in the early spring certain has its share of geographic beauty, although I don't think this quartet had much energy left for enjoying the view.  By this point in the stage, the peloton had peg Adrian Honkisz (CCC Sprandi), Domingos Goncalves (Caja Rural), Davide Villella (Cannondale), and Giorgio Cecchinel (Androni Giocattoli) at a manageable 3 minutes.  With 45 kilometer left of the 176 kilometer stage, there was plenty of time to reel the escapees back into the peloton.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created live using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Plus be sure to discover my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".  You can purchase it online at www.artofcycling.bike or ask for it at your local bookstore.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2741301-271-195767/Painting.html#.VuMvz_krLIU