Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Flying to the Line

I admitt that I don't watch every race around the world, so I don't think I have ever heard Cees Pol's (Sunweb) name before.  But, I will know it now.  Pol was able to better the famous Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) to the line, as well as the rest of the peloton.  His outstretched arms reminded me of an airplane coming in for a landing, given his speed, it must have been a jet he was channeling.  Sagan's Tour of California was a great success even if he didn't take a sprint jersey at the end of the Tour.  Seconds later, Tadej Podgadar (UAE Team Emirates) crossed the line with arms aloft, celebrating his over all Tour of California victory.  He is now the youngest winner of the Tour of California, and of any Pro Tour race ever.  All at the tender young age of twenty.  Chapeau!

This is the final painting for the seven days of racing through California.  I will be back painting the Criterium de Dauphine and then the Grand Buclee - the Tour de France.  Thanks for reading.  Remember, all of this artwork is for sale!

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/3334029-92-223355/Flying%20to%20the%20Line%20%20ToC19-37.html

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Bonus Points and Seconds

First, it was stunning to watch Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep) drop back to the chasing peloton, pick out his teammate, Kasper Asgreen, and bring him back to the front of the race.  We didn't get to see Asgreen come away from the chasers, but I can't understand why no one covered their move.  Asgreen sat third overall, but with these 3 bonus seconds, he moved within a second of second place.  He also added to his sprint points, setting up what would be a securing of the Green Jersey.  Even if Peter Sagan won the stage, with these points, the jersey was Asgreen's.  Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was vying for a maximum of bonus seconds to move up as well, but had to settle for second place and two seconds.  Behind, Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep), Davide Ballerini (Astana) and Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo-Visma), just got out of the way and let these two fight it out.  Ballerini had already done enough to claim the final Polka Dot Jersey of best mountain climber.

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/3334027-91-223355/Bonus%20Points%20and%20Seconds%20%20ToC19-36.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Down to the Finale

Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was desparate to move up, or possible even win, the general classification.  He worked well with his break away companions, Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo-Visma) and Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep), on the way down into Pasadena.  At this point, they only had a fifteen second buffer on the chasing peloton, but odder things have happened.  By now, the best any of these guys could hope for would be a stage win, they were all too far down to take over the Yellow Jersey at the end of the day.  It was a relief to watch Cavagna descend today, he was a considerable better on the wide gradual turns than he was the day he won a 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/3334024-90-223355/Down%20to%20the%20Finale%20%20ToC19-35.html

Amgen ToC, Final Stage, Dicey

It seems quite the dicey move to grab a bottle from the team car on the way down a mountain.  But yet that is what Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) was doing on the final descent of the Tour of California.  Bear in mind that these guys are hitting speeds of around 50 mph.  So taking a hand off of the handlebars to grab something from a speeding car mere feet away seems like a receipe for disaster.  Fortunately, that receipe was not made.

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/3333927-89-223355/Dicey%20%20ToC19-34.html

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Taking the Finale - Women's ToC

It has been frustrating how little coverage of the Women's Tour of California was broadcast this year.  The last time I painted the race, you could watch all of both races.  Today, the only reason so much (20 minutes) of the women's race was aired was because of satelite link difficulties for the men's race as it descended through the canyon back to Pasadena.  It was Elisa Balsamo (Valcar Cylance) who won the stage and the Green Jersey ahead of Arinis Sierra (Astana) and Chloe Dygert-Owen (Sho-Air Twenty20).  Anna Van Der Breggan was the overall winner of the three day women's race.

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/3333912-88-223355/Taking%20the%20Finale%20%20ToC19-33.html

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Counter Move

There wasn't much chance to change the over all standings on the final stage of this Tour of California today.  The two climbs of the day were only Category 3 and 2 and came midway through the relatively short stage.  But, there is always a possibility that riders will crack, even on the easiest of climbs.  So it was that George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) going on the offensive from the main peloton.  The only one able to match his initial acceleration is Sergio Higuita (EF Education First).  Behind, Higuita's teammate, Lawson Craddock, is ready to go with anyone trying to bridge across to his defacto team leader.

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/3333910-87-223355/Counter%20Move%20%20ToC19-32.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: Stage and Jersey

While most everyone tried, it was Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who won atop Mount Baldy.  Behind him, Segio Higuita (EF Education First) pounds his handlebars in frustration.  The young Colombian had missed judge the final turn and couldn't recover his speed fast enough to out sprint the UAE rider.  While Higuita might have been able to win the stage, he would not have taken over the Yellow Jersey of race leader (he had started the day behind Pogacar's time).  However, Pogacar will be adding Yellow to his White Jersey of best young rider.  Clearly as race leader, he will be the best placed rider regardless of his age.

With only one day left to race, it remains to be seen who will win the 2019 Tour of California, but it is looking good for the young Slovenian.

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/3333669-86-223355/Stage%20and%20Jersey%20%20ToC19-31.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: On the Offensive

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) has been quite all week.  But not on the closing kilometers of the climb up Mount Baldy.  Once Schachmann was back in the fold, Porte launched out of the greatly reduced peloton, leaving the others trying to get back on the Tazmanian's wheel.  Behind the top three on GC were losing ground as those like Porte saw their chance to take over the Yellow Jersey of race leader.  Just behind Porte, Sergio Higuita (EF Education First), George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) tried to get themselves organized to chase the leader of Trek-Segafredo.  All knew they would be moving up on GC, it was only a question of who would take the stage and the Yellow Jersey.

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/3333662-85-223355/On%20the%20Offensive%20%20ToC19-30.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: Using the One, Two

Under the watchful eye of the race commissare, Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) went of the front of the peloton.  The early break had faltered on the lower slopes of the Mount Baldy climb and now it was time for the GC men to implement their race strategies.  While Schachmann was the best place rider on the team, it appeared that the team sent him up the road as a lure to tire the other GC hopefuls.  If he was pulled back to the fold, then the team could launch Felix Grosschartner for the win.  He was pulled back, but Grosschartner didn't have the legs to go on the offensive.

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/3333657-84-223355/Using%20the%20One,%20Two%20%20ToC19-29.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: Down the Other Side

Owain Doull (Ineos) was giving the rest of the break away a schooling on how to go fast down a mountain.  For those of us who don't climb well, going down fast is the reward for getting to the top of the mountain.  The only one of the seven man group who could even keep the Brit in sight was the Canadian, Hugo Houle (Astana).  Naturally, once the road turned back upwards, the group came back together.  With Mount Baldy looming ahead, it was unlikely any of these guys would be off the front for much longer.

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/3333654-83-223355/Down%20the%20Other%20Side%20%20ToC19-28.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Stage 6: The Other Sagan

It must be a challenge to be the other Sagan, after all no sibling enjoys sharing the lime light, and Juraj's brother Peter sure soaks up a lot of lime light.  Not that he doesn't deserve it.  This Sagan, Juraj (Bora-Hansgrohe) was one of seven in the early break of the Queen's stage of the 2019 Tour of California.  He was joined by Matteo Fabbro (Katusha-Alpecin), Pawel Bernas (CCC) and Max Walscheid (Team Sunweb) amongst others.  These guys were hoping to get a head start up the Glendora climb inorder to be available to help their team leaders on the slopes of Mount Baldy.

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/3333638-82-223355/The%20Other%20Sagan%20%20ToC19-27.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: His First Ever

His team must have know something was about to happen for Ivan Garcia (Bahrain-Merida), they had been on the front most of the day driving to pace to pull back the break away.  And they were right! Garcia had the legs to hold off Maximilliano Richeze (Deceuninck-Quickstep) and Serio Higuita (EF Education First) to take his first win in a Pro Tour race.  The final climb had dispatched the marquee sprinters, but it was still a hard fast sprint to the line for the young Spaniard.  Deceuninck-Quickstep finally had its winning streak broken, but only by about a bike length.  They still had two men in the top four on 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/3333249-81-223355/His%20First%20Ever%20%20ToC19-26.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: Riding for Himself

Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quickstep) found himself in an unusual situation today.  Normally, he can be found on the front of the peloton chasing down break aways, but today he was the one in the front group.  With just 18 kilometers left to race, with a nasty hill at five kilometers to go, Declercq thought he would use his power to ride for himself.  This was the last moment that the break saw the powerful Belgium until they were all passed on the climb to the final intermediate sprint.

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/3333237-80-223355/Riding%20for%20Himself%20%20ToC19-25.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: Time for a Chat

Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) had missed the early break, and a chance to sprint for the first intermediate sprint.  Without that sprint, he has dropped to second on the road in the points competition for the Green Jersey.  He bridged up to the break, but it will be a hard finale for the second intermediate sprint and the stage.  Perhaps tomorrow, he will be back in his Slovakian National Champion jersey.

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/3333234-79-223355/Time%20for%20a%20Chat%20%20Toc19-24.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: Spiraling Down

The trip up the San Marcos pass had drastically reduced the size of the break away.  Later it reduced the peloton as well.  And it seems that both Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo Visma) and his teammate, Neilson Powless, wanted to do the same on the way back down the other side.

I'm not much of a climber, so flying down the back side of a mountain through twists and turns is the pure joy reward of a hard climb.  Therefore, I love the look of a group of pros spiraling down a mountain road.

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/3333228-78-223355/Spiraling%20Down%20%20ToC19-23.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Getting Around to Get Another

Dispite all of the drama and crashing going on behind, there was still a sprint for the stage victory in Morro Bay to be contested.  It was looking like Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) was perfectly position to get his second stage of this year's Tour.  However, Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) was able to get around Sagan and Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) to take the third straight win for his team.  Sagan's third place was enough for him to take over the Green Jersey of points leader.  Coming in fourth was the French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).  Due to the commissare decisions the drama behind had no effect on the overall standings on the general classification.

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/3332848-77-223355/Getting%20Around%20to%20Get%20Another%20%20ToC19-22.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Get on Mine!

I had gotten into a discussion on twitter about how race mechanics are who make successful bike racing possible, unfortunately for Tejay van Garderen (EF Education First), he found out just how true that was.  With just ten kilometers left in the stage, his chain snapped and the resulting loss of resistances caused him to crash.  With time of the essence, a heads up move by Lachlan Morton of giving his bike over to his team leader (and race leader) minimized the time loss.  However, as Tejay went into the first hard corner on Lachlan's bike, he was unable to make the turn almost crashing again.  Then just has he and his team were about to catch back onto the peloton with about three and a half kilometers to go, another crash slowed down his return.  By the end of the stage, he had lost almost a minute.  His Yellow Jersey was saved by the commissares decision to give all of those effected by the final crash the same time.  I'm a fan of Tejay, but I feel he was the beneficiary of a bad decision.  However I am glad he is still in Yellow.

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/3332837-76-223355/Get%20on%20Mine!%20%20ToC19-21.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 4: A Touch of Wheels

Bike racing is frequently a constant management of unexpected dangers.  Any second you could find yourself on the ground with seemingly no reason.  As one rider pulled off the side of the road, Magnus Cort (Astana) found himself on the ground from an apparent touch of wheels.  Rob Britton (Rally UHC Cycling) got his bike tangled up in the insuing crash.  The bike closes to him is his, yet yet he is graciously holding Cort's bike as the Dane gets himself sorted.

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/3332776-73-223355/A%20Touch%20of%20Wheels%20%20ToC19-18.html