Tour Stage 19: Embracing the Rain

Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin Sharp) reached into the wet air, embracing the rain and savoring his daring long solo run to the finish line to victory.  He may have been helped by the rather large pile of bikes and cyclists that happened near the front of the peloton taking out sprinters and sprint trains alike.  Peter Sagan (Cannondale) was one of those who lay on the side of the road with no chance for the stage victory that has alluded the Slovakian sprinter in the 101st Tour de France.  He has achieved his stated goal of winning the Green Jersey of the most consistent sprinter, but would have liked to been the first to cross the line at least once in this Tour.  With an individual time trial for Stage 20 and the sprinters delight on the Champs Elysees for the finale, this was most likely his last chance to take a stage.  His body language on the side of the road did not equal the joy of Navardauskas, to say the least.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting will be amongst the complete collection of paintings of the 2014 Tour de France the will comprise my soon to be self published, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can become a part of bringing this Tour de France to print, please visit 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%202014/2408456---199992/Painting.html#.U9M59cvD_IU

Tour Stage 19: On His Own

Team Garmin Sharp went into this stage as one of thirteen teams that have yet to win a Stage of the 101st Tour de France, and they were not planning on letting that still be the case at the end of the day.  After putting Tom Jelte Slagter in the early break, they then launched Ramunas Navardauskas off of the front of the peloton on the only Categorized climb of the day.  While it was still 20 kilometers to the line, they were hoping to rectify the Jack Bauer being caught at the line in Nimes.  Cycling is a sport that will go in almost any conditions, and the fans will come out to watch them regardless of the weather, so it is that the roads today were lined with umbrellas, slickers and ponchos, because the rain was not going to dampen the mood of the fans.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting along with all of my art of the 101st Tour de France will be included in my soon to be self published tome, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can become a part of bringing this Tour to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some excellent rewards for those who choose to pledge their support, but do hurry the funding period ends on the 4th of August.  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%202014/2408454---199992/Painting.html#.U9M2GcvD_IU

Giro Day Twenty Two: Cannondale Pushes the Pace

Every team had the same objective today, to move their man up in the standings and Team Cannondale was no different.  Once the peleton reached the meat of the climb they came to the front to push the pace for Caruso.  Team Astana finally caught a break, letting the other teams do the pace making, all they had to do is watch Evans and Uran, but even then, they could give up four minutes and Nibali would still be wearing pink.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours by following the direct link at the end of this page and purchasing this work at my artist website.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2154167---184157/Painting.html#.UaacdMvD_IU