Tour Stage Nineteen: Shelter from the Storm

With about 15 kilometers left to go in the stage the skies opened up and dumped hard cold rain on the break away and the peloton alike.  I don't know if the cycling fan was channeling Bob Dylan, trying to keep Rui Costa dry, or just running along side with an umbrella that just happened to be in his hand.  The storm had turned the street into a small stream, but unlike baseball, the race must go on to the end.  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%202013/2183675---186227/Painting.html#.UfCHeM_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Five: Tete de la Course

Tete de la Course, which literally translates to "head of the race" and is how the race TV coverage lets you know where you are in the race.  On mountain stages, the racers end up all over the course with break aways, the group containing the yellow jersey, or the contenders and the riders who are attacking or being dropped from one group or another.  It becomes difficult to understand who is where.  This is Wellens riding for Lotto, taking a drink and pushing on up the mountain.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162013-21-18-185083/Painting/Sports.html#.Ubu47s_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Three: Just Off the Front

After the peloton catches the break of the day, others jumped from the back to try their hand at a solo run to the finish.  This is Laurent Didier escaping the group for Radio Shack Leopold Trek on the final climb of the day, the Col des Savages.  But as you may be able to tell by were the fans are looking, the peloton is just around the corner.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161211---185083/Painting.html#.Ubn96M_D_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

Criterium du Dauphine Stage One: Going It Alone

On the second to last climb of the day, Canadian (and Quebecquoi) David Veilleux decided his fellow break away riders were slowing down, weakening and jumped away.  It looked like he was just sprinting for the Mountain Jersey points, but then really used some dare-devil descending skills to pull away from his former allies.  They never did get to see the Team Moviestar rider again.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161019---185083/Painting.html#.Ubktus_D_IU

Giro Day Nineteen: Visconti Goes

Only one climb in Stage 17 but it was enough for Giovanni Visconti to jump away from the peleton in search of Di Luca, Rubiano and Durbridge.  He quickly found each of them and slipped right on by.  I don't know if his intention was a solo break for the line, but when he noticed he was alone at the crest, he certainly went hard for the finish.  He managed to get away from no less than Scarponi, Nibali, Sanchez and Evans.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase in a 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.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251279236607

Giro Day Nine: Down to the Sun & Victory

Maxim Belkov was the second rider in a row in a road stage to go in an early break away, leave his fellow attackers and solo to a stage victory.  Belkov had the added treat of making the final descent towards his stage victory as the sun broke through the rain soaked skies to shine on his accomplishment.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by going to my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151027---184157/Painting.html#.UZ68KMvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Alone in the Rain

Adam Hansen by this point is the sole survivor of the days break away, and unlike most breaks, he went on to win the stage.  His last companion crashed out on the previous descent and Hansen waited for him to catch back on to his wheel.  But Selle struggled on the next climb and then crashed again on that descent so Hansen went on to a solo win of stage 7, the day before his birthday.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series was created with cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   Also, this painting and the others are available on my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149261---184157/Painting.html#.UZo9iMvD_IU

Giro Day Four: DiLuca's Late Attack

Daniello DiLuca had a rough break in yesterday's stage crashing on the last descent of the day and shearing off his rear derailleur and losing two and a half minutes.  So while the peleton was watching Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins he jumped out and stormed off, a few tried to go with him but they couldn't hang.  He quickly passed Sylvain Georges and stormed off through the driving rain in hopes of a victory akin to Paolini's that placed him in the Maglia Rosa.  In the true heartbreaking style of the peleton, he was caught with less than 500 meters to the line.  But he was able to gain time on many of his rivals, most notably Wiggins.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and 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/2149105---184157/Painting.html#.UZl15svD_IU

Giro Day Four: Alone With 15 K

Sylvain Georges went with a group of four other riders at about 25K to go, but ditch them all on the steep climb that came just before the end of the stage.  He managed to get out alone with only fifteen kilometers left in the 240 kilometer stage.  I thought for sure he had pulled the upset, but then, like stage 3, the favorites started attacking each other, thus raising their pace.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard, painted with Richeson and Company's watercolors, brushes and paper.  Like all of the other works in this series, this is available for purchase on my artist website,  just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149095-29-24-184157/Painting/Sports.html#.UZlycsvD_IU