LBL: Cycling Strip Tease

One of the many challenges facing the peloton in today's Liege Bastogne Liege was exactly what to wear during the phase of the race.  As the riders left Liege it was just barely above freezing with a hard rain.  As the kilometers mounted, the day warmed the sun popped in and out, and the effort of racing warmed the racers' core (if not their fingers and toes).  So it was that Enric Mas (Decenunick Quick Step) stripped of his arm warmers even as he set the pace on the front of the peloton.  It must have been even more demoralizing for Michael Albasini (Mitchelton-Scott) to be caught by someone who was undressing rather than struggling with the effort of catching him.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/3325632-446-195767/Cycling%20Strip%20Tease%20%20LBL19-4.html

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Losing the Arm Warmers

One of the many challenges for the riders is getting their clothing right on the day.  Even us amateurs have to balance being warm at the start of the day and not boiling by the end.  I sure wish I had a team car driving along with me to pass my extra clothes to.  Today's break was fifteen members strong, surprisingly one of the group was the race leader, Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal).  Greipel seemed to be targeting the intermediate sprints.  It was doubtful that he would be able to keep hold of the Yellow Jersey given the three categorized climbs facing the peloton in the latter kilometers of the stage.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848023-34-189075/PaintingLosing%20the%20Arm%20Warmers%20ToB8-Greig-Leach.html#.V84CQpgrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 2: Shedding Layers

Stage 2 of Paris Nice started wet and cold, but as the race competition heated up at the end of the stage so, too, did the racers.  Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) has dropped back to his team car to pass over his arm warmers and get a little bit of strategic advice from his Director Sportif.  Lotto Soudal has the big German National Champion sprinter, Andre Greipel, on their team.  Gallopin wants to make sure they have a sound plan to make Greipel the first to cross the line at day's end.  Gallopin made a huge name for himself last year in the Tour de France, he was the only French rider to wear the Maillot Jaune and he wore it on Bastille Day.

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%20/2523064---195767/Painting.html#.VP9eQPzF-xU