Tour, Final Stage: Is There No Justice?

Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) was the second of the marquee sprinters to suffer a flat tire.  However unlike Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep), Coquard had the misfortune to have his mechanical on the bell lap.  As he pulled off looking for his team car, he knew that his dream of taking out the final stage of the 2016 Tour de France, was further away than the l'Arc du Triomphe.  It was going to be impossible to catch back on even if he already had gotten back underway.  It seem cruelly unjust to have the French sprinter and best hope for a French win on the Champs Elysees to be unable to sprint for victory.

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%202016/2828515-161-224974/PaintingIs%20There%20No%20Justice?%20TdF162-Greig-Leach.html#.V5VjrrgrLIU

Tour, Final Stage: A Bit of a Gap

As it usually goes on the Champs Elysees, as soon as one escape was brought back to the peloton another one goes.  First to go off on his own was Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) not the first time in the Tour he has left the peloton behind.  Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) road across the gap to join forces with the Kazakhstan and together the pair built on their advantage over the peloton.  While I have enjoyed all the vistas that have played across my television screen during the Tour, I am always thrilled to see Paris a city I have visited five times since I was a teenager.  I admit, I would much rather be walking the streets now than sitting in Richmond, Virginia.  My love of bike racing started when I purchase my first cycling magazine in Paris, Eddy Merckx was on the cover.

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%202016/2828514-160-224974/PaintingA%20Bit%20of%20a%20Gap%20TdF161-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Vew7grLIU

Tour, Final Stage: Not Happy!

Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) was not remotely pleased.  He had a flat, which is to be expected on cobbled city streets.  His mechanic gave him a super quick bike exchange (faster then changing the rear wheel), so all was good.  That is until, Kittel jumped onto the new ride and discovered that the rear tire was flat.  He was justifiably pissed off.  I have never seen that one happen before.  Kittel pulled off his own wheel partially to aid his mechanic and partially so he could throw it to vent his frustration.  He threw it towards the curb, but it took an odd bounce into the passing caravan.  However after hitting another team car it came rolling back to his mechanic's feet.  After a new wheel, he then had gearing problems with the chain.  That one he took care of himself.  There was plenty of time to get back into the peloton, but at what cost of energy?  Etixx-Quickstep already had the withdrawal of Tony Martin in the middle of the final stage, so it was clearly not going their way.

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%202016/2828512-159-224974/PaintingNot%20Happy!%20TdF160-Greig-Leach.html#.V5VbGbgrLIU

Tour, Final Stage: An American in Paris

As soon as I saw the American, Lawson Craddock (Cannondale-Drapac) go into the first serious break away on the Champs, I knew what the title would be.  Now I just had to find the right image to go with it.  For those who aren't aware, Gene Kelly, did a wonderful film shot in the 50's about an artist who moved to Paris to follow his dream.  Craddock is following his dream.  Every bike racer no matter how amateur dreams of racing on the cobbled boulevard of Paris, I know I did.  Craddock actually got to see that dream come true, and he certainly make sure his family saw him (along with every American cycling fan watching at home).  Joining Craddock was Marcus Burghardt (BMC), Daniel Teklehaimanet (Dimension Data), Brice Feillu (Fortuneo Vital Concept) and Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida).  The other rider who is hidden right now is Jeremy Roy (FDJ).  The group stretched their lead out to almost thirty seconds before the sprinters' teams decided to shut it down.

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%202016/2828453-158-224974/PaintingAn%20American%20in%20Paris%20TdF159-Greig-Leach.html#.V5U-l7grLIU

Tour, Final Stage: On to the Champs Elysees

After thousands of kilometers, days of wind and rain, countless climbs, road rash, mental and physical exhaustion, crazed fans, aggressive press crews and millions of pedal strokes, the peloton finally swung on to the fabled Champs Elysees and headed up to the l'Arc du Triomphe.  I know I had goose bumps as the jets flew over head trailing the colors of the French flag, I do not doubt that every one in the race felt the same.  The air force timed it to perfection flying over the peloton just as they crossed what will be the finish line in just eight laps.  As Team Sky lead the race onto the course, it was now time for the days racing to begin.  It was nice to see that Sky and the peloton gave Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) a chance to lead everyone on to the Champs for his last race across these cobbles.  Tucked onto the back of the peloton is the Maillot Blanc of Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  He may have missed the podium by a few seconds but he does go out with the title of Best Young Rider.  I'm looking forward to watching him over the coming seasons.

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%202016/2828449-157-224974/PaintingOn%20to%20the%20Champs%20Elysees-Greig-Leach.html#.V5U7EbgrLIV

Tour, Final Stage: Beer Thirty

As I said in the previous post, I have worked in theatre off and on for years.  One of the traditions for the theatrical crews is "beer thirty" and as a designer I have supplied the beer to the crew that made me look good, that made me succeed.  I was delighted to see that Chris Froome (Sky) omitted the traditional champagne, and pass bottles of beer around to his "crew" who without them he would not be wearing the Maillot Jaune.  By toasting the team with beer Froome underscored that he raced this Tour in an unpredictable manner gaining the Yellow Jersey by doing the unexpected.

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%202016/2828438-156-224974/PaintingBeer%20Thirty%20TdF157-Greig-Leach.html#.V5U1LbgrLIU

Tour, Final Stage: Curtain Call

As an artist I have worked in quite a few different creative disciplines, one of which was theatre.  I have worked as both a scenic artist and a set designer.  So, this photo op is a familiar activity to me.  I call it the 'curtain call' when all of the actors come out on stage, lock arms and take a bow to the audience.  This is exactly what Chris Froome (Sky) and his supporting cast of riders was doing for the camera and for us.  Well done, Froomie and all of the Sky boys.  This is the fifth Tour that Team Sky has one, they now have it down.  The team changes their team cars, team kit, an apparently their cell phones, replacing all of the usually blue accents with bright yellow ones.

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%202016/2828426-155-224974/PaintingCurtain%20Call%20TdF156-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Uwt7grLIU

Tour, Final Stage: All Smiles for Now

The final stage of the Tour de France is a tale of two races.  The first part of the race is time to celebrate making it all of the way around France, a chance to chat with friends, congratulate the jersey winners and goof about just a bit.  The second is the flat out racing to when on the Champs Elysees, To get that victory for the team, that may not have happened yet, or for a sprinter to get the win that has yet to go his way.  Here, Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) shakes hands with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) on the Champs Elysees they will be going as hard as they can to beat one another to the line.

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%202016/2828385-154-224974/PaintingAll%20Smiles%20for%20Now%20TdF155-Greig-Leach.html#.V5UtIbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Flying to Victory

 Surprising everyone who had already attacked on the Col de Joux Plane, Ion Izaguirre (Movistar) gave everyone a lesson on how to go down a mountain in the rain.  Izaquirre went on to take the victory in Morine Avoriaz over four minutes ahead of the yellow jersey group and nineteen seconds ahead of the Colombian, Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling).  Izaguirre makes it a win for Spain and claims the stage that his team leader, Nairo Quintana, has been unable to deliver.  Now he can take home a stage victory in the Tour for the family, his brother, Gorka, crashed out of the Tour in stage 17.  Pantano now has one stage win and two second places in this Tour giving the scores of Colombian fans something to cheer about.

Today was the final day of real racing in the 103rd Tour de France.  Tomorrow the peloton will coast into Paris, provide a celebratory lab to the Yellow Jersey and his team, and then the sprinters and opportunists will vie for stage victory in the shadow of the l'Arc du Triomphe.

Early in the day the women's professional peloton will race on the Champs Elysees in the fourth edition of La Course.  I will be painting that race as well.  Look for both the last stage of the Tour and La Course here sometime in the next 36 hours.

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%202016/2828178-153-224974/PaintingFlying%20to%20Victory%20TdF154-Greig-Leach.html#.V5RA0LgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Over His Last One

It has been reported that Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) his hanging up his cleats at the end of this season.  If that is the case, than this is him cresting his last alpine pass in the Tour de France.  Not wanting to go out with a whimper, Purito jumped from the Yellow Jersey group and went on the offensive along with his teammate, Ilnur Zakarin.  It was a long shot thinking that they could catch those up the road, the leaders were two and a half minutes and there is only eleven kilometer (downhill) to the finish.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Perhaps he could go down the wet roads faster than anyone ahead or behind.

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%202016/2828173-152-224974/PaintingOver%20His%20Last%20One%20TdF153-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Q6LbgrLIU