Paris Roubaix: Poursuivant

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Yves Lampaert (Etixx Quickstep) had left the grasp of the peloton and it was John Degenkolb (Giant Alpecin) that was the next to go off in search of glory in Roubaix.  Degenkolb has been enjoying great form and some nice additions to his palmares in the early races of the 2015 ProTour season.  This was one rider that the peloton wasn't going to be happy to let go.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular watercolor just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about Paris Roubaix with the accompanying artwork, be sure to search out my recently published, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It can be found through most every online bookseller around the world.  Google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2541146---195767/Painting.html#.VSsCqPnF-xU

Giro d'Italia Stage 7: Swapping a Wheel

Many may not understand just how much of a team sport cycling is.  The team will designate "protected riders" who are either sprinters or the team's hope for the General Classification (ie. over all winner or placing on the podium).  The rest of the team will make sure that the protected rider always has a team mate to ride in the wind, has a team mate beside him to provide help in the case of a crash or a mechanical.  This is what happened in the Garmin Sharp Sprinter's case, Tyler Farrar.  With just under 20 kilometers left to race and the peloton pedaling at a full on pace, Farrar had a flat tire.  Both he and his team mate pulled to the side of the road, and the Garmin Domestique handed over his wheel so that Tyler could get back into the peloton as quickly as possible.  The other man could then wait for the team car to stop and change his wheel.  In addition another team mate dropped back from the peloton to help his sprinter get back on and back up to the business end of the charging peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  All of these cycling watercolors are only $50 USD and payments can be made securely through the shopping cart feature with Paypal or credit card.  Thank you for taking the time to look at my art.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2364871---198213/Painting.html#.U3cneM_D_IU

Paris Roubaix: Who Is Going to Chase Him?

After Boonen (OPQS) had bridged up to the break and later attack that group, it was the sprinter Peter Sagan (Team Cannondale) that set off from the peloton to join up with the group up the road.  Once they had all reeled Boonen back in it was Sagan's turn to go for the solo attack hoping to catch them all napping.  He attacked just as the group caught Boonen, slowed and started looking at each other to see who had anything left.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through 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%202014/2345299---195767/Painting.html#.U0ryv8_D_IU

Spring Classics: Catching Back On, Milan-San Remo

As I have said in the previous post, if you aren't a sprinter, it is best to attack the peloton on the Poggio with the hopes of getting rid of the marque sprinters like Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol).  Here you can see him just tagging back on to the rear of the fast moving peloton with about 3K left to race.  The effort to stay with the pack on the way up, and the energy spent chasing back proved to leave Greipel without the legs to contest for the win of Milan-San Remo.  Oddly Peter Sagan, one of the best climbing sprinters, wasn't at the front end of the peloton either.  I never did see what happened to him, although some green clad riders went down on the final corner of the race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by  visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332887---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8tu8vD_IU

Tour Stage Twenty: In the Autobus

Sprinters are not known for their climbing abilities so in these hard mountain stages that will gather together and ride the climbs at their own pace.  They are joined by the team helpers who have blown after doing what they can for their leaders, the riding wounded, and those having a bad day for one reason or another.  The Tour has a time limit based on a percentage of the winner's finishing time if a rider can't make that limit, they are out of the Tour.  One way (other than making the time cut) to avoid being ousted is to form a big enough group that the officials will not want to disqualify that many riders.  Back when Lance Armstrong was racing the Tour, a big break away got so far up the road that the entire peloton should have been out, but two more weeks of a tour with only twenty riders just wasn't thinkable.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183711---186227/Painting.html#.UfCYaMvD_IU


















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Tour Stage Fifteen: Hot Dogging

Peter Sagan earned a reputation for playing around with his victory salutes from the 2012 Tour de France, I'll leave it to you whether he is famous or infamous.  After the intermediate sprint, the road started up, first with an uncategorized  climb and then the beast of Provence.  Now, Sagan, is a good climber for a sprinter, but when it comes to the big mountains he just isn't going to compete with the specialists in the peloton.  So with his sprinting job done, he just rode within himself, and for him, that requires a little showboating for the camera just before the boys in black and the GC men picked him up.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182601---186227/Painting.html#.Ue3pOc_D_IU