Paris Roubaix: Looking to Bridge Across

As he entered the section 14 of pave, Arnaud Demare (FDJ) decided to try and bridge across to the small group that included Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) and others.  Each section of cobblestones are number in descending order and color coded by difficulty.  The yellow banner at the start of this section lets the riders now that this is a three star section - a medium difficulty section.  Demare never did make it to the front group, and soon found himself back in the main peloton.  But at the risk of a spoiler alert, he did manage to finish in the top ten and as the highest place French rider.

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/Spring-Classics-/2947338-390-195767/PaintingLooking-to-Bridge-Across-PR17-4.html

Paris Roubaix: Leading the Way

I can swear that this was the early break of the day, I joined the race at 169 kilometers left of the 250 plus on the day.  Mickael Delage (FDJ) and Jelle Wallays (Lotto Soudal) were one of many breaks on the day.  However like all of the others, they weren't able to get more than 40-50 seconds on the main peloton.  With the narrowed cobbled roads, the soigneurs position themselves along the pave sections (this is section 26 of a total of 29 sections) and pass bottles, food and (if needed) spare wheels because it can be a long time before a mechanic and team car are able to reach a rider in need.

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/Spring-Classics-/2947307-387-195767/PaintingLeading-the-Way-PR17-1.html

E3 Harelbeke: Pushing the Pace

Now there was a rather powerful group of riders about a minute up the road containing riders like Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and some other contenders.  Left behind, and chasing hard, was Tony Martin in his new Katusha-Alpecin colors.  Close the the UCI Time Trial Champion was the Rainbow Jersey of the Road Champion, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrphe).  Keeping an eye on the pair of rather accomplished riders was Matteo Trentin  (Quickstep).  The peloton is speeding across one of the few flat sections of cobbles, the Mairaborreestaat, leaving just 50 kilometers to race and only three more sections of pave to traverse.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2939886-383-195767/PaintingPushing%20the%20Pace%20E317-4.html

Paris Roubaix: This Is My Paris Roubaix

Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL Jumbo) had to feel like he had this race in hand.  He rode everyone off of his wheel on the 5 star rated #4 pave section, Carrefour de l'Arbre.  As he looked back over his shoulder all he could see where crowds lining the cobbles, and the flags of Flanders and France. The Belgium rider had less than 17 kilometers left and was now beginning to dream of victory.

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.  In addition this painting, and all of my cycling artwork, 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 discover my most recent book, Art of Cycling: Richnond 2015 UCI Road World Chanpionships.  You can find the book at your favorite online retailer or at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2767304-316-195767/Painting.html#.VwsjHfkrLIU

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Strength in Numbers

Etixx-Quickstep managed to get the perfect numbers in the final break away of the day.  Somehow they got three of their men, Niki Terpstra, Stijn Vandenbergh and Tom Boonen and had only one other rider with them, Ian Stannard (Team Sky).  Both Boonen and Terpstra are very experienced racers of the Classics, however, Stannard is the defending champion of this race.  Etixx-Quickstep had the added luxury of having yet another rider in the three man chasing group.  Stannard did have a slight advantage, with etiquette and expectation allowing him to sit in on the back of the group foregoing any pulls with his nose in the wind.

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.

If you are enjoying reading about cycling this way and the accompanying artwork, be sure to check out my recently published book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"
http://www.greigleach.com/gallery/201710/Book+de+Tour/#.VPOW8vnF-xU

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2519190---195767/Painting.html#.VPOmo_nF-xU

Spring Classics: Well Represented, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

The first weekend of March marks the start of racing in Europe with the famed Spring Classics mainly contest in narrow and oft cobbled roads of Belgium.  Today's Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was fought out on dry roads and more hospitable temperatures than the weekends opener.  Heads up riding by Omega Pharma Quickstep and Team Belkin put the two teams in a ten man breakaway that was the deciding move of the day.  OPQS set out with the mission to atone for the failures of the first day of racing on home soil getting five of their eight riders into the move.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting created using cake watercolors and brushes from www.richesonart.com and 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%202014/2321595-1-0-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.UxUWUc8o7IU