Volta Catalunya Stage 1: On the Attack

Another seemingly basic requirement of the peloton is that as soon as the day's break is caught someone must immediately go on the attack.  And true to form as soon as the early two and the later joiner were caught, Paul Martens of Belkin Pro Cycling jumped from about a quarter of a way down the line to launch a rather aggressive move on the final climb of the opening stage of the Volta Catalunya.  He may have been laying down a common team tactic of sending one rider up the road for another to use as a carrot and a spring board.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting, you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2333729---195767/Painting.html#.UzCwOMvD_IU

Spring Classics: Jumping Out of the Pack, Milan-San Remo

It was a cold wet hard day, typical for the Spring Classics, that welcomed the peloton for
Milan-San Remo, at one point the racers were pelted with hail.  None of that dampen the attacking fever of the winner of last year's Giro d'Italia (a race that included snow storms in May), Vincezo Nibali (Astana), as he jumped out of the Cannondale led peloton on the climb of Cipressa.  He may of been expecting some one to join him in the effort, but instead pressed on alone in a long solo effort that came to naught.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard painted using Yarka St. Petersburg paints and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company (www.richesonart.com).  In addition this work is available for purchase, along with most of my cycling art postcards, at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332827-42-36-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.Uy8oAsvD_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 5: Nibali Shows Himself

Shortly after Sylvain Chavanel was caught by the Team Sky lead peloton, his teammate, Stefan Denifl jumped away to try to grab the glory for the team.  However he was surprised by an attack from the group by last year's winner of the Giro d'Italia, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).  Today as the hills got steeper, it was the first time Nibali showed himself to the TV cameras.  When someone of his caliber attacks it causes a violent reaction form the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, 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%202014/2327637---195767/Painting.html#.UyKZKM_D_IU

Tour Down Under: Why Defend? Attack! Stage 5

At the base of the final climb up Old Willunga Hill and the lead of the Tour Down Under up for grabs, Team BMC and Cadel Evans decided to surprise the peloton, the contenders and even the commentators by attacking rather than just defending his position and sticking to the wheels of his two closes adversaries in the overall general classification.  Unfortunately the bold move wasn't to pay the dividends he hoped for.  At least this should dispel the belief that Cadel never attacks and lnly races defensively.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could 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/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298905---194179/Painting.html#.UuShDM8o7IU

Tour Stage Sixteen: Contrador Attacks

With all of the GC men together and Richie Porte trying to ride everyone off of his wheel, it was time for Alberto to dig deep and see if he could get some time on Froome and the other guys ahead of him on the General Classification.  Everyone was expecting him to do something on the final climb and the TV Motos were both in front and behind the move.  Of course the cameras always watch the group with the Malliot Jaune because that is were the moves that matter happen.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183159---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9Fz8_D_IU

Tour Stage Sixteen: The First to Go

With a break away of 26 riders, everyone knew that they would not all be going to the line together, so it was Marino of Sojasun and Kadri of AG2R that jumped in the valley before the final climb.  The peloton contained 7 French riders all hoping to be the one (une) to bring a stage victory to the hosts of the 100th Tour de France.  These two were the first to go out in search of the honor and gratitude of a nation.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183155---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9CkM_D_IU

Tour Stage Nine: Watching Quintana Go

After all of the hard work Moviestar had put in on the 4 previous climbs of the day, Quintana was the designated attack of the team.  He must have jumped out of the "Froome Group" 3 or 4 times, here all Kreuziger, Schleck and Mollema could do is watch him go.  Every time it fell to Chris Froome to chase him down and as soon as Quintana saw him on his wheel he would shut down his attack.  Apparently he would only drag Froome away from his team leader, Valverde.  He did learn to wait until the last climb after yesterday, were he got away on the high point of the Tour only to get caught by Porte and Froome on the final ascent of the day.  His efforts yesterday did put him in the White Jersey of the best Young Rider in the Tour.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179473---186227/Painting.html#.UeSzRcvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Eight: Attacking in the Rain

Alejandro Valverde made a move on the penultimate climb hoping to use his descending skills to pull a move on Team Sky.  The conditions were perfect to run away on a descent because it was so wet.  With the Tour de France coming up no one wanted to risk a bad crash and put themselves out of the Tour, so it made for a slower more cautious downhill.  Alas for Valverde, he didn't have the legs to stay away on the final climb to the finish.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162043---185083/Painting.html#.UbvTHc_D_IU

Giro Day Twenty Two: Attacking in Pink

I paint in awe of Vincenzo Nibali!  He has over four minutes on his nearest competitors and is climbing the last mountain of the 2013 Giro d'Italia, he is cold snow covered and is in is 12th day of wearing pink, and yet he collects all of the break aways up the road, and then goes clear to solo to victory in the Maglia Rosa.  Understand he had no real reason to attack, but then a competitor always competes.  I am sure he didn't make a lot of friends within the peleton, but he earned everyone's respect.  He had sealed his victory with his time trial, today, he cast it in stone.   This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, you know everyone wants this image of the 2013 Giro!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2154185---184157/Painting.html#.Uaagr8vD_IU

Giro Day Eighteen: Slipping Off the Front

With the Maglia Rosa group and most of the peleton only two minutes behind the riders in the day's break away started attacking each other.  The first two to take off were Pate of Team Sky and Southerland of Saxo Tinkoff.  They got a few seconds, but then the next attack sucked them back on.  This started the extensive barrage of attacks and counter attacks that characterized the rest of Stage 16.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by going to ebay and bidding on this painting in a short 3 day auction.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but you should act quickly, the auction starts as soon as this post is published.

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Giro Day Eleven: Attacking Italians

While these two are apparently wearing different uniforms, they are on the same Androni-Giocattoli Venezuela team, the second cyclist is the Italian road racing champion.  These two decided that all of the contenders were too busy marking each other that they jumped up the road.  The team had the advantage of having yet another team mate up the road, who had gone with the early break of the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours in a 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the link at the end of this post to place your bid.

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