Tour of Britain, Stage 3: Is Anyone Going to Chase?

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was clearly frustrated with the way the stage was playing out.  The peloton had let four guys get away at the start of the day, and three were now over six minutes ahead with just 32 kilometers left to race.  This was a stage that the sprinters like Cavendish had marked as one for them, and now a stage victory was slipping away up the road.  Cav had tried to lift the pace, but no one would go on the offensive with him, or with his team.  With the highest place rider up the road still way behind the Yellow Jersey's time, no one felt like putting in the effort to bring the escapees back.  So here was going to be a time when the risk of going in the break paid off, much to Cavendish's disappointment.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848540-46-189075/PaintingIs%20Anyone%20Going%20to%20Chase?%20ToB20-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-185grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: With Some Help

As the peloton approached the summit of the Cat and Fiddle climb, Wout Poels (Sky) jumped out of the peloton with his teammate Nicolas Roche on his wheel.  The duo had hoped to surprise the King of the Mountians Jersey of Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert) was attentive and quickly covered the Irish Champion's wheel.  Try as the Sky duo might, it was still Meurisse who went over the rise in fifth place, moving him into the outright lead in the King of the Mountains competition.

Lining the summit of the climb were hundreds of cycling fans, many of whom had ridden up to the top on their bikes.  I am sure having ridden the climb, they had a much better appreciation for what the pros were able to achieve and the speeds at which they did it.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848539-45-189075/PaintingAfter%20More%20Points%20ToB19-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-z1pgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: On the High Moor

The original break had now dropped down to just three riders as they raced across the longest climb of the Tour up to the Cat and the Fiddle.  The climb is named for the pub that sits a the summit of the of the hill.  I guess the theory is that if one has too many pints at least one can roll down the hill to get home.  The trio is being led by Graham Briggs (JLT Condor) but it was Kristian House (ONE Pro Cycling) who claimed the maximum points on the final summit of the day, which he added to his first two first place summits on the day.  He would be the one to take over the lead in the KOM, if Roche and Meurisse failed to gain any points on this climb.  It would be a long wait to learn the wearer of the Black Jersey because they along with Ian Stannard (Sky) now had a six minute lead over the following peloton.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848531-44-189075/PaintingOn%20the%20High%20Moor%20ToB18-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-xhJgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: After More Points

Both Nicolas Roche (Sky) and Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert) started the day equal on points in the King of the Mountain competition, but it was Meurisse who wore the black jersey of the KOM leader (due to count back).  Roche was able to beat Meurisse to the summit of the Brickhouse climb moving him one point ahead on the road.  The four break away riders had already claimed the first four positions at the summit.  But that left Roche adding two points and Meurisse with one additional point.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848530-43-189075/PaintingAfter%20More%20Points%20ToB17-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-u9JgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: Rolling Through

Today was expected to be a day for the sprinters, so there wasn't much concern when these three went from the moment the neutralized start was completed.  Of the four, Ian Stannard (Sky) was the best placed on GC and he was thirteen minutes behind the race leader, Julian Vermote (Etixx-Quickstep).  Joining the former British National Champion were three more Brits, Kristian House (ONE Pro Cycling) who is also a former British National Champion, Graham Briggs (JLT Condor) and Matt Cronshaw (Madison Gensis).  If these four could manage to stay away it would mean a British sweep on the podium by the end of the day.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848491-42-189075/PaintingRolling%20Through%20ToB16-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-syJgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Down to Two

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) had bridged across to the leaders, dropped all of them and all but Julian Vermote (Etixx-Quickstep) of the leaders' group.  Cummings usually goes solo to the line when he wins a stage, but he welcomed the help of Vermote in getting away from everyone else.  The two quickly put forty seconds between themselves and the rest of those on the road.  So with just three kilometers left to race the winner was sure to be one of these two.  Spoiler alert!  It was Vermote who had the legs on the final short climb to claim the win and the Yellow Jersey.  Cummings held on for second and now sits second on the general classification.

I wasn't satisfied (nor all that interested) in the victory salute as Vermote crossed the line, so this has to do for the painting of his win.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848051-41-189075/PaintingDown%20to%20Two-Greig-Leach.html#.V84hH5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Getting Away

This foursome, Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac), Jochem Hoekstra (Giant-Alpecin), Dan Martin (Etixx-Quickstep), and Steve Cummings (Dimension Data), was trying to drop the rest of the group that they were with.  None of them felt like pulling passengers along to catch the five that were still up the road.  Hoekstra took a quick peak over his shoulder to see if they had dropped the rest, it looked like Van Baarle would soon be added to the number who was dropped.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848049-40-189075/PaintingGetting%20Away%20ToB14-Greig-Leach.html#.V84bP5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Out of the Mist

Rohan Dennis (BMC) may have been using the cover of the mist to ride away from the peloton, but it was truly the strength of his legs that did the job on the Struggle.  Dennis quickly bridged across to those from the original break that were losing contact on the steep climb.  Dennis looked behind to check the damage and to make sure his teammate, Loic Vliegen, was holding onto his wheel.  Just down the road, the only one visible through the fog was Hector Saez (Caja Rural-Seguros).  Everyone else was lost to view.  The restricted visibility makes the coming descent a frightening proposition.  Dennis was able to press on and catch the leaders on the road.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848035-39-189075/PaintingOut%20of%20the%20Mist%20ToB13-Greig-Leach.html#.V84W2JgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Riding for the Team

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) may have been dropped on the second climb of the day, but he used his faithful teammate Bernhard Eisel to bridge back to the peloton ahead of the final climb of the day.  It was Cav who went to the front as the peloton started up the aptly named The Struggle and drove the pace another teammate, Steve Cummings.  Cummings normally hangs out at the back of the peloton, so you know when he is on the front, he as something up his arm warmer.  Sorry couldn't resist the joke.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848034-38-189075/PaintingRiding%20for%20the%20Team%20ToB12-Greig-Leach.html#.V84SwpgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 2: Beside the Lake

Continuing the beautiful scenery art, the organizers route the peloton (and the break away) over the dam and around the edge of Thirlmere.  Tucked onto the back of the rather large break was Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL Jumbo).  Ahead of the Dutchman was the Irish National Champion Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) who was following Conor Dunne (JLT Condor) and Loic Vliegen (BMC).  The beauty of today's course is making me ache to travel to the Highlands.  My wife's relatives would like it if we did.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848030-37-189075/PaintingBeside%20the%20Lake%20ToB11-Greig-Leach.html#.V84NEpgrLIU