Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Team Time Trial: The Final Corners

I'll admit it, I have a soft spot for CCC Sprandi Polkowice.  It may just be that they have the brightest colored kit in the peloton, but more likely is they always race with agression whenever they take to the start line.  I was very excited to see them posting the new best times along the course AND at the finish line.  With some of the true powerhouses of the discipline to come, I was sure their time wouldn't stand (and it didn't).  But it was nice to see them in the hot seat no matter how briefly.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034269-8-239826/PaintingThe-Final-Corners--Bergen-8.html

Vuelta, Stage 14: To the Heavens

While all of the drama was happening behind - although in the end it was roughly status quo - Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) was riding away from the entire peloton.  As he was over a minute ahead of his nearest rival he started his celebrations long before reaching the line at the mountain top finish.  Not only did he gesture towards the heavens as he neared the line, it must have felt like he had ridden into the heavens on the way to the end of the 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Vuelta-2017/3026205-24-239162/PaintingTo-the-Heavens-V-25.html

Tour Down Under Final Stage Quite the Pilot FIsh

It was quite a sight to see Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) leading out his young teammate Jay McCarthy at the first of two intermediate sprints on the streets of downtown Adelaide  Sagan's superb lead out enabled McCarthy to claim the three second bonus and the virtual third place in the Tour   Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) took third on the stage bascially making sure that he didn't lose too many points to Sagan in the sprint competition not that his jersey is in any danger

I apologize the punctuation gremlins have return to my computer leaving me with not periods commas or colons unless I use the follow cut and paste section

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2908827-129-194179/PaintingQuite%20the%20Pilot%20Fish%20TDC17-31.html#.WIUnI_krLIU

Tour, Final Stage: All Smiles for Now

The final stage of the Tour de France is a tale of two races.  The first part of the race is time to celebrate making it all of the way around France, a chance to chat with friends, congratulate the jersey winners and goof about just a bit.  The second is the flat out racing to when on the Champs Elysees, To get that victory for the team, that may not have happened yet, or for a sprinter to get the win that has yet to go his way.  Here, Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) shakes hands with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) on the Champs Elysees they will be going as hard as they can to beat one another to the line.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828385-154-224974/PaintingAll%20Smiles%20for%20Now%20TdF155-Greig-Leach.html#.V5UtIbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 17: Two Jerseys, One Team

Tinkoff has been having a fabulous Tour de France, unless of course you want to count the withdrawal of their start, Alberto Contador.  Other than that they are currently holding both the Maillot Vert and the Maillot a Pois.  Today Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) went of on a long break away with 10 other riders including his teammate Rafal Majka.  Sagan went out for 150 kilometers just to be the first to cross the intermediate sprint point first in Hautville Lompnes.  He really needn't have bothered, is closest rival for the green jersey was Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) who left the race today to finish his preparations for the Summer Olympics in Rio.  On the World Champion's wheel is the King of the Mountains, Rafal Majka.  Now he had a bigger to be in this break away, defending his lead in the competition for the Polka Dot Jersey of the King of the Mountain competition.  With Sagan's help, the break has already put over ten minutes between themselves and the peloton containing the Maillot Jaune.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2826248-118-224974/PaintingTwo%20Jerseys,%20One%20Team%20TdF119-Greig-Leach.html#.V4_pq7iAOko

Tour, Stage 14: Bag Lunch

Every stage (excluding time trials) will have a designated "feed zone" where soigneurs will pass musettes their riders filled with lunch, energy gels/bars, drinks and perhaps, a special treat.  Riders will burn over 6,000 calories on an average stage so keeping themselves fueled can be a logistical nightmare.  As the peloton enters the feed zone they will look for their team helpers who will be holding the musettes aloft.  The riders will snatch at the straps of the canvas bags as they whiz by, hoping not to drop either the bag or its contents.  This pass was a little dicey.  I am not sure how the soigneur managed to mess up his position, but he had to quickly lean back as far as he could to prevent making Kristijan Koren (Cannondale-Drapac) crash as he grabbed lunch.  As I painted this, I thought he must be the last chance for Koren, but as I started watching again, it was clear that it was in fact the first chance for the Cannondale-Drapac rider.

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.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2824399-98-224974/PaintingBag%20Lunch%20TdF99-Greig-Leach.html#.V4qJabgrLIU

Tour, Stage 11: Using the Wind

With the final change of direction and just ten kilometers left to race, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and his teammate Maciej Bodnar hit he front and went hard.  Being ever attentive, Chris Froome (Sky) saw this as a great wheel to catch, and a great opportunity to increase his lead on his rivals.  Only one of Froome's teammates was able to get across to the fleeing threesome, Geraint Thomas.  The four, representing just two teams had the perfect combination to press their advantage all of the way to the line.  Froome knew he could count on his teammate to work for him, just as Sagan could count on his.  Plus, Froome knew he had no chance of beating the leader of the sprint points competition in an all out sprint for the line, nor did he really need to.  For Sagan, this was about sprint points in the Maillot Vert competition, for Froome it was about extending his lead in the Maillot Jaune.  Bodnar was a very strong ally for all involve, he was just crowned the Time Trial Champion of Poland.  So it was on those behind to try and chase down this flying foursome.

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.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2823142-76-224974/PaintingUsing%20the%20Wind%20TdF76-Greig-Leach.html#.V4afQbgrLIU