Volta Catalunya Stage 1: On the Attack

Another seemingly basic requirement of the peloton is that as soon as the day's break is caught someone must immediately go on the attack.  And true to form as soon as the early two and the later joiner were caught, Paul Martens of Belkin Pro Cycling jumped from about a quarter of a way down the line to launch a rather aggressive move on the final climb of the opening stage of the Volta Catalunya.  He may have been laying down a common team tactic of sending one rider up the road for another to use as a carrot and a spring board.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting, you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2333729---195767/Painting.html#.UzCwOMvD_IU

Volta Catalunya Stage 1: Trying to Get Across

It appears to be an unwritten rule that the riders in the wild card teams must be present in every break away in every stage of every race.  Unfortunately for Amets Txurruka of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, they did make it into the early two man break, so he jumped from the peloton on the category one climb of the day in search of the others up the road.  He did make it near the base of the final climb, but none of them were able to stay away all of the way up the climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2333727---195767/Painting.html#.UzCuKMvD_IU

Volta Catalunya Stage 1: Grabbing a Bite

On every long stage the racers will burn over 6,000 calories so it is of the upmost importance that they keep the machine of their bodies fed.  Along the course of each stage their is a designated "feed zone" where the team helpers will stand along the side of the road handing out musettes, bags of food and drink that the riders grab as they whiz by.  The musettes are designed to be easily grabbed and then slung over their shoulders as the rider transfers the goodies to his pockets and gets back to racing and eating.  Here the early two man of Romain Lemarchand (Cofidis) and Boris Vallee (Lotto-Belisol) break are the first to get to lunchtime.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that has been created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Co. (www.richesonart.com).  This, and all of my cycling paintings, is available through my artist website, www.greigleach.com, or for this painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2333713-46-42-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.UzCrdcvD_IU

Spring Classics: Classico, Milan-San Remo

Some of the big name sprinters got over the final climb on the run in to San Remo, but only Team Katusha brought enough riders to form a lead out train for their man, Alexander Kristoff.  He is now the first Norwegian to throw his arms in the air for the win at Milan-San Remo.  He had enough to hold off the fabled classics rider, Fabian Cancellera (Trek Factory Racing), and the sprinters, Ben Swift (Team Sky) and Mark Cavendish (OPQS).  It was a convincing win after riding for over six hours in rain, cold and even hail for the jubilant Kristoff.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Starting tomorrow I will be painting the Volta Ciclista Catalunya, so come back to see the race through the eyes of this artist.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332917---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8x0MvD_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

Spring Classics: Going on the Final Climb, Milan-San Remo

In Milan-San Remo if you are not a sprinter, you have to get rid of the fast men on the final climb of the day, the Poggio.  The other option, go out in front and let your team leader bridge up to you for the win.  I do think it was the former for Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Lars Petter Nordhaug (Belkin Pro Cycling).  With roughly 7K to go and maybe 2K to the summit of the Poggio the pair were able to get away and can about ten seconds over the top, most likely not enough to hold off the sprinter's trains.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332867---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8rf8vD_IU

Spring Classics: Jumping Out of the Pack, Milan-San Remo

It was a cold wet hard day, typical for the Spring Classics, that welcomed the peloton for
Milan-San Remo, at one point the racers were pelted with hail.  None of that dampen the attacking fever of the winner of last year's Giro d'Italia (a race that included snow storms in May), Vincezo Nibali (Astana), as he jumped out of the Cannondale led peloton on the climb of Cipressa.  He may of been expecting some one to join him in the effort, but instead pressed on alone in a long solo effort that came to naught.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard painted using Yarka St. Petersburg paints and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company (www.richesonart.com).  In addition this work is available for purchase, along with most of my cycling art postcards, at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332827-42-36-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.Uy8oAsvD_IU

All of the Paris Nice Paintings rolled into one video slide show

I know that I have just repeated an image, but this is about the video that I am providing a link to below.  I took all of my paintings from Paris Nice and assembled them into a chronological slide show of the race.  So now you can truly see the race through the eyes of this artist.  All of the paintings are available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  They are only $50 each, where can you get original art of the sport we all love for that price?  You know you want one.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3IU8dsfHYE

 

Paris-Nice Final Stage: One for the Home Team

This has been a wonderful Paris Nice for the French.  The French team AG2R claimed the Yellow Jersey for their man, Carlos Betancur, both Team Bretagne and Europcar lit up the breakaways nearly every stage and Sylvan Chavanel wore the Polka Dot Jersey for two days.  But the ultimate feather in the cap was Arthur Vichot (FDJ - another French team) winning on the Boulevard des Anglais wearing the Tri-Colour Jersey of the French National Champion.  This was truly a race for the home team.  It does make you wonder how the French will fair in the Tour de France.  The final standing for Paris Nice were; Carlos Betancur (AG2R) - Yellow Jersey, John Degenkolb (Giant Shimano) - Green Jersey, Pim Ligthat (Lotto Belisol) Polka Dot Jersey, Carlos Betancur (AG2R) - White Jersey (the best placed rider under 24) and Movistar for the best team.

This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting 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%202014/2329441---195767/Painting.html#.UyY8uc_D_IU

Paris-Nice Final Stage: The Cat Amongst the Pidgeons

Frank Schleck's first attempt at an attack was pulled back but he simply jumped again this time joined by Simon Spilak (Katusha).  The pair came off of the final climb of Paris Nice at full speed hitting the streets of Nice with 10 seconds on the peloton.  The titled of this painting is a quote from the commentators on www.cycling.tv, Marty MacDonald and Brian Smith, as they described the attack by Spilak who was only 40 seconds down on GC.  Even with that incentive to catch the pair, it was a hard chase to pull this pair back before the finish line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting 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%202014/2329375---195767/Painting.html#.UyY4v8_D_IU