Tour of Britain, Stage 5: Working Well Together

The early break took quite some time to get established today.  After many different combinations went, were pulled back and went again, there was a group of fifteen that looked like they would make the move stick.  However, this five went off the front of them, and they went back into the arms of the peloton.  Riding on the back, having just done his turn of pulling on the front is Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis).  It was now Johnny McEvoy's (NFTO) to push through the wind in aid of his companions in the break.  Each rider will take turns on the front, and then return to the back of the group to recover before working their way back to the front again.  So next up will be Amael Moinard (BMC) followed by Javier Moreno (Movistar), Jack Bauer (Cannondale-Drapac) and then back to Rowsell.  This quintet of riders were working well together, thus they were building a lead on the peloton of over five minutes.

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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

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Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Holding Everyone Off

The Dutch National Champion, Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL Jumbo) went early in his sprint for the line in Builth Wells.  He was able to hold off everyone behind including (in order), Daniel McLay (Team GB), Ben Swift (Sky), Carlos Barbero (Caja Rural Seguros), Julian Vermote (Etixx-Quickstep) holding onto his Yellow Jersey and Boy Van Poppel (Trek-Segafredo).  The pro British commentators were sure it was McLay had taken the victory, even after Groenewegen raised his arm after crossing the line.  They did accept McLay had not won when he was the first to reach out and shake the Dutchman's hand.

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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848902-55-189075/PaintingHolding%20Everyone%20Off%20ToB29-Greig-Leach.html#.V9DompgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Greipel's Train

With a little over eight kilometers left in the longest stage of the Tour, it sure looked like Lotto Soudal had it all together for the victory.  Aiding Andre Greipel (wearing his green and red sprint leader's jersey) were Bean de Bie, Jens Debusschere, Frederick Frison, Marcel Seiberg and now back with his teammates, Tony Gallopin.  Mixing in with the red of Lotto Soudal was Paul Martens (LottoNL Jumbo).  When I painted this, I didn't realize that the third sprint of the day was just around the corner.  Greipel pulled third across that line. but spoiler alert, he didn't factor in the sprint for the stage.  I haven't yet learn why he wasn't in amongst it in Builth Wells.

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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848900-54-189075/PaintingGreipel's%20Train%20ToB28-Greig-Leach.html#.V9DktpgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Trying to Go Alone

Once Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) had been pulled back, it was Jochem Hoekstra (Giant-Alpecin) who went off up the road.  Hoekstra was hoping that it would be he who could hold everyone off and repeat Ian Stannard's solo victory of Stage 3.  Unfortunately, for the Dutchman too many teams had managed to keep their sprinters within the peloton, although Team Dimension Data was not one of them.  Mark Cavendish was chasing in the group 30 or 40 seconds behind the 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2848897-53-189075/PaintingTrying%20to%20Go%20Alone%20ToB27-Greig-Leach.html#.V9DhcZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Attack the Peloton

With all of the break aways back into the fold, it was time for others to go on the offensive.  Team Sky, Etixx-Quickstep and Cannondale-Drapac kept pulling back every attack.  On this steep yet uncatagorized climb, Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) jumped free from the Wout Poels (Sky) led peloton.  On Poels' wheel was the action drama named, Jack Bauer (Cannondale-Drapac).  Gallopin's moved could have been two-fold, one, with hopes of winning the stage, and two putting stress on the opposing teams lead outs in aid of his teammate Andre Greipel.  Whatever the reason, he was back into the fold before five kilometers had rolled under their collective wheels.

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/2848894-52-189075/PaintingAttack%20the%20Peloton%20ToB26-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Ddx5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Playing to the Camera

The longest stage of this the thirteenth Tour of Britain, the riders got a bit giddy in the saddle.  The American, Taylor Phinney (BMC), goofed for the TV cameraman, pretending to crack the whip over the backs of the members of the peloton ahead of him.  Imagine that those ahead of him are the horses of a stagecoach team and he is the driver.  His newly sported mustache helps to complete the theatre of his actions.  I am quite sure that when the race gets to the business end of the stage, the games will stop and the racing will be back on.

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/2848891-51-189075/PaintingPlaying%20to%20the%20Camera%20ToB25-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Dab5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Using Team Tactics

The two climbers competing for the King of the Mountains Jersey have been Nicolas Roche (Sky) and Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert).  The pair had traded best of the rest on the first two climbs of the day, leaving Meurisse in the lead by one point.  As they approached the final climb of the day, the first four placings had already been claimed by the breakaway.  With 2 points of the next guy over the summit, and one of the next one, Wanty Group Gobert sent Marco Marcato up the road to get the two points.  Now with just one point left, the best Roche could to was pull back even.  However, Meurisse was able to get the final KOM point of the stage.  I am sure this competition will go all the way to London.

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/2848885-50-189075/PaintingUsing%20Team%20Tactics%20ToB24-Greig-Leach.html#.V9DXNJgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 4: Between the Hedgerows

Another stage, another break away, these four got off the front and build up to a five minute lead on the following peloton.  Riding on the back taking a pull on his bidon is Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani CSF).  On the front of the quartet is the Welshman, Rob Partridge (NFTO) followed by Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis) and the Spaniard, Miguel Angel Benito (Caja Rural Seguros).  Benito had just passed some of his chocolate out of his musette to the cameraman taking these shots.  A wise move, if you keep the cameraman happy you may well get yourself on TV more frequently.  After all, they have to shoot something.

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/2848884-49-189075/PaintingBetween%20the%20Hedgerows%20ToB23-Greig-Leach.html#.V9DUWpgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: Still Alone

Riding alone through Tatton Park, Ian Stannard (Sky) had a minute and forty five seconds on the duo behind, and seven and a half minutes on the peloton.  Clearly as he approached the flame rouge signifying one kilometer to the finish, the stage was his.  Again this image was far more appealing to me than his exhausted half salute of victory at the line.  I don't fault him.  He had just raced 179 kilometers of the front of the race, with the last 30 on his own.  I doubt he had enough energy to get off the bike except for the joy of the victory lifting his spirits and his legs.  Chapeau, Ian!

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/2848547-48-189075/PaintingStill%20Alone%20ToB22-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-7NpgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 3: Letting Him Know

Ian Stannard (Sky) had timed his attack to perfection.  He had waited for Graham Briggs (JLT Condor) to take a pull.  Once Briggs rolled off the front, Stannard went on the offensive, and try as he might, Briggs just couldn't get back on the Sky rider's wheel.  When Stannard's team car pulled up to give him a bottle, they could also let him know that he had over a minute on his erstwhile companions.  And of even more importance, over seven and a half minutes on the peloton.  With twenty four kilometers to race, Stannard would be one of the top three on the stage, but most likely he would take his first ever Tour of Britain stage.  It is always great to see one of the worker bees able to work for themselves.

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/2848545-47-189075/PaintingLetting%20Him%20Know%20ToB21-Greig-Leach.html#.V8-4GJgrLIU