Giro, Stage 16: Looking for Two Minutes

Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) started his race of truth looking to pull back just over two minutes on the maglia rosa.  It was a tall order in a flat 34 kilometer individual time trial.  But as his rainbow bands suggest, he cerainly has the skill and power to do it.  While he did his best finishing just 14 seconds off of the race winning time on the stage, his rainbow stripes were no match for the boost of the maglia rosa.  His ride solidified his second place over all, but wasn't enough by 56 seconds to take back the race lead that he had at the end of the first stage way back in Jerusalem.  He does have two and a quarter minutes over the rider in third, Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain Merida).

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/101st-Giro-dItalia/3166943-63-249297/PaintingLooking-for-Two-Minutes-G18-68.html

2014 UCI Worlds: Watching Wiggo

Bradley Wiggins, winner of the 2012 Tour de France, has been reclaiming his fire ever since he was left out of the nine teammates that went to this year's Tour.  Team Sky may well have regretted the decision once Chris Froome crashed out.  But it was the spark that has re-ignited the fire in the belly of the reigning gold medalist in the Olympic Time Trial.  Wiggins started the Men's Elite Time Trial two minutes ahead of his main rival, Tony Martin, but quickly started stretching that gap out second by second as the two put all of the efforts into going as fast as possible.  By the end of the race, Wiggins had gained twenty-six seconds on the now former World Champion.  Sir Bradley Wiggins can now add a Rainbow Jersey to his Olympic Gold Metal and his Tour de France Yellow Jersey.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441854---202544/Painting.html#.VCTydM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: It's About the Position

The Time Trial, or the Race of Truth, is all about the individual's ability to slip through the wind with the least amount of  drag possible.  To that end, Tejay van Garderen, drops into his aerodynamic tuck, with his arms as close together as possible, the head down and the back arched all to present as little of his body to the wind.  The bikes are designed with the same basic purpose.  However, neither the bike nor the position of the rider astride the machine, are about control or agility, they are only about speed.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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.  Be sure to check out my soon to be released book of annotated art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  It is available for pre-order and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441850---202544/Painting.html#.VCTq2s_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Slipping Through the Wind

Sylvain Chavanel is the three time Time Trial Champion of France, but has yet to win in the Worlds.  While we have grown use to seeing him in his tricolore national kit, at the worlds no one wears a championship jersey while racing.  Instead they will where their national colors, but in a team uniform that every racer will don on race day.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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.  While you are at the website, you can pre-order my book of paintings of the 2014 Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  International shipping is available for both the paintings and the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441848---202544/Painting.html#.VCTnnM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Hitting the Start

The United States brought a really strong team to Ponferrada, Spain in hopes of going home with a Rainbow Jersey.  Perhaps with Fabian Cancellara choosing not to ride in the Men's Elite Time Trial there was a chance, but they would have to get past the three time World Champion, Tony Martin.  And Martin would be the last to roll down the start ramp today.  Andrew Talansky rolled down the start ramp roughly mid way through the start order, looking for the form that enable him to win the Criterium du Daphine earlier in the season.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The painting 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.  But while you are there, why not take the time to look at all of the cycling art on offer? 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441844-8-6-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCTlFs_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Willing Her Home

To quote Phil Liggett as Lisa Brennauer of Germany headed up the final 100 meters of the course, "The crowd is willing her home."  The German's ride was just fast enough to nip in ahead of the Ukrainian, Anna Solovey, and claim gold for the Elite Women's Individual Time Trial.  She now will have the honor of wearing the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion every time she lines up to race an individual time trial.  She will have that honor until the Championships come to Richmond, Virginia in the United States in 2015.  Today is her second Gold Medal of these races, she was part of the Shimano - Lulu Lemon squad that won the Women's Team Time Trial early in the week.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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.  While you are there you can pre-order my 2014 Tour de France book, Book de Tour, which includes Brennauer's 4th place finishes in La Course, raced on the finally day of the Tour in Paris.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441268---202544/Painting.html#.VCM_0c_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Out on Course

The American, Evelyn Stevens, hit the 29.5 kilometer time trial course fast and hard.  She went through each of the time checks including the one at the finishing line just behind the Ukrainian, Anna Solovey.  Her ride was good enough for silver when she crossed the line, but with a couple more women still out on course, it was uncertain if she would be on the podium at the end of the day.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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.  But you really should take the time to browse all of the cycling art on the site.  Plus you can pre-order my book of the 2014 Tour de France, Book de Tour, from the site as well.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441250---202544/Painting.html#.VCM8IM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Rolling Out

The Elite Women rolled down the time trial start ramp today in Ponferrada, Spain, searching for a Rainbow Jersey at the end of their solo effort against the clock.  Anna Solovey of Ukraine was out on a fast ride around the outskirts of the city before swinging back towards town.  She was first at each of the time checks along the route and logged the fastest time across the line when she finished.  However, with a time trial, no rider knows their ultimate placing until the final rider has finished her effort.  All Solovey could do was sit in the throne in the club house waiting to see if she would be forced to give up her seat and her dream of the coveted Rainbow Jersey of Women's World Time Trial Champion.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is also available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular work, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the cycling art on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441240-5-0-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCM34M_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Sprinting Home

Like all of the competitors in a time trial, Aafke Suet of the Netherlands, could see her time as compared against those on the leader board as she approached the line.  She stood on the pedals sprinting as hard as she could in hopes of toppling those who currently occupied the podium slots.  While she did all she could, she was only able to cross the line, mouth agape, with the fifth best time on the day.  With her finish, the Australians finished with two riders in the top three for the third year in a row in the Under 23 Women's Time Trial, however this year, the top of the podium was theirs!  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440520---202544/Painting.html#.VCDpec_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: The Last to Go

With the Women's Under 23 Time Trial race coming to a close, it was the Australian, Alexandra Manly, who had the honor of being the last to roll down the start ramp in Ponferrada, Spain.  As she stomped on her pedals, she knew that two of her teammates were currently holding first and third at the finishing line.  Manly had reason to dream of donning the Rainbow Jersey at the end of the day.  She managed to finish third overall last year in Italy and the two who had finished ahead of her had aged out of the Under 23 category.  Unfortunately, it was not to be her day, perhaps it was the rain that had continued to worsen as the day's racing progressed.  So while it was an honor to start last, it was a distinct disadvantage.  She could comfort herself in the knowledge that her country women held their placings.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440518---202544/Painting.html#.VCDm4M_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: New Best Time

All of my cycling paintings are done in as close to real time as possible, without knowledge of the final results.  That being said I was excited when Emma White, riding for the United States, was able to post the new best time with only roughly a quarter of the field of women yet to cross the line.  In any time trial, the rider holding the fastest time over the course will sit in the 'throne' of race leader until either their winning time is confirmed or they have to surrender the chair to the rider who has cover the course in less time.  White was able to hold the chair for some time before the Australian who claimed the overall booted her out of her chair.  Actually the Aussie, Macey Stewart, was quite polite in her victory.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440516---202544/Painting.html#.VCDkKc_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Starting at Home

With the Elite men's and women's team time trials over and done, it was the time for the individual time trialist to take the stage in Ponferrada, Spain.  The morning roads were given over to the Junior Women's Time Trial for those under the age of 23.  One of the early riders to start down the ramp for just over twenty minutes of all out effort was one for the home team, Maria Calderon of Spain.  Without a general classification to set the order of starters, the UCI started those they expect to post slower times first ending with the rider highest place in 2013 still eligible to race in the category.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition the painting 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440514-1-0-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCDhFs_D_IU