Tour Down Under: Competing Trains

With such a clean relatively flat, straight run to the line, the teams had time to get their lead out trains in order.  Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) looks over to see Reinardt Janse Van Renburg with Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data) on his wheel.  He may have been wondering just who were these two successful sprinters working for.  Thomas had Luke Rowe and his sprinter, Ben Swift on his wheel as the two teams hoped to put their man in the perfect position to win the sprint and the stage.  Just peaking into the upper left corner is the train for Giant-Alpecin, a train that has had some very successful sprinters tucked onto the final wheel.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

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Giro d'Italia Final Stage: Flying

The final sprint of the Giro d'Italia was hotly contested, it included the possibility of a change of ownership of the Maglia Russo, the sprinter's jersey.  If the perennial runner up, Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) could win and Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) not place at all, the it would be Nizzolo who would claim the Jersey for the Giro.  Unfortunately for him, it was Marcel Kittel's lead out man Luka Mezgec (Giant Shimano), in the German sprinter's absence, who to the stage.  Nizzolo finished second yet again, with the American, Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) taking the third slot on the podium.  But for the French, it was Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) taking fourth on the stage and first in the Maglia Russo.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting please follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to browse around at all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2374000---198213/Painting.html#.U4uUNc_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 7: Swapping a Wheel

Many may not understand just how much of a team sport cycling is.  The team will designate "protected riders" who are either sprinters or the team's hope for the General Classification (ie. over all winner or placing on the podium).  The rest of the team will make sure that the protected rider always has a team mate to ride in the wind, has a team mate beside him to provide help in the case of a crash or a mechanical.  This is what happened in the Garmin Sharp Sprinter's case, Tyler Farrar.  With just under 20 kilometers left to race and the peloton pedaling at a full on pace, Farrar had a flat tire.  Both he and his team mate pulled to the side of the road, and the Garmin Domestique handed over his wheel so that Tyler could get back into the peloton as quickly as possible.  The other man could then wait for the team car to stop and change his wheel.  In addition another team mate dropped back from the peloton to help his sprinter get back on and back up to the business end of the charging peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  All of these cycling watercolors are only $50 USD and payments can be made securely through the shopping cart feature with Paypal or credit card.  Thank you for taking the time to look at my art.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2364871---198213/Painting.html#.U3cneM_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 5: "Yes, Two Please"

While it looks like Elia Viviani (Team Cannondale) is confirming his order for two water bottles from the Camelbak sponsored neutral drinks moto.  Actually, he was chatting with the driver trying to learn how far back to the peloton (they were close to two minutes back).  Viviani was one of the several sprinters that made it into the early break, he managed to get second at the intermediate sprint behind Ben Swift (Team Sky).  Just in front of him in this painting is the American sprinter, Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) who is fortunate enough to have a team mate with him in the break, Fabian Wegmann.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2363909---198213/Painting.html#.U3PwiM_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 5: Out of the Saddle & Up the Road

Stage 5, 203 kilometers from Taranto to Viggiano, was the first stage to feature a Category 3 climb.  But ahead of the base of the climb was the intermediate sprint, with no chance for the sprinters to gain points on the top of the climb up to Viaggiano, those without the red Sprinter's Jersey, broke away from the peloton in hopes of maximum points in the sprinting competition.  The break included an interesting mix of break away opportunitists, sprinters and those hoping for some King of the Mountain points.  Some of those in the break included, Rubiano Chavez (Team Colombia and the Colombian National Champion) Fabian Wegmann and Tyler Farrar (both Garmin Sharp), Tony Hurel (Europcar) and Ben Swift (Team Sky) amongst others.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  Also, this (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%27Italia%202014/2363883-25-24-198213/Painting/Sports.html#.U3PoJs_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage One: Grabbing the Win

With all of the efforts put in by the big teams and their lead out trains, it was Nacer Bouhanni who grabbed the first stage of Paris Nice with a little improvised freelance sprinting.  He forced his way through the crowds, jumping from train to train, finally coming clear at full speed with about 200 meters to the line.  With the opening stage win, he will start the race tomorrow in the leader's Yellow Jersey and have the lead in the Points Jersey as well.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2324989---195767/Painting.html#.Ux1aS8_D_IU