Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: In Defense of Yellow

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) was the last to start the individual time trial in Bristol.  An honor (and advantage) given to the wearer of the Yellow Jersey (or whatever color signifies the race leader).  Cummings is strong against the clock, but the two riders just behind him are the National Champions of their respective countries.  In fact the field held at least five TT Champions and two previous World Champions in the race of truth.  Cummings managed a fourth on the day behind the stage winner, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) and the two who are now tied for second overall, Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  His fourth place was enough to defend his race lead, which he carries into the second half of the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain.

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/2849795-76-189075/PaintingIn%20Defense%20of%20Yellow%20ToB50-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RvNZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: Speed and Caution

With the rain soaked roads (and the continued showers) the riders had to exercise caution, but the name of the game in the individual time trial is speed.  One does not often compliment the other.  The American, Taylor Phinney (BMC) had already wiped out in a corner.  It was a shame too, he was on a new best time pace before he crashed.  Another who was setting the best time splits on the streets of Bristol was the German National Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep).  Martin is a three time World Champion in this discipline as well.  Martin caught his minute man, Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal) a few hundred feet before the corner where the American crashed.  Hopefully these two will get around the corner safely.  Martin went on to take the time trial on the day.  His first TT victory this year.  Hopefully, he will be able to carry that winning way to Doha, Qatar for the 2016 UCI Road World Championships.

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/2849791-75-189075/PaintingSpeed%20and%20Caution%20ToB49-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RrWZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 7a: Perhaps His Last

Bradley Wiggins (Team Wiggins) took to the start house for perhaps his last professional individual time trial in Bristol.  The Sir Bradley Wiggins is famous throughout the world both on the road and on the track, but has decided it is time to hang up his competitive road bike (and TT bike).  Later this year he will race his last track event, also on home soil.  Before creating Team Wiggins, Wiggins road for Team Sky - notice the Team Sky flag laid over the barrier.  It wasn't until I was painting this piece that I noticed that the flag is strikingly similar to the "thin blue line" that celebrates the police forces position in society.  I enjoy the guy astride his mountain bike getting a shot of what is most likely his cycling hero.

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/2849790-74-189075/PaintingPerhaps%20His%20Last%20ToB48-Greig-Leach.html#.V9RnqZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Not Much Left

It was Wout Poels (Sky) who was able to get away from the duo of Rohan Dennis (BMC) - second on the day, and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) - third on the day.  The Dutchman on the English team barely had the energy left to the salute the crowd as he crossed the summit and only mountain top finish of the 13th Tour of Britain. Perhaps the number 13 (his bib number) is a very lucky one for Poels.  With the Yellow Jersey dropped about four kilometers from the top, it would be someone else on the podium in a little while.  Dennis had started the day in fourth, but it was the star of stage two, Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) who takes over the Yellow Jersey of race leader with Dumoulin moving into second overall and Dennis in third.

I was amused by the bright yellow sign behind Poels.  It read 'deviation,'  which I realized is the way the British would label what I call a 'detour.'  But a deviant has a much different connotation, thus so does a deviation, to me.

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/2849690-73-189075/PaintingNot%20Much%20Left%20ToB47-Greig-Leach.html#.V9OM-5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Looking It Over

The domestiques have done their work now it is time for those with a one at the end of their bib numbers to do their work.  Well, Wout Poels (Sky) who launched the first attack on the mid slopes of the Haytor climb is bib number 13.  He is the first racer I have seen with that number who hasn't flipped on of them upside down to avoid the bad luck.  It was Rohan Dennis (BMC) who chased down the attacking Dutchman, bringing another one, Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) with him.  Joining the aggression at the front of affairs are Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) and Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar).  The quintet is looking back over their collective shoulders to see first who else is trying to bridge across and the whereabouts of the Yellow Jersey of Julian Vermote (Etixx-Quickstep).

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/2849687-72-189075/PaintingLooking%20It%20Over%20ToB46-Greig-Leach.html#.V9OJj5grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: All Who Matter

With all of the early escapees back in the fold, it was time for the GC contenders to make their move.  Each of the hopefuls put a teammate on the front to ramp up the pace as they started up to the summit of Haytor, Dartmoor.  So Loic Vliegen (BMC) road for Rohan Dennis, Marco Mocato (Wanty Group Gobert), for Xandro Meurisse, and finally Jack Bauer (Cannondale-Drapac) for Dylan Van Baarle.  With just five kilometers left to race, all of them uphill, it was now the time to take over the lead of the Tour of Britain.  For Meurisse, it was time to make sure the King of the Mountians Jersey would be his on the final day.  The rest of the Tour are either a time trial or circuit races, with a win today, his lead would be unbeatable.

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/2849673-71-189075/PaintingAll%20Who%20Matter%20ToB45-Greig-Leach.html#.V9OFspgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: We Tried

The duo of Miguel Angel Benito (Caja Rural Seguros) and Tom Stewart (Madison Genesis) had lost contact with their fellow break away companion, Giovanni Visconti (Movistar).  As they fell further behind the Italian, they peloton was drawing nearer and nearer.  As they raced through the town of Chudleigh they knew their time off the front was over.  Benito reached back to shake the hand of Stewart, thanking him for the collaborative effort, before they were sucked back into the charging 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/2849667-70-189075/PaintingWe%20Tried%20ToB44-Greig-Leach.html#.V9OBcZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Greipel Is on the Front

First the leader in the Sprint Competition is seen leading the break away up the second climb of the day, then the renowned sprinter, Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) is seen leading the peloton on the Category 1 and penultimate climb of the day.  Stranger still, on the wheel of the German National Champion is the leader of the King of the Mountains competition, Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group Gobert).  I will assume that Greipel is continuing to aide his team as best he can in support of their General Classification man, Tony Gallopin.  Tucked on to the front is a rider from Team Wiggins, I am sorry to say I did not get his name.

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/2849665-69-189075/PaintingGreipel%20Is%20on%20the%20Front%20ToB43-Greig-Leach.html#.V9N-yZgrLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Pressing on Alone

Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) had dropped the last member of the break away  as he summitted the penultimate climb of the day.  He was hoping he could recreate the magic of the last two stages and hold off the whole of the peloton on the way to the line.  With twenty kilometers left to the top of the final rise of the day and the finish line, it is a tall order.  Particularly  with so many  riders hoping to shake up the general classification just a minute or two behind.  All Visconti can do is keep pedaling has hard as he can and let what happens behind happen.

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/2849651-68-189075/PaintingPressing%20on%20Alone%20ToB42-Greig-Leach.html#.V9N745grLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: The Last Two

Miguel Angle Benito (Movistar) and Tom Stewart (Madison Genesis) were the last two that were still off of the front of the peloton as the crested the penultimate climb of the day.  The duo were hoping to carry enough of a lead through the descent to be able to hold off the GC contenders on the final ascent to Haytor Rock.  Giovanni certainly has the pedigree to accomplish the task.  He is a two-time Italian National Champion and has won several stages of the Giro d'Italia.  Steward is just thrilled to have the legs to hang onto the Italian's wheel.

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/2849634-67-189075/PaintingThe%20Last%20Two%20ToB41-Greig-Leach.html#.V9N435grLIU