Paris Nice Stage 1 Letting the Gap Go

The relentless pace of the teams of Quickstep and Lotto Soudal along with the strong crosswinds were having their toll on those trying to stay with the leaders  It just took a small rise and the gap opened in front of Grega Bole (Bahrain-Merida) and Olivier Le Gac (FDJ)  Le Gac had been working for others of his teammates that were still in the group so he can be pardoned for losing contact  Bole was just on the wrong wheel at the wrong time - although I doubt he had much left to give either

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2929394-338-195767/PaintingLetting%20the%20Gap%20Go%20PN17-3.html#.WLzo6_krLIU

Paris Nice Stage 1 Sprinting to the Top

Romain Hardy (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) had taken the maximum points in the King of the Mountain competition on the first climb of the day so as the lead group approached the summit Hardy jumped out for more points  Regardless of the outcome of the day Hardy will be wearing the first Polka Dot jersey of the 75th Paris Nice  Chapeau!

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2929393-337-195767/PaintingSprinting%20to%20the%20Top%20PN17-2.html#.WLzlkvkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 1 Pushing Their Advantage

Before the race came on TV the major move had already happened  Racing in the flat open roads outside of Paris the crosswinds had played a decisive part in what was billed as a day for the sprinters  The early break was caught by a group that contained some sprinters and some overall hopefuls but not all of either  Most notably missing the move where Alberto Contador (Trek Segafredo) Richie Porte (BMC) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale)  More importantly it was Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) along with most of his team that drove the pace on the head of the race  Lotto Soudal - sporting some new colors from earlier in the season - were well represented as well with Tosh Van Der Sande doing the work for the rest of the team

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2929390-336-195767/PaintingPushing%20Their%20Advantage%20PN17-1.html#.WLzjMvkrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Making Sure

It may have been Matteo Trentin (Quickstep) who opened the sprint to the line in Kuurne, but it was Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) who finished it out.  He had the speed and the time to look behind, just making sure that neither Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) nor Luke Rowe (Sky) were closing in.  Sagan claimed the win after being disappointed with his second place finish yesterday.  Sagan seems to have never been affected by the "curse of the Rainbow Jersey;"  Stuyven had to settle for one step lower on the podium than 2016, and Luke Rowe finished the day in third.  The original five just managed to stay in front of the chasers, and they in turn just held on ahead of 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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926092-335-195767/PaintingMaking%20Sure.html#.WLOqJvkrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Looking Them Over

With the red kite marking the final kilometer of the race in the distance, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) looked over those off the front with him.  Sagan was not in the best position to launch an attack, but the others, Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal), Luke Rowe (Sky), Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo) and Matteo Trentin (Quickstep), weren't about to hand any advantage to the two time Road World Champion.  While jocking for position, the quintet risked slowing enough to let the chasing peloton sweep them up thus dashing all of their chances for claiming victory.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926090-334-195767/PaintingLooking%20Them%20Over%20KBK17-7.html#.WLOlyfkrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: One of These Five

It was these five very talented riders who managed to ride away from everyone else on the road.  The group included the Rainbow Jersey of Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), Luke Rowe (Sky), Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal), Matteo Trentin (Quickstep) and the winner twelve months ago, Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo).  They have 36 seconds on the chasing group, which in turn has a minute on the peloton.  Given that there are only 13 kilometers left to race, it is relatively safe to assume that the winner of the 2017 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne will be one of these five men.

I have had the pleasure of riding in parts of Europe, so I quickly recognized the red bike lane just to the right of the racers.  My home town is trying to catch up with this kind of cycling infrastructure, but we may have a way to go.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926088-333-195767/PaintingOne%20of%20These%20Five%20KBK17-6.html#.WLOg0PkrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Not Giving Up

The last four members of the early break, Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal), Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie), Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Maxime Farazijn (Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise), simply refuse to sit up and wait for the chasers behind.  The foursome held off their captures for over twenty kilometers hovering around 15 seconds gap between the two groups.  Finally, the strong legs behind over came the resolve of the tired ones of the break away compatriots.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926081-332-195767/PaintingNot%20Giving%20Up%20KBK17-5.html#.WLOaTvkrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: A Very Sticky Bottle

The title of this painting refers to the trick of the sport director holding onto the bottle longer than is necessary to give his rider a boost.  The race directors can dock time if they deemed the act provided an advantage to the racer, they can even disqualify them from the race.  Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) may have held on too long, but it did nothing to help in gain an unfair advantage.  With a day of over 200 kilometers of racing in the cold, I am sure all of those out on their bikes were hoping for a rest of any sort.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926080-331-195767/PaintingA%20Very%20Sticky%20Bottle%20KBK17-4.html#.WLOVwfkrLIU

Kuurne=Brussels-Kuurne: Just Getting Back

While Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) busied himself loading up on drinks and energy bars, Baptiste Planckaert (Katusha) managed to catch back up with the chasing group of favorites.  Planckaert had crashed with his teammate Tony Martin and another rider, neither of whom were able to rejoin the business end of the race.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926077-330-195767/PaintingJust%20Getting%20Back%20KBK17-3.html#.WLOQwfkrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: On the Hunt

The constant turns, short climbs and sections of pave had split the peloton into numerous groups,  With a break away of roughly eight guys up the road, it was the second group of twenty that held most of the favorites.  At this point, they were being lead by Tony Martin (Katusha) sporting his new team colors, coincidentally, it was his former teammate, Dries Devenyns (Quickstep) who had just swung of the front to let Martin pull the peloton along.  Unfortunately, Martin crashed shortly after I painted this, skinning his face on the asphalt, and dropping back into the following peloton.  His crashed was caused by the forming echelon and the crowd of riders trying to find shelter from the wind.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2926072-329-195767/PaintingOn%20the%20Hunt%20KBK17-2.html#.WLONPvkrLIU