Tour of Britain, Stage 3: Is Anyone Going to Chase?

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was clearly frustrated with the way the stage was playing out.  The peloton had let four guys get away at the start of the day, and three were now over six minutes ahead with just 32 kilometers left to race.  This was a stage that the sprinters like Cavendish had marked as one for them, and now a stage victory was slipping away up the road.  Cav had tried to lift the pace, but no one would go on the offensive with him, or with his team.  With the highest place rider up the road still way behind the Yellow Jersey's time, no one felt like putting in the effort to bring the escapees back.  So here was going to be a time when the risk of going in the break paid off, much to Cavendish's disappointment.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848540-46-189075/PaintingIs%20Anyone%20Going%20to%20Chase?%20ToB20-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-185grLIU

Tour of California, Stage 7: Working for Their Sprinters

With perhaps the best known sprinter in the world up the road, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).  The teams of sprinters Brian Coquard (Direct Energie) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) went to the front and put in the effort to chase the Slovakian down.  Neither of them had yet to claim a stage victory in this year's running of the Tour, and the quarry already has two victories this year.  Just behind the two teams you can just see the Yellow Jersey on the shoulders of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep).  He had been tested early in the stage by those in second and third overall, Rohan Dennis and Brentbookwalter, both riding for BMC Pro Cycling, and he had defended his jersey admirably.  With a flat sprinter's stage for the finale, it seems that all he need do to win the Tour of California is stay upright for one more day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was painting using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com).  This painting along with all of my cycling art, 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.  While you are at the website, be sure to check out my two cycling art books, "Book du Tour: Art of the 101st Tour de France" and, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2794982-43-223355/Painting.html#.V0JX2PkrLIU

Giro Stage 13: Splashing Along

The peloton didn't let the breakaway built up much of a time gap.  The teammates of the sprinters did the work of pegging the gap around a minute to a minute and a half.  The effort was shared by Lampre Merida, Trek Factory Racing, and Lotto Soudal.  The rain made it difficult to tell who was who.  Between off team colors race capes and covered race bibs, it was almost a guessing game to identify one rider from another.

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, find them online at www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for only $50 USD at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But, don't delay, this is an original one of a kind work of art.  Once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2558516---184157/Painting.html#.VWAGTPlViko

Tour Stage 12: Getting Organized

Giant Shimano had spent most of the day on the front of the peloton in hopes of delivering the big man, Marcel Kittel, if the final pair of climbs didn't prove too much for the big German to handle.  Their back up choice was John Degenkolb, and it was he that stayed in the peloton with the legs to factor into the finale.  As the peloton slid under the ten kilometers to go banner, the sprinter's teams were jockeying for position and fighting to line up their sprint trains.  Part of the byproduct of the fight to get organized is a big acceleration, an acceleration that threaten the slim lead of Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge).  With the peloton in full flight it was unlikely that the lone Australian would be able to stay off of the front all the way to the line in Saint Etienne.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com and will be included in my soon to be self published book of my art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become involved in bringing this amazing edition of the Tour to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some wonderful rewards for backers at a wide variety of levels, all include your name in print on the special thanks page, and starting at $5 USD.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2404252---199992/Painting.html#.U8iGp8_D_IU

Tour Stage 1: Lining It Up for Green

Sprinters in the Tour de France have two slightly competing objectives, one is stage victories, the other to wear the Green Jersey of the most consistent rider.  These can be competing objectives because the sprinter and his team can expend quite a lot of energy sprinting for the intermediate sprint points, energy they made need when it comes to the final kilometer of the stage.  It can be telling to see which teams come to the front of the peloton as they pass under the 1000 meters to go point for the intermediate sprint line.  Today it appeared that Mark Cavendish and his team, Omega Pharma Quickstep, were going to fight out the points with Peter Sagan and his boys of Cannondale.  Neither capture the maximum remaining points, they each just watched the other to make sure neither was going to started building a significant point lead.  This is an original watercolor and ink small painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  In addition this painting will be included in a book that I am self publishing, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book, pre-order your copy or to help in bringing this treasury of cycling art to life go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2396562---199992/Painting.html#.U7hZgM_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage One: Checking for the Train

With just a couple of kilometers left to race, the teams of the sprinters come to the front of the peloton and wind up the pace to prevent any further breakaways, setting things up for their guy to jump out for the win.  However, with multiple teams trying to exercise the same strategy, it can get very confusing, so you will see heads snapping around making sure their guys are behind them.  Here it is a mix of Omega Pharma Quickstep, Giant-Shimano and Cannondale all jumbled together.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com or by following the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2324987---195767/Painting.html#.Ux1YGs_D_IU

Tour Final Stage: Lining Up the Trains

With just two laps to go and the break within seconds ahead, the sprinter's teams started to get themselves organized.  They, too, were trying to ride the gutter, the constant shaking and jarring of the cobbles had to be getting to everyone's arms, legs and butts.  So far it is Omega Pharma Quickstep on the front for Mark Cavendish with a bit of Argos-Shimano mixed in for their man Marcel Kittel.  With the kinds of speeds the trains were turning over, the small break was sure to be caught well within the final kilometer.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could 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 final stage of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2184491---186227/Painting.html#.UfKBhc_D_IU

Tour Stage Twelve: Catching the Last One

Juan Antonio Flecha had spent the entire stage out in front of the peloton and was in no mood to give up the ghost, even after all of his companions had been swallowed up by the fast moving legs of the group.  It is very rare for a break away to succeed in the Tour (or any other stage race), I think only Bakelants has managed it so far in the 100th Tour, however this year's Giro was the race of the break away.  But nothing ventured, nothing gained.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through a visit to my artist website where you can purchase this original painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your little piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182393---186227/Painting.html#.Ue2jNM_D_IU

Tour Stage Twelve: Leading the Long, Long Line

With five guys up the road and a basically flat stage, it fell to the sprinter's teams to chase down the break.  Lotto for Greipel and Omega Pharma Quickstep for Cavendish are driving the long line of the peloton up a small drag in search of the 5 guys up the road.  Team Sky is getting another relatively easy day with the sprinter's teams doing the job that normally falls to the team with the yellow jersey.  They are definitely putting on the pressure, notice how long and then the peloton is, that is a sure sign of a high speed chase.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through a quick visit and purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182379---186227/Painting.html#.Ue2g9M_D_IU

Tour Stage Ten: Fueling Up

The average pro cyclist will consume over 6,000 calories per stage so it is a constant challenge to keep themselves topped up.  Knowing that the intermediate sprint was just a few more kilometers up the road and Greipel's lead out men want a extra jolt of caffeine and sugar to make sure he continued has very successful campaign in the sprinter's points jersey (well the intermediates anyway).  There are service motorcycles riding along with the race with racks of cold little cans of Coca Cola that the riders can grab on the fly.  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 the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179517---186227/Painting.html#.UeS4esvD_IU

Tour Stage Seven: Dragging the Sprinters Back

With Peter Sagan on the front of the peloton along with his team, the sprinters that had been dropped got to work chasing down their rival.  With Greipel, Cavendish and Kittel behind, their 3 separate teams set about dragging them back to the main peloton.  With three teams chasing a single team is should have been quick straight forward work. Later post will tell you how it worked out for Sagan and the other three (all who have a stage win in the 100th Tour).  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 the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178359---186227/Painting.html#.UeIXAMvD_IU

Tour Stage Six: Multiple Trains at 3 K

Just 3 kilometers left to race and the sprinter's teams are all fighting to get their lead out trains together.  Argos-Shimano on the left for Marcel Kittel, and Omega Pharma, Lotto and Sky for their respective hopefuls.  Oddly missing from the scene is Team Cannondale for Sagan, the team does seem to have a great knack for hiding from the wind until the last possible moment.  And at that moment he is very good a bouncing.  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 to get your very own piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178305---186227/Painting.html#.UeH_m8vD_IU

Tour Stage One: One Long Line

With the one very small hill behind them, the sprinters and their teams started thinking about a stage win.  With this being the first stage of the Tour, however wins the stage will also pull on the Yellow Jersey, win the Green Jersey and possibly even the White Jersey of young rider.  Lobato of Euskatel, already won the Polka Dot Jersey on that one small hill (the advantage of being in the early break).  When the peloton is in a long thin line like this, you can be sure that the race is at full speed.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard an is available through  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%202013/2174599-2-0-186227/Painting/Sports.html#.UdoIe8_D9Ms

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 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

Giro Day Six: The Catch Is Here

The fate of almost every break away is to be caught and the earlier it forms, the smaller the group, the surer it is to be reeled back in.  Cameron Wurf of Cannondale and Jack Bobridge of Team Blanco put in a valiant effort, but it was to be a day for the sprinters and no break away was going to spoil that.  So the peleton sucked them up with 25 kilometers left to race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale at my artist web site.  Just follow the link at the end of this post to get your original art of the 2013 Giro d'Italia. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149233---184157/Painting.html#.UZo1s8_D_IU