Tour, Stage 14: Reducing the Group

With such a large group off of the front, some of the riders get frustrated with others not doing their share of work.  The easiest way to correct the problem in a large group is to attack them on a climb.  That is just what Gorka Izaguirre (Bahrain-Merida), the Spanish National Champion, did.  He was joined near the summit of the Col du Pont sans Eau by Tom-Jelte Slagter (Dimension Data) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).  Slagter was the one to get over the climb first, where he pressed on his advantage for another 46 kilometers hoping to solo to victory in Mende.

Apparently, the fans had been shamed about what had happened on Alpe d'Huez where a fan's camera caught the handlebars of Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) and threw him to the tramac.  He got up and finished the stage, but then learn he had broken a vertabrae in the crash.  Today the fans stood well back from the riders and enjoyed the racing without influencing it.

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-2018/3191766-76-251072/PaintingReducing-the-Group--T18-75.html

Giro, Stage 20: Starting the Climb

The final road stage, and this is the final break away of the 100th Giro d'Italia.  The quintet of riders hit the base of the Monte Grappa with a few minutes in hand, but it could be argued that they were all out front to provide help to their respective team leaders later in the stage.  The one member of the group you can't see is Dries Devenyns (Quickstep).  Otherwise, it is Tom Jelte Slagter (Cannondale-Drapac) who is leading Dylan Teuns (BMC), Maxim Belkov (Katusha-Alpecin) and Mathieu Ladagnous (FDJ) through the stop sign and on to the climb.

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 racing of the 100th Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in helping this book get made, please consider backing 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. With Kickstarter, if there is not a 100% funded, no one is charged a dime, and the project recieves 0% funding.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2974137-135-235247/PaintingStarting-the-Climb-G17-143.html

Tour, Stage 2: Slipping Off the Front

Not really sure if Tom Jelte Slagter (Cannondale-Drapac) meant to be leaving the peloton behind, but it is certainly what he did on the final climb of the day up the Cote de La Glacerie.  Slagter knew that now there was just one man up the road but there wasn't much road left to chase him down.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817844-12-224974/PaintingSlipping%20Off%20the%20Front%20TdF12-Greig-Leach.html#.V3lYX7grLIU

Dauphine, Stage 1: Scratching His Head

Today's stage was 168 kilometers long, plenty enough time to get rather uncomfortable.  I certainly would be.  Add the distance to the heat of the day and one could find a sweaty head getting rather itchy.  Tom Jelte Slagter (Cannondale) took the calm moments in the peloton to remove his helmet, scratch his head, and then suit back up for battle.  The peloton is full of many nationalities including the Spaniard. Joaquim Rodriguez and his Austrian teammate, Marco Haller (Katusha), riding shoulder to shoulder with Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and the Italian on the Spanish team Daniel Moreno (Movistar).  This sport of power, speed, endurance and beauty is truly and international endeavor.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2804044-43-185083/Painting.html#.V1ZAxZErLIU

Giro Stage 9: High Speed Descent

Today's break away feature the true long shot.  Tom Jelte Slagter (Cannondale Garmin) went for the solo ride to victory from 60 kilometers out.  With everyone behind having a chance to escape the wind and safe a little energy, it is a tall order to put one's nose in the wind and still out ride the rest of the peloton.  At least on the high speed descents he could catch his breath and pick his own line through the corners.

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.  This painting is available for purchase through 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.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2555428---184157/Painting.html#.VVjaTyFViko

Paris Nice Stage 2: Lifting the Pace

With just under twenty kilometers left to go and the race altogether, Cannondale-Garmin went to the front and lowered the boom.  With a hoped for and yet to be realized cross wind, the team decided to try and shed some sprinters and other pretenders to the overall classification.  Tom Jelte Slagter and the Dutch National Champion Sebastien Langeveld let the rest of the team in a pseudo team time trail, in theory to help out their team leader, Andrew Talansky.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (for only $50 USD plus shipping) just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you are enjoying the artwork and accompanying text, be sure to check out my recently published book of the 2014 Tour de France, Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  You can find it at most any online book seller world wide.  Simply google the title to learn where you can get the book and save on international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2523068---195767/Painting.html#.VP9gO_zF-xU

Tour Stage 19: Leading the Way

The final day of open road racing was greeted by yet more rain.  More rain and the regular early break with some of the usual players for the long shot.  The peloton was guided through the course by a five man escape group that included some of the usual suspects, Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Tom Jelte Slagter (Garmin Sharp) and Rein Taatamae (Cofidis).  The only new guy to the party was the Bretagne-Seche man, Arnuad Gerard.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Stave Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published complete collection of my paintings of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can become a part of bringing this art of cycling to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous Backer Rewards for those who choose to pledge to the Kickstarter "Book de Tour" project for as little as $5 USD.  Every level of support will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book.  To purchase this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408440-145-138-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U9MsM8_D_IU

Tour Stage 11: On the Front Off the Back

I am baffled by Garmin Sharp's actions today.  Their team leader, Andrew Talansky has dropped off the back of the peloton, riding somewhere amongst the following caravan, obviously suffering a bad day.  He as been seen regularly touching the small of his back and his left hip, the hip he went down hard on a couple of days earlier.  Not only have they not sent any one back to help pace Talansky, they then went to the front of the peloton and drove hard creating a bigger gap between the peloton and their own man.  I would have expected them to at least get on the front and try to slow down the over all pace, but instead it looked like they may have been setting up a launch for Tom Jelte Slagter.  All in all, it was curiouser and curiouser.   This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published book of cycling and art, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to become involved in bringing the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  If you would like to purchase this painting, follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to browse around all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2403852---199992/Painting.html#.U8dh8c_D_IU