Tour '22, Stage 15: Is this Worth the Effort?

Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) jumped clear of the peloton on the climb of the Cote des Commazes to grap the King of the Mountain points mainly to help defend his teammate Simon Geschke's lead in the competition for the Maillot a Pois.  Going over the top, he was joined by Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM).  The two built up a 22 second lead on the chasing peloton with just 30 kilometers left to race.  Thomas looked over at Gougeard to ask if he thought this attempt had any real chance of succeeding.  Although, not long after, Thomas attacked his fellow Frenchman and set off on his own.  It wasn't until inside the final kilometer of the day that the peloton caught him without any mercy.  Still I am sure he was award the red bib number of most combatative rider of the stage.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3894251-93-294403/Painting/is-this-worth-the-effort-tdf22-94.html

Paris-Nice Stage 6: Putting the Team on the Front

As I have said AG2R was most aggressive in Paris Nice today and sensed weakness in Team Sky, so once the next breakaway had been caught (containing one of their own), the Director Sportif called all of the team to the front of the peloton and told them to ride and ride hard.  They were riding to the benefit of Carlos Betancur who started the day just 9 seconds down on the Yellow Jersey of Simon Geraints (who you can see at the back of the group).  AG2R has hit the 2014 season with renewed vigor hoping to reclaim French cycling's reputation.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available 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%202014/2328171---195767/Painting.html#.UyPDu8vD_IU

My side step from cycling into painting the Olympics

I took the most of the month of May to paint the games of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  While I am an undoubtable fan of cycling, I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics particularly the Winter Games.  34 years ago will watching the Olympics, I turned to the young woman sitting next to me and asked if she wanted to get married.  Her response, "When?"  We have been together now for 34 years, married for just shy of the same number of years.   And have enjoyed watching the Games together for all of that time.  With her brilliant ideas to drive my creativity I started painting both the 2012 Tour de France and immediately after the Summer Olympics in London and that what launched this whole blog and my chronicling sports with my watercolors and brushes.  The link below is a video slide show of all of the paintings I created set to music by our good friend, Deni Bonet and it was assembled by our nephew, Gabriel Sullivan.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK3Tqb67wgE

 

Enjoy!

Tour Down Under: Alone with 1 K, Stage One

After attacking with his Europcar teammate, Bjorm Thurau looks over his shoulder to discover just how much gap he had with the one kilometer to go banner just ahead.  Unfortunately for Thurau it was a long drag up to the finishing straight and his break had cost him too much to hold off the charging sprinters.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist web site, www.greigleach.com or by just following the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2295941---194179/Painting.html#.UuAW888o7IU

Tour Down Under: Attacking the Climb, Stage One

After all of the positioning, attacks and three hours of racing the peloton had sucked up the breakaway and hit the only climb of the day, Menglars Hill.  With first Garmin and then Sky trying to set it up for their man, it was Adam Hansen of Team Lotto that jumped from the reduced peloton to grab the KOM points (and the jersey) of the Tour Down Under.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist web site at www.greigleach.com or just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2295931---194179/Painting.html#.UuAURM8o7IU

Tour Down Under: Under Sky's Control, Stage One

With two riders out in front, Team Sky got to the business of setting a fast tempo hoping to soften up the legs of the sprinters and position Richie Porte for the final climb up Menglars Hill.  The approach to the climb took the peloton through the Barossa Valley and the vineyards of Southern Australia.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist web site at www.greigleach.com or just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2295929-2-0-194179/Painting/Sports.html#.UuAR3M8o7IU

Tour Down Under: First Break of the Season, Stage One

I am excited to start my season of painting the peloton along with the Pro Tour getting started in sunny warm Australia with the Tour Down Under.  The first break of the day jumped out at the drop of the flag with William Clarke and Neil Van Der Pleog managing to hold off the peloton until 19 K and the start of the Menglars Hill climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard painted from a live broadcast of the TDU that I have accessed from www.cycling.tv   All of the works in this series are created using cake watercolors from www.richesonart.com and can be purchased from me at my artist website, www.greigleach.com, just look for the Tour Down Under Gallery or follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2295925-1-0-194179/Painting/Sports.html#.UuAPh88o7IU

Tour of Britain Stage 6: Bardiani Leads the Chase

Team Bardiani has been having some great success with their attacks and the strength of their climbers in the Tour of Britain, so it was the team that came to the front to help chase down the break.  Team Sky kept a close eye on things but had no need to bring anyone in the break to heel, so if anyone not in the break wanted the stage they needed to do the work.  Apparently, Bardiani wanted it more than anyone else, or at least was the most willing to do the work.  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 piece of the 2013 Tour of Britain.  While you are there, why not look around at all of the art that is available, maybe even something that doesn't center on cycling?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2214607---189075/Painting.html#.Uj-K7s_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Not Giving Up

A fitting title for this painting and for the actions of Megias who rides for Norvo Nordisk.  The team is compose solely of riders who have Type 1 Diabetes who want to show that the disease should not prevent anyone from living a rich, full and active life.  So true to his own physical story, he refused to sit up as the charging peloton got within sight in the outskirts of Fort Collins.  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 running of the US Pro Challenge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251325969984

US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Dropping Down & Fast

Lachlan Morton attacked his fellow breakaway riders on the Hoosier Pass getting away to make the run across the valley by himself in hopes of the stage win and the Yellow Jersey.  Mattias Frank and Lawson Craddock did manage to catch him on the final climb of the day, but it still ended well for Lachlan.  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.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251323677605

A Recently Commissioned Watercolor

This is a larger watercolor and ink painting that was commissioned by a Canadian cycling fan in Toronto.  The painting measures 15"x22" and is based on a photograph that the client provided from the 2012 Giro d'Italia.  As a Canadian he was very excited with Ryder Hesjedal eventual winning of the Pink Jersey, the first ever Grand Tour victory for any Canadian and now has a work of art to commemorate

You, too, can commission a work of art from your cycling memories and they don't have to be a pro tour event.  You can either leave a comment here or email me through my website, www.greigleach.com or if your are a twitter fan, tweet me at www.twitter.com/artofcycling

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

Tour Stage Eighteen: I'll Give It to You

I truly have no idea what this conversation actually was.  No idea at all, but the rumor mill claims that Froome offered the first Alpine stage to Quintana if he could hang on his wheel, he couldn't and Froome took the stage.  Today, it looked like Quintana wasn't listening to him, but then his face rarely shows anything, except for joy when pulling on the White Jersey.  Rodriquez just matched the two wondering why he wasn't included in Froome's touchy feely behavior.  Quintana obviously wasn't interested in any gifts today.  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.  I enjoy the inclusion of the "Children at Play" sign behind the group of three.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183303---186227/Painting.html#.Ue_0dsvD_IU

Tour Stage Eighteen: Last Minute Adjustments

With the peloton underway after the dropping of the flag, the nervous riders fiddled with brake adustments, extra drinks and energy gels and a quick "nature break" along the side of the road.  The peloton game out swinging on the very first climb of the day like they were eager to get the day over and done.  A "nature break" is code for peeing along the side of the road, remember these guys are on the saddle for 4 to 6 hours a day and they need to drink incredible amounts of water to prevent getting dehydrated or cramps.  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%202013/2183279---186227/Painting.html#.Ue_nnsvD_IU

Tour Stage Fourteen: Trying to Get Across

Johnny Hoogerland, the Champion of the Netherlands, realized that the break he missed today was the one that was going to work.  So he jumped from the peloton in a lone search for the guys up the road.  Hoogerland has the dubious honor of being the rider that was hit by a press car in the Tour several years ago and knocked head over heals into a barbed wire fence.  He was pretty cut up, but given that you must finish every stage in order to stay in the Tour, he had to untangle himself and keep going, leaving a trail of blood along the roads of France.  The bright side was that he got to pull on the Polka Dot Jersey for his efforts before the crash, even if it did delay his trip to the hospital to get 90 stitches.  And yes, he was at the start line the next morning to finish the remain stages of the Tour.  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%202013/2182545---186227/Painting.html#.Ue3Eoc_D_IU

Tour Stage Thirteen: The Wrong Time to Flat

For many 13 is an unlucky number, certainly it was an unlucky stage for Alejandro Valverde.  He had made the move and was in the front group of the splintered peloton when at the end of the feed zone he had a flat.  His team stopped with him, and a teammate gave him his wheel since the team car was behind the second group on the road.  By the time they had made the switch (by then the neutral service vehicle had provided the teammate another wheel) he had lost 34 seconds on the front group.  Jumping back on the bikes they began to chase down his former riding companions.  It never happened in the stiff crosswinds of central France, so he was caught by the second group on the road, where he stayed to the finishing line.  He ended the day losing nine minutes on Chris Froome, who also lost time today.  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 exciting 13th Stage.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182503---186227/Painting.html#.Ue277M_D_IU

Tour Stage Nine: Mechanical Yoga

I haven't watched what the mechanics do during the race until I started painting the action of the Pro Tour this year, these guys are gifted, flexible and a little nuts.  Romain Bardet had a problem with his saddle, but since he was in a good break he couldn't stop for the repair, so out pops the mechanic dangling out the window almost doing a head stand to fix Bardet's problem.  If he were to stop, he would lose the time of the repair, the time to get back up to speed, and the worst of all, the break in rhythm.  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 artistic piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2179401---186227/Painting.html#.UeSicsvD_IU

Tour Stage Seven: Riding Defensively

Stage Seven was a veritable clinic in stage racing team strategy and that is what is being played out here.  Kadri, still up the road with Jens Voigt, has grabbed the lead in the King of the Mountains competition (the polka dot jersey) away from Pierre Rolland.  With Kadri's lead only one point and just that many still available at the top of the climb, Rolland jumped out of the peloton only to find Kadri's teammate coming along for the ride.  As Rolland opened the spring for the points, Bardet got the better of him gaining the final point (and depriving Rolland) thus giving the lead to his teammate (and hometown boy) the Polka Dot Jersey for the stage.  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%202013/2178351---186227/Painting.html#.UeIUNsvD_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

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.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251299008952