Paris-Nice Final Stage: Beauty Surrounds Them

After cresting the Cote de Peille, the peloton skirted along the coastal highlands winding through some of the most beautiful roads and vistas of the South of France.  For the riders, they were working far too hard to take in the scenery, with such small time gabs it was a hard day of racing that made for a very fast and dangerous descent off of the mountain top.  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/Spring%20Classics%202014/2329349---195767/Painting.html#.UyYwtc_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 4: Fast & Narrow

Tom-Jeffe Slagter (Garmin Sharp) was the first to jump from the diminishing peloton on the final climb of the day only to be matched by Geraint Thomas (Team Sky).  The pair put roughly 30 seconds into the other contenders as they charged down the other side on a technical descent on narrow roads through vineyards and seemingly back alleys on their way to the finishing line.  With the riders holding first through third on GC dropped on the way up this pair was racing for the Yellow Jersey at the end of the day.  Thomas's 12 second lead on Slagter almost insured he would be the next wearer of the Malliot Jeune.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through 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%202014/2327073---195767/Painting.html#.UyEufc_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 3: Lotto Has a Dig

Lars Bak and his Lotto-Belisol teammates decides that a little dig into the cross winds might liven up the peloton.  The peloton had almost put themselves to sleep keeping the three man break away out in front by just around two minutes.  With a break away out in front the sprinter's teams leave them out front to keep other attacks from going up the road, so the peloton sat up until Lars decided to light it up.  Astana, IAM Cycling and FDJ were not caught unaware and quickly jumped onto the big man's wheel.  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/Spring%20Classics%202014/2326225---195767/Painting.html#.Ux_Jps_D_IU

Spring Classics: Checking the Damage Kuurne-Classic-Kuurne

The course of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was littered with short step climbs some cobbled and some not.  Bernard Eisel of Team Sky has gone to the front of the chase group in hopes of further splitting the field and of chasing down the Belkin/OPQS breakaway.  The front group built up a minute lead that the large chase group just couldn't work out how to pull back.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that 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%202014/2321605---195767/Painting.html#.UxUads8o7IU

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 Thirteen: Split After Split

Saxo Tinkoff, the team of Alberto Contrador and Roman Kreuziger, saw their chance to repeat the attacks of Omega Pharma Quickstep and with six teammates having made the first split, had the numbers to make it stick.  Wide awake were the next two highest placed on GC riding for Team Belkin and they made the split, along with two of the big sprinters, Sagan and Cavendish and Astana's Fuglsang.  The most important missing the split was Chris Froome and Team Sky along with BMC's Cadel and Van Garderen, and that was the inspiration to push hard on the front for both Belkin and Saxo.  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 piece of the 100th Tour de France and the wild stage 13.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182517---186227/Painting.html#.Ue2-ns_D_IU

Tour Stage Eight: Fighting

Daryl Impey started the day hoping that the Malliot Jaune would give him wings, and it may very well have, but they were no match for the wattage of Team Sky.  You and Daryl can just see the tail end of the peloton slipping out of his grasp along with the hard earned golden fleece.  He could take comfort that by the time Chris Froome attack the remaining peloton, it was comprised of only five climbers, one was Chris himself.  Sadly, at his point there is 5 kilometer to go on this climb, and there is still one more to go to the finishing line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art from the 100th Tour de France. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179383---186227/Painting.html#.UeSd2cvD_IU

Tour Stage Seven: Sitting Up

After 50 miles of chasing Team Cannondale and Peter Sagan, the sprinters had only pulled back 30 seconds, with another two minutes to get to Sagan and only another 20 miles left of the road the decision was made to stop the chase and sit up.  Basically it was a surrender to the well played gamble of Cannondale using the climbing ability of the Slovak Champion sprinter.  With Stage 8 being the first foray into the high mountains of the Pyrenees there was no sense in using a great deal of effort in a losing cause.  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 get your piece of art of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178363---186227/Painting.html#.UeIaR8vD_IU

Tour Stage Seven: Shucking the Other Sprinters

Peter Sagan is the unusual sprinter that is not a bad climber so he used his climbing abilities to distance himself from his rivals, literally.  Team Cannondale went to the front of the peloton on the Category 2 climb and set a hard tempo that dropped all of the sprinters who have already won a stage in the 100th Tour de France.  They pressed on with the attack towards the intermediate sprint at the base of the mountain.  Sagan then had no competition for the maximum points, although Juan Antonio Flecha tried to spoil the party.  After the sprint and the extra 20 points in Sagan's favor, Cannondale pressed on adding to the two minutes they already had on his sprinting rivals.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link to get your display of team strategy in the 100th racing of the  Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178357---186227/Painting.html#.UeIVhcvD_IU

Tour Stage Six: Left on the Road

A moments inattention, a bad bunny hop over a curb, an over cooked turn on a steep descent, it only takes a second to put one's GC aspiration in the trash heap.  Janex Brajkovic apparently missed his bunny hope over the traffic island and went down hard on his elbow and face.  The race doctor was quickly out of the car and at his side to see the extent of his injuries and if he was capable of getting back up on the bike.  Brajkovic is one of the racers still in the peloton who helped shepherd Lance Armstrong around France, he was able to get back up but lossed over nine minutes and any chance of winning the Tour de France.  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 get your piece of the 100th Tour de France..

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178299---186227/Painting.html#.UeH9jMvD_IU

Criterium dju Dauphine Stage One: Joyous Salute

David Veilleux made all of his effort pay huge dividends in Stage One of the Dauphine, his haul for the day included the stage win, the yellow jersey of race leader, the green jersey of points leader and the polka dot jersey of best climber.  Not bad for four hours of racing.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available through my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161035---185083/Painting.html#.Ubkuis_D_IU

Giro Day Fourteen: Working for Another Sprint

While it was the longest stage of the 2013 Giro d'Italia with only one categorized climb a long way out from the finish, it was sure to be a day for the sprinters.  With a small break just a little ways out it was the job of the sprinter's teams to come to the front and do the work.  Orica Greenedge and Omega Pharma Quickstep spent over 240 kilometers with their noses in the wind today.  However, Omega had the right sprinter on their team.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series, it was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com (the ink is from an office supply store).  In addition, these works are available for sale, initially you can bid on this one in a 3 day auction on ebay, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But to be quick about it, the auction starts as soon as this post is published.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251276805077

Giro Day Nine: A Wet Day in the Saddle

Another road stage and another break away up the rather wet road.  This break had the added pleasure of spending the entire stage in the rain.  The three here are Maxim Belkov (Katsuha), Cahalapuo (Team Columbia) and Pirazzi (Bardiani) being followed by a neutral service vehicle, a official motorcycle and in the further distance on of the press crew motorcycles.  The only weather that has ever alter a race has been heavy snow, and even that only alter the course, the race still went on.  At least today was reasonably warm.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.    At the end of the race I will be reproducing some of my favorite paintings in a grouping of prints, please let me know if you are interested.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151025---184157/Painting.html#.UZ67McvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Incredibly Steep

The title of this painting says it all.  I don't think I have ever seen such a steep section of road way.  These two riders are what remains of the original break away on the day, the others just couldn't hang with these two on this climb.  This is Adam Hansen for Team Lotto and Emanuele Selle riding for Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela continuing on with the hope against hope of staying away from the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149253---184157/Painting.html#.UZo7ScvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Cadel Under Escort

I am not exactly sure why Cadel had slide back aways in the peleton but given how quickly he was escorted back up through the climbing riders it must have been a mechanical or a chat with the team car.  (A "mechanical" refers to any problem with the bike, from a flat, to a broken chain, whatever deals with the mechanical workings of the machine.)  But given the results of the day, BMC was wise to keep Cadel up around the front of the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by going to my artist website.   Just follow the link at the end of this post and you can get the special momento of the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149251---184157/Painting.html#.UZo6TcvD_IU

Giro Day Six: Stopping Short

The down side of the riders being more relaxed and having time to chat is that they are a little less focused.  Remember that there are roughly 200 cyclist riding along all sorts of roads, most that they have never seen before, and it just takes a swerve, a quick tap of the brakes or a momentary loss of balance to cause a massive pile up.  Stage 6 saw its share of wrecks, fortunately none too severe.  These are the riders behind the crash desperately trying to get stop before they pile on to the twisted legs, wheels and handlebars.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get yours.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149189---184157/Painting.html#.UZmcpM_D_IU

Giro Day Six: Super Aero Mark

There weren't many down hill stretches but Mark Cavendish took full advantage of this one to get as much speed as possible.  He has dropped into a very tight aerodynamic tuck with his chin resting on his folded hands atop the handlebars.  For all of you considering this on your next club ride, it is not the safest way to ride by far!  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series is available for sale at my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of art and of Giro d'Italia 2013.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149225-46-42-184157/Painting/Sports.html#.UZo0uM_D_IU

Giro Day Six: Lunch To Go

Every Stage in the Giro has what is called a "Feed Zone".  It is an designated area at roughly the middle of the day's racing where the team helpers stand on the side of the road holding special bags called "Musettes" for the racers to grab as they zoom by.  The cyclist in the peleton while burned 6,000 calories on an average stage, so keeping themselves fueled up is an ongoing challenge.  The musettes are filled with easily digested high protein snacks, energy drinks, and special treats to lighten the hearts of the riders.   The bags are emptied by the riders and then tossed to the fans along the roadside hoping to get this special souvenir.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.
http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149183---184157/Painting.html#.UZmbE8vD_IU

Giro Day Six: Riding for Cavendish

When you have the fastest sprinter in the world on your team and the stage is almost pan flight, it is your job to bring back the morning break away.  Omega Pharma Quickstep went to the front and pulled the peleton for most of the day, and then had the job of putting together a lead out train to launch the Manx Missile towards the line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow this direct link to bid.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149181---184157/Painting.html#.UZmZr8vD_IU