Dauphine Stage 7: Absolutely Everything

Lieuwe Westra (Astana) has been in search of a stage win almost every day of the Dauphine.  Yesterday he was just nipped at the line by the superior sprint of Jan Bakelants (OPQS) much to the Dutchman's frustration.  He must have decided that he wasn't going to make the same mistake today.  He was distanced by the attacks of both Yury Trofimov (Katusha) and later Egor Silin (Katusha), but he didn't give up.  He kept riding as hard as he could, eventually catching the two Russians inside of the final kilometer.  It was obvious by the way that he just stopped, almost hitting the wall as he crossed the line, I am sure if there had not been a helper to grab him he would have fallen to the ground right there.  He had nothing left to even wave a victorious salute.  The race organizers were prepare for how exhausted the riders would be, they had arranged helpers to catch the riders as they crossed the line and to push them over the crest of the mountain.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting, 4 inches by 6 inches, 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/Dauphine%202014/2389638---199476/Painting.html#.U6b6WM_D_IU

Tour Down Under: Feeling OK, Stage 3

Cadel Evans used his team, his climbing ability, his descending ability and his experience to win the stage by 15 seconds.  With time so important he forsook the traditional two armed victory, instead pedaling across the finishing line at full speed.  Only after stopping the clock did he flash the universal sign for feeling okay about his race.  The 15 seconds ahead of the charging contenders and the additional 10 second time bonus for winning the stage put Cadel into the Ochre Jersey of race leader of the Tour Down Under.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting 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/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2297229---194179/Painting.html#.UuHjXs8o7IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Closing the Deal

True to his word, TeJay did not challenge Aceverdo for the victory and after Aceverdo's victory salute the two reached out to shake hands to celebrate their mutual success.  TeJay gained enough time on all of the chasers to pull on the Yellow Jersey of race leader and put another 40 seconds into his biggest rival, Tom Danielson.  Behind these two, Mathias Frank was finally able to jump away from Danielson to strengthen his second place in the GC, he couldn't attack Danielson for fear of helping the Garmin Sharp rider bridge back up to his team leader, Van Garderen.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251325003805?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Just Making Sure

Mattias Frank was able to get away on the final climb of the day and hold of the others in the break on the furious descent into Breckinridge.  As any experienced rider will do, he is looking back over his shoulder to make sure that Lachlan isn't about to catch him before giving his victory salute.  In this case, the salute may have cost him the Jersey, he needed 5 seconds over the closing Lachlan to gain the race lead, but the Garmin Aussie managed to cross the line 3 seconds behind the stage winner.  This may go down in the "don't count your chickens before the hatch" category.  Or don't celebrate your victory until you cross the line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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Tour Stage Thirteen: Worth It All

All of the action in stage 13 was started by Omega Pharma Quickstep and their sprinter, Mark Cavendish finished off all of the work they put in.  As he throws his arms up in a joyous celebration, you can see Kwiatowski joining in on the celebration.  I think Chavanel was a little too spent to even raise his arms, although he was the first to hug his team leader after the stage.  Peter Sagan got his fourth second place finish continuing to solidify his ownership of the Green Jersey.  However the victory belongs to Cavendish, and this one, his 25th creates a new Tour record of total road stage wins.  Argentil and Merckx have more stage wins, but they include time trials and team time trials.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Tour Stage Nine: Finishing It Off

Dan Martin successfully out foxed and out sprinted Jakob Fuglsang to finish off the aggressive tactics of Garmin Sharp with the two finishing 20 seconds ahead of the group of the yellow jersey.  Martin became the second Irishman to every win a stage in the Grande Boucle, the last in 1992 by his uncle Stephen Roche.  Roche's son (and Martin's cousin) is also in the Tour riding for Saxo Tinkoff but cracked on the final climb after working for his team leader, Alberto Contrador.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link to get your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France and Irish cycling history.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179491---186227/Painting.html#.UeS1WMvD_IU

Tour Stage Four: When a Single Second Matters

Orica GreenEdge continued its aggressive and productive Tour today bringing six of their nine member team to the line a single second faster than any other team.  The effort came on the heals of Stage 3's stage win by Simon Gerrains after the long break away by Simon Clarke, and the effort put Gerrains into the Malliot Jaune making him the third in four days.  It was made all the more special because they were expected to come in behind Team Sky, BMC and Garmin Sharp.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours through a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, the auction starts as soon as this post is published.

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Tour Stage Three: Throwing At the LIne

The peloton had managed to sweep up every attempt to get away, from Rolland to Chavanel's second late attack in a row, so it was up to the sprinters to make it happen for the stage.  It was up to Bakelants to make sure no gaps opened between him and the first across the line.  This one was so close that neither Peter Sagan nor Simon Gerrains knew who had crossed the line first.  It was a photo finish that showed Gerrains had thrown his bike across the line just ahead of Peter and it was Rojas for Moviestar bringing up third.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your piece of the 100th Tour de France.  Hurry, the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

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Tour Stage Two: Surprise!

Against all odds, Jan Bakelants jumped from his breakaway companions as the peloton drew near to catching the group.  With the commentators sure that one man could not hold off the charging sprinters even if their numbers were drastically reduced, he looked back to see them coming and gave it one final kick to surprise everyone, least of all himself.  He also managed to gain one second at the line, one second that has given him the Malliot Jaune of leader of the 100th Tour de France.  So two days into the race, and every jersey has changed hands except the Malliot Vert.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bet your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2174685---186227/Painting.html#.UdoaCc_D9Ms

Tour 2012: Saluting His Countrymen

Thomas Voeckler, who I admit is one of my favorites in the peloton, always rides a gusty Tour de France and I expect no less from him in the 100th running of the Tour.  This was a wonderful stage for "little Tommy Voeckler" to quote Phil Ligett, he soloed away from the break of this day to gather up all of the mountain points for the day, and to win the stage with so much time to spare, he could bow to the French spectators all along the finishing straight.  The mountains points he took during the stage were enough to put him into the Polka Dot Jersey, that he kept all of the way to Paris.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1993648-44-42-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcHvTM_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Making Sure

Sammy Sanchez was raising his hands in a victory salute when he thought, "I'd better make sure he isn't going to jump me at the line."  He takes a quick look behind him just to make sure the victory is his to celebrate.  This is a wise move, it has happened that a victory salute taken too early has allowed another charging competitor to snag the win.  A little bit nasty of a thing to do, but then all is fair in love and bike racing (although I hope we can now excluding doping from what is considered fair).  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, but act quickly, I am sure there are a lot of Sanchez fans out there that will want this.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162041---185083/Painting.html#.UbvSEc_D_IU

Giro Day Nineteen: Making Sure He Is Alone

Visconti made a bold move jumping out of the peleton on the final climb (and only climb) of the day, quickly passéd the three other riders up the road and dove into Vincenza for a solo win.  Like all experienced racers he check behind at the 600 meter sign to make sure he was still alone.  The Maglia Rosa group was coming hard, Cadel and Scarponi kept jumping to get away from Nibali, but he covered every move.  The attacks kept their speed seesawing and helped to ensure Visconti's move succeed.  For the record this is his second stage win, with the first coming in heavy snow on the top of Galibier, today was a totally different victory but sweet just the same.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

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Giro Day Sixteen: Fighting It Out in the Snow

Vincenzo Nibali aptly defended the Maglia Rosa today although he did not gain any time like he did yesterday.  He met the attacks by Scarponi and Evans and finished the day with the two not allowing anyone to threaten him in the overall GC.  For the second day in a row the Giro finished on top of a mountain in a snow storm, I have always thought of Italy as a sunny warm country.  But I guess that doesn't allow for the Alps on the northern border and they actually finished in France today.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2153249---184157/Painting.html#.UaU-5c_D_IU

Giro Day Fifteen: Two Victors

Stage 14 actually had two winners of the stage today, Nibali and Santambrogio crossed the line together, one for the stage victory and one adding to his lead in the over all GC tightening his hold on the Maglia Rosa.  Now the tradition that I alluded to in an earlier post, when the overall leader comes to the end of the stage with another rider it is good form to give the victory (or at least not challenge the rider for the lead).  For Nibali he has his victory by putting time into all of his rivals, the only gain for Santambrogio, was the stage victory.  For Nibali to have taken the victory on the line would have been just rude.  Remember these guys ride in races togethers for years so a little decorum is in order.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours by bidding on it in a 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, the auction starts as soon as this post is published.

This painting is sold.

Giro Day Fifteen: Waiting All Day for a Shot

With no mobile video feed, I got to see the finishing village and just how much standing around can be involved in the race.  The photographers that don't manage to get onto the back of a motorcycle are left waiting at the finishing line for the iconic victory salute of the victor of the day.  So basically, these guys have stood around in the wet snow all day to capture the single moment of victory.  This group was doing a lot of story telling while they waited.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2152795---184157/Painting.html#.UaQWgsvD_IU

Giro Day Thirteen: Cavendish Opens It Up

This is my 100th painting of the 2013 Giro d'Italia (I am surprised) and it is also the 100th victory for the rather amazing sprinter, Mark Cavendish.  Today, the breakaway still had the lead inside of 500 meters to go, the lead out train had been swamped by other teams and yet when he fired up his sprint, no one could deny him.  He got this win by staying with the peleton on three separate climbs and then being the fastest once the sprint began.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours through bidding on it in a 3 day auction on ebay, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Well done, Cavendish!

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Giro Day Seven: Cadel Sneaks In

Behind the stunning victory by Adam Hansen, the peleton shook itself out and re-ordered the standings.  This is the select group of the peleton sprinting for the line like it was a stage win.  Every stage awards time bonuses for the top ten places so any one you can top you can even more time on.  Some of these riders are from right to left:  Danilo DiLuca, Ryder Hesjedal, Cadel Evans and Enricl Battaglin, not making the painting is the new Maglia Rosa.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series is available for purchase on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post and purchase this painting and all of the others that are still ayailable.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149263---184157/Painting.html#.UZo_TsvD_IU

Giro Day Six: Another Victory Salute

 

I find Mark Cavendish to be am amazing sprinter.  Everyone expect him to be the guy, everyone tries to best him, every team tries to out preform his team and still he gets the win.  He does it with great lead out trains or he does it with no team support at all.  He does it when it all goes as planned, or he pulls it off when there is a wreck inside of the last three kilometers as he did in stage one.  So here is to his second stage win in the 2013 Giro d'Italia!  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series it is for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the link at the end of this post and get your painting of Mark winning a stage.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149235---184157/Painting.html#.UZo3VMvD_IU