Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Hanging on to the Tail

While many were racing in hopes of glory on the front end of the peloton, or even further up the road, others, like Ian Bibby (NFTO) and Boy Van Poppel (Trek Segafredo) were desperate to hold onto the tail of the group.  Fortunately, if they did drop off the back, there was only 20 kilometers left to race, so they need not worry about not making the time cut.  Yes, if a rider does not finish the stage within a certain percentage of the stage winners time, he is disqualified and can not start the next stage.  One way to avoid this fate is to be one of a large group that would force the organizers to kick out too many from the race.  This group is referred to as the Grupetto or the l'Autobus and is frequently where you will find all of the sprinters on a mountain stage.

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/2849633-66-189075/PaintingHanging%20on%20to%20the%20Tail%20ToB40-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Nz8pgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Grabbing Lunch, Literally

First a moment on my grammar soup box.  I am regularly annoyed by the use of the word, "literally" amongst others.  Particularly when the speaker is using the phrase to describe a figurative situation.  But here, Miguel Angel Benito is actually grabbing his lunch from the outstretch arm of his soigneur.  Along the course there is a designated feed zone where the teams will pass musettes with bottles, lunch and tasty treats piled inside.  The riders will then transfer these items to their pockets, bottle cages and, of course, their mouths, before getting back to the task at hand.  Ahead of Benito, Giovanni Visconte (Movistar) and Jasper Bovenhuis (An Post Chain Reaction) are looking for their soigneurs and their lunches.

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/2849628-65-189075/PaintingGrapping%20Lunch,%20Literally%20ToB39-Greig-Leach.html#.V9NxKZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Roadside Repair

Alistair Slater (JLT Condor) managed to drop his chain and get it stuck between the chain rings and the crank arm.  It seems to have been even more complicated than that.  As he tried to set it right on his own, the team car pulled up.  The mechanic grabbed his spare bike off of the roof and help Slater get back underway.  The mechanic could have the pleasure of getting Slater's primary bike repair over night.  He would have a little extra time since tomorrow starts with a 15 kilometer time trial before the teams take on a 90 kilometer circuit race on the same course.

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/2849627-64-189075/PaintingRoadside%20Repair%20ToB38-Greig-Leach.html#.V9NuKZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Climbing Again

That had toe be the reaction of this quartet as they started up Cadbury Hill.  While none of the climbs in the Tour of Great Britain can rival the alpine stages of the Tour de France, the roads have been surprisingly lumpy.  Today's stage featured two category one climbs the second one marked the end of the stage.  The stage included two more categorized climbs, and lots of bumps in between the noted hills.  As testament to the relative ease of the early climbs, it is Jasper Bovenhis (An Post Chain Reaction) in the sprint leader's jersey, who was bringing up the rear of the early break of the day.  With him were Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Tom Stewart (Madison Genesis) and Miguel Angel Benito (Caja Rural Seguros).

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/2849625-63-189075/PaintingClimbing%20Again%20ToB37-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Nr0pgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: With Inches to Spare

So... the formula works, but it didn't work for Amael Moinard (BMC).  He was caught again by three of his four original break away companions inside of the final kilometer.  It was Javier Moreno (Movistar) who launched first, but Jack Bauer (Cannondale-Drapac) who raised his arms in victory at the line in the resort of Bath.  I was wondering if the peloton would get to "take the waters" before resuming the race tomorrow.  Moinard was able to hold on for second on the stage, with Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis) rounding out the peloton.  All four finished inches ahead of the charging peloton lead home by the Australian sprinter,  Caleb Ewan (Orica-BikeExchange).  If the race had been another 100 meters, I doubt that the break away would have succeed, it was just that close, just as the formula predicted.

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/2849200-62-189075/PaintingWith%20Inches%20to%20Spare%20ToB36-Greig-Leach.html#.V9H9yZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: Moinard Goes Again!

The first to attack out of the break was the Frenchman, Amael Moinard (BMC).  On his first attempt up the final rise before the town of Bath, he was quickly reeled in by most of his former companions. The accelerations proved too much for Johnny McEvoy (NFTO) but then he has moved into second overall in the Sprint Point competition having taken all three sprints on the day.  Moinard went again with just 2.4 kilometers left to race.  He has 27 seconds on the peloton, so it is still touch and go on whether he'll get to the line before the peloton gets to him.  Hopefully he will be rewarded with the most competitive rider at the very least.

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/2849143-61-189075/PaintingMoinard%20Goes%20Again!%20ToB35-Greig-Leach.html#.V9H0lZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: In With a Chance

The quintet of Javier Moreno (Movistar), Amael Moinard (BMC), Johnny McEvoy (NFTO), Jack Bauer (Cannondale-Drapac), and Erick Rowsell (Madison Genesis) were still working well together.  Because of that, they were still off the front of the peloton with just 11 kilometers left to race.  The gap was only a minute and four seconds, so there is still a chance that they will make it to the line before the peloton swallows them whole.

There is an established formula for how much time the break needs over the peloton in order to succeed in staying away to the line.  The peloton is usual capable of pulling back a minute every ten kilometers, so with the gap they have and the amount of road left to cover the peloton may catch them inside of the final kilometer, or they may not.  And there are quite a few variables in what will effect the catch.

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/2849140-60-189075/PaintingIn%20With%20a%20Chance%20ToB34-Greig-Leach.html#.V9HweJgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: From Aggressor to Helper

The red bib number on the back of Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani CSF) is for being the most competitive rider in Stage 4.  In the Tour de France it is referred to as the most aggressive rider, so that is where the title comes from.  Today, Tonelli is helping out his teammates by dropping back to the team car to fetch bottles for the team.  The riders will stuff bottles in their jersey pockets and all around inside their jerseys.  Once they have filled the inside of their clothes with as many bottles as possible, he will ride back up through the peloton passing them out to the other five members of his team.  This will be repeated all day long, that is until the race is in the last 20 kilometers, then it is no longer allowed to get anything from the team cars.  On super hot days, that rule can be relaxed for the health and safety of the racers.

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/2849137-59-189075/PaintingFrom%20Aggressor%20to%20Helper%20ToB33-Greig-Leach.html#.V9HtfZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: Just Making Sure

The leader in the King of the Mountains competition, Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert) had been picking up the final remaining point on the two previous climbs of the day's stage and doing so without having to sprint against his nearest competitor, Nicolas Roche (Sky).  Today it seems, Roche had decided not to spend the energy trying to grab any of the minor placings on the tops of the climbs.  Meurisse approached the summit of Selsley Common on the front of the peloton.  He took a quick look back over his shoulder just to make sure no one was trying to sprint past him for the remaining KOM point of the day.  Behind him, Lotto Soudal and LottoNL Jumbo were more interested in keeping the tempo turning over than they were in the KOM competition.

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/2849124-58-189075/PaintingJust%20Making%20Sure%20ToB32-Greig-Leach.html#.V9HoEpgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: Climbing Out of Town

As the peloton headed out of the town of Selsley they started a steep climb up the final categorized climb of the day.  There had been a intermediate sprint in the center of town, but there were no points left for those in the peloton to worry about.  When they reach the top of the climb there will only be one point left towards the King of the Mountains competition (all the others having been sucked up by the breakaway).  It was Bert-Jean Lindeman on the front for LottoNL Jumbo followed by a rider from Lotto Soudal and then the entire Dimension Data team.

I have been surprised to see park cars along the side of the road, many sticking well in to the tarmac.  Several riders collided with the back of a line of cars in town, with some having to swerve onto the sidewalk to avoid a similar fate.  Fortunately, all were able to get back up and riding.  And they all eventually rejoined 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/2849121-57-189075/PaintingClimbing%20Out%20of%20Town%20ToB31-Greig-Leach.html#.V9Hk_pgrLIU