Tour, Stage 20: Catch and Release

Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) and Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) had pressed on their advantage from the descent of the Col de la Ramez.  The duo reached the base of the final climb of the Tour first, but they were not the only ones to see the Col de Joux Plane as the place to launch and attack.  Earlier Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) had gone on the offensive, to no avail.  However the winner of this year's Giro d'Italia, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), saw this as a great opportunity as well.  His team leader, Fabio Aru, had already cracked and was dropping of the Yellow Jersey group.  That left the man nicknamed the "Shark" free to fly.  The former Italian Champion bridged across to the pair of Alaphilippe and Pantano, but quickly left them behind after making the catch.  Now to you get the title?

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828172-151-224974/PaintingCatch%20and%20Release%20TdF152-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Q0trgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Reversing His Luck

Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) had a rather rough second day in the Alps losing his hard won second place overall.  Mollema missed a turn on the final descent of the day, and then when trying to make up the lost time, he went down on a corner.  With the lost time from the incidents and the pain from the fall, he lost minutes on the others who had been behind him at the start of the day.  Feeling better although still trying to make up lost time, he attacked on the soggy roads of the Col de Joux Plane.  While the reflections on the water logged roads where rather pretty, I am sure Mollema and everyone else would have preferred boring dry roads instead.  The rain did nothing to reduce the enthusiasm of the fans along the side of the road.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828169-150-224974/PaintingReversing%20His%20Luck%20TdF151-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QvDLgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Running Away

After a hair raising descent of the Col de la Ramez, the duo of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) and Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) rain across the wet valley floor.  The pair made it around the sharp corner onto the main road through the valley and as the rather sodden fans watched the equally soaked riders whiz past.  Those on the side of the road may be drier, umbrellas don't work well when you are trying to be aerodynamic.  Pantano already has a stage win and a second place in this Tour, fast becoming the new darling of Colombian cycling, I believe he was hoping to strike again.  Alaphilippe seems to becoming back into form after a rough mid-Tour.  I am sure he would like to be the second Frenchman to win a stage.  He did spend a couple of days in the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, but now he is over an hour off of the pace.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828165-149-224974/PaintingRunning%20Away%20TdF150-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Qp6LgrLIU

Tour: Stage 20: One for You, One for Me

Reaching out and grabbing a musette, Luke Rowe (Team Sky) came away with two instead.  Simplifying things, he kept one and passed it to the hero of stage 19, Geraint Thomas.  Team Sky was riding tempo up the penultimate climb of the Tour, the Col de la Colombiere.  None of the men up the road were any threat to the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome, so the team wasn't in the mood to chase.  Sky figured that the teams who were being challenged by Romain Kreuziger's (Tinkoff) presence in the break away, would eventually be the ones to commit to the chase.  You know they were right...

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828156-148-224974/PaintingOne%20for%20You,%20One%20for%20Me%20TdF149-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QUILgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Pulling Them Up the Mountain

The reason I picked this image to paint was primarily for the aesthetics.  I was intrigued by all of the variations of green.  That and it was also a great illustration of what it is to pay your team back for their hard work.  It was a rare sight to see the Maillot Vert on the front of a break away that was climbing a second categorized climb of the day.  Sagan was pulling the breakaway further away from the peloton behind.  The plan was to help his teammate, Romain Kreuziger, climb up the general classification.  I must apologize for getting the colors of the Czech flag out of order.  It should be White, Red, Blue.  Inbetween the Tinkoff riders is Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac) who had the rather spectacular crash yesterday.  As a testimony to his toughness, he finished the stage yesterday, and came out to the start today.  In case their was any doubt, he confirmed it by getting into the break today.  Following this trio are Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Sergio Henao (Team Sky).

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828153-147-224974/PaintingPulling%20Them%20Up%20the%20Mountain%20TdF148-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QOtrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20, What's the Point?

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) went in the early break and was the first to arrive at the intermediate sprint.  As the break arrived at the 500 m to go, Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) jumped out in a full gas sprint.  Matthews looked behind to see if he would beat the Maillot Vert to the line, only to see him chatting with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).  Sagan has the Points Competition in hand so there was no real point in sprinting out for maximum points when he could take second place and have almost the same extra points without the extra effort.  Sagan has now set a record points total for the third consecutive time in the Tour de France.  It is possible that Sagan is in the break for another reason.  Either he is riding for his teammate Romain Kreuziger, or he is training for the Rio Olympics.  It is reported that he will be competing in the mountain bike races and leaving his road bike at home.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828148-146-224974/PaintingWhat's%20the%20Point?%20TdF146-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QIgrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Never Give Up

Yesterday, Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) ensured that the Maillot a Pois was his, but there is always a chance that something could go wrong.  Bearing that in mind, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) was the guy who launched the break away with the intention of claiming as many points in the King of the Mountain competition as possible.  Plus each jersey comes with cash prized for the top three finishers, so making sure he was second, was good for the spirit and the pocketbook.  So it was that he jumped free of his break away companions and went over the top of the Col des Aravis.  De Gendt went on to go first over the top of first three climbs on the day.  Once done, he knew that his second place was safe.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828123-145-224974/PaintingNever%20Give%20Up%20TdF146-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QA0LgrLIU

Tour, Stage 19: Celebrating the News

The winner of every stage faces a scrum of soigneurs, race personnel, press, interviewers and TV camera.  The scrum goes ballistic when the winner is a Frenchman taking a stage for his country with only three stages left to race.  Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) knew he had delivered the stage for France, but he along with his team personnel and the French press were waiting to see just how far up the General Classification he had managed to get.  Bardet pumped his fist as they all learned that with his bonus seconds for the win, he is now in second place! Although he is over four minutes behind the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome (Sky).  And yes he is pumping his fist in the air, not punching the personnel who is holding his arms wide.  He is keeping a very close eye on Bardet, who he will shortly take to the doping control tent.  Every stage winner is tested to make sure his win was clean.  With one stage where the race will be full on, it is doubtful that Bardet will be able to take over the lead.  But, Froome did crash, it will remain to be seen if there are any linger affects on his form in the final day in the French Alps.  The last day it is considered bad form to attack the jerseys.  It is a day for a promenade, until the sprinters take over racing for a stage victory on the Champs Elysees in the shadow of the l'Arc du Triomphe.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827784-144-224974/PaintingCelebrating%20the%20News%20TdF145-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LSDbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 19: Suffering

This title sums up the nineteenth stage of this Tour.  Many had crashed once the rains came down.  Amongst those to leave some lycra and skin on the alpine roads was the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome (Sky).  Due to Team Sky's planning for every scenario, Froome was surrounded by his teammates.  One of whom, Geraint Thomas, happens to have a bike that fits Froome rather well.  Certainly much better than the one he got from neutral service on the climb of Mont Ventoux.  With Bardet up the road, everyone was racing hard leaving Froome no chance to trade back to his own steed.  Like sharks, the rest of the peloton was sensing blood in the water, almost literally given how wet the roads were.  For the first time since he pulled on the Maillot Jaune, Froome was losing time to his rivals.  But never one to panic, he reeled his biggest fear, Richie Porte (BMC) back in, but most of the others were able to pull back some time.  Froome was tended to by his faithful teammate, Wouter Poels the whole way up the climb.  As the pair crossed the line, Froome first act was to reach out, pat Poels on the back in thanks for all of his work.  Riding away from the Yellow Jersey are Fabio Aru (Astana), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and several others.  One the day, the big loser was Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), and losing time to his rival for the Maillot Blanc was Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  Although neither Froome nor Yates lost their jersey in the end.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827782-143-224974/PaintingSuffering%20TdF144-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LNHrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 19: Trying Again

Richie Porte (BMC) had been the only GC contender to be able to put attacks into his former teammate, Chris Froome (Team Sky).  He had gone early on the final climb of the day and been pulled back by the powerful Sky train.  Put knowing that Froome had been one of those to crash before the base of the climb, Porte felt he could get some distance.  Plus he had started the day thinking he could pull back the three seconds from Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale), however, Bardet was leading everyone up the road.  At long last, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) found the legs to put in an attack of his own.  The Colombian was also riding in fear of the Frenchman up the road.  His countrymen along the course were going wild to see their man on the offensive.

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.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827779-142-224974/PaintingTrying%20Again%20TdF143-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LH1LgrLIU