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.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Through the Crowd, Over the Top

Picking up where he left off in the Tour, Mick Rodgers went to the front and stomped out a hard rhythm chasing down the big break up the road.  And just like the Tour, Colorado brought out its screaming costumed cycling fans to cheer the riders up the Hoosier Pass climb.  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 to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Chatting

Today's stage started with a big climb out of Aspen over Independence Pass and crossing the Continental Divide (the water going down one side goes to the Pacific Ocean and down the other side leads to the Atlantic -maybe by way of the Gulf of Mexico).  As all of the riders have noted, the climbs are really high altitude with today's highest point at 12 1/2 thousand feet.  This is Andy Schleck and Chris Froome having a chat as they cross the wide flat valley before starting back up the Hoosier Pass just 16 miles from the finish in Breckenridge, Colorado.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com  In addition this work 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.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Thumbs Up!

Peter Sagan throws a thumbs up as he crosses the line ahead of Greg Van Avermaet on the streets of Aspen, Colorado.  Sagan was on the ropes first trying to catch the early break, then jumping into a break of his own, losing out on the two that jumped from that group.  Those two were caught at the one kilometer banner, setting the stage for a battle between Sagan and the sprinter from BMC.  Sagan is one of the rare breed of sprinters who doesn't go backwards up the mountains.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through 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.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Feeling the Peloton

Craig Lewis feels the peloton breathing down his neck as he is just 5 kilometers from the finishing line in downtown Aspen.  But while I am sure he would have preferred to win the stage, by summiting each and every climb of the day first, will be pulling on the red jersey of the King of the Mountains.  While watching the race I was struck by the pinks and oranges of the granite faces of the mountains ringing the Aspen valley, nothing like the peaks of the Alps that normally plaque the pro peloton.  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.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Popping Off the Back

One of the problems with racing in Colorado is the altitude and the lack of oxygen in the air.  I personally  have had difficulties breathing climbing outside of this very same valley back when I was a young man.  Many of the members of the peloton had come to the area two weeks ahead of the race trying to acclimate themselves to the high elevations, Team Sky was not one of the teams that took this tact.  Chris Froome and the rest of the team paid the price on the final climb of the day once the chase of the break was truly on.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours  by bidding in a quick 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.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Cooling Off in the Valley

The first break away of the seven day race comprised of Craig Lewis, Matt Cooke, and Ian Burnett all Americans hoping to steal the race from the Pro Tour riders back in the peloton.  Today's stage was a 28 mile circuit riding out from Aspen, CO up to Snowmass, CO and circling back into Aspen.  There were two categorized climbs on the route, but definitely more than two climbs faced the riders as they circle through the valleys and mountains of the high plains of Colorado.  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.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: The First Three Away

The professional peloton has come to Colorado after a dynamic Tour of Utah and these three Americans wanted to seize the day in their home turf.  Craig Lewis got away after just six miles had been raced and was then joined by Matt Cooke and Ian Burnett (the tall guy in the white jersey of Team Jelly Belly).  Lewis was able to lay down a strong lead in the King of the Mountains competition claiming the tops of every climb in the short 96 kilometer stage to start off the US Pro Challenge.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that has been created using watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com and is available for purchase through a brief auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of this great American stage race.

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Back to the Tour Commissioned works from 2013

As the collector who commissioned this painting said, "I will go ahead with the Orica Bus commission. No Green Edge collection of this years Tour would be complete without the bus!"  The 2013 Tour's first stage included mass confusion as the Orica GreenEdge team bus got trapped under the finishing line banner with the peloton only 18 kilometers away.  The scramble to unstick the bus was done with a very tight time line, but it was ultimately successful and the race was able to finish at the planned finishing line.  This work was commissioned and if you are interested in getting your very personalized memory of the 100th Tour de France, or any cycling related imagery from "Bike Day" to your first century or your first race, email me at greigsart@comcast.net.

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