Paris Nice Stage 3 Getting Organized

As the finishing town of Chalon sur Saone got ever closer the peloton began to group itself by teams  Coming to the front were the teams of Lotto Soudal and Direct Energie for their sprinters while the teams of FDJ and Sky were simply trying to stay near the front to keep their protected riders out of trouble  Within the final kilometers on a flatter stage everyone wants to be near the front for various reasons to the pace continues to grow and positioning is fought for  Just that action will doom any breaks up the road even before the sprinters' leadouts really ramp up the speed

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%20/2930336-347-195767/PaintingGetting%20Organized%20PN17-12.html#.WL713fkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 3 Against the Odds

After the final categorized climb of the day Ben King (Dimension Data) dropped back to the peloton but the two Frenchmen Pierre-Roger Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) pressed on  With just 30 seconds and still 15 kilometers left to race it was highly unlikely that they would hold off the teams of the sprinters but then nothing ventured nothing gained  The pair held off the chase for much longer than I or the commentators thought possible but the sprinters weren't about to spoil their own party

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%20/2930321-346-195767/PaintingAgainst%20the%20Odds%20PN17-11.html#.WL7zP_krLIU

Paris Nice Stage 3 Over Three Minutes

By the time television coverage began this three man break had three minutes on the following peloton  The trio of Ben King (Dimension Data) Pierre-Roger Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marsielle Provence KTM) had built a lead of over seven minutes - certainly the larges gap thus far in the 75th running of Paris Nice  King is no stranger to the long break away attempt he made his home town crowd very proud riding out ahead of the peloton in the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships  They had to be happy to be dry for a change since the sun finally showed her face today

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%20/2930311-345-195767/PaintingOver%20Three%20Minutes%20PN17-10.html#.WL7wuPkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 2 Singing in the Rain

I realize that Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) wasn't singing in the rain as he claimed the stage into Amilly  Tucked onto the Italian's wheel was the Yellow Jacket (I'm sure his yellow jersey was under his rain gear)  Arnaud Demare (FDJ) will start stage 3 still in yellow perhaps the yellow orb in the sky will show itself as the peloton rides out of Chablis  I'll assume that he may have a glass of white wine - sparkling at that - to celebrate his powerful sprint in the rain

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%20/2930038-344-195767/PaintingSinging%20in%20the%20Rain%20PN17-9.html#.WL4r8vkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 2 Riding Away

With the peloton closing to within 45 seconds Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) simply road everyone off of his wheel  Admittedly he did jump from the back of his now former breakaway companions  Maartens Wynants (LottoNL Jumbo) tried valiantly to hold the fleeing Belgium's wheel but Gilbert was just too strong  Later it was Wynants who somehow found the legs to help pull Gilbert back into the fold meter by meter  Sorry I should have given you a spoiler alert

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%20/2930029-343-195767/PaintingRiding%20Away%20PN17-8.html#.WL4obPkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 2 In All Kinds of Weather

The peloton is sure hoping the nick name of Paris Nice - The Race to the Sun - proves true  It was difficult to tell which was the road and which was the water filled gully along the road's edge  With the strength of the quintet up the road even Team Sky put a man on the front - Michal Golas  Adding to their will to ride as fast as they can was one of the main contenters - Richie Porte (BMC) was a good four minutes behind the peloton  Haimar Zubeldia (Trek Segafredo) waits in the wings to add to his "protected man" Alberto Contador  I am sure the Spaniard welcomes the chance to put minutes between himself and one of his rivals

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%20/2930014-342-195767/PaintingIn%20All%20Kinds%20of%20Weather.html#.WL4jvvkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 2 Cold But Pleased

It was less than ideal riding conditions that found this five man break out ahead of the peloton  Given that two men in this group are mere seconds behind the Yellow Jersey - Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) and Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) or is it Lotto All In - I am quite surprised they were able to get away  The other three in the group Maarten Wynants (LottoNL Jumbo) Sven Erik Bystrom (Katusha) and Evaldas Siskeuicius (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) must have been thanking their lucky legs to have been able to team up with two such strong and motivated riders  Bystrom must have been hearten to see his country's flag cheering him in the cold wet ride to Amilly

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%20/2930004-341-195767/PaintingCold%20But%20Pleased%20%20PN17-6.html#.WL4evfkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 1 Demonstrative

Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep) certainly had the jump on all of the leading group all except for his country man Arnaud Demare (FDJ)   The duo came into the finishing straight with Demare on the front and Alaphilippe in the perfect position to take out the sprint (and to pull on the first Yellow Jersey of the 75th running of Paris Nice)  While Alaphilippe did get the first jump on Demare the FDJ sprinter was able to come around and take the first stage of the race   And to claim the Yellow Jersey of race leader   He was quite demonstrative in his victory salute celebrating being the last sprinter standing on the day

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%20/2929397-340-195767/PaintingDemonstrative%20PN17-5.html#.WLzuuvkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 1 On the Attack

The final couple of kilometers of the day featured a small climb that was proving too much for some of the marquee sprinters  First to go was Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) followed by John Degenkolb (Quickstep) and finally Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal)  With his teammate off the back It was Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep) who jumped free on a steep section of the approach surprising the ever dwindling lead group  The only one to catch the wheel of the fleeing Frenchman was Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) also now free of working for his team's sprinter  Trying to cover the attack was Luke Rowe (Sky) but all of the work he had already put in on the front of this group left him without the legs to go with the move  With just over two kilometers left in the stage this may well prove to be the winning move

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%20/2929395-339-195767/PaintingOn%20the%20Attack%20PN17-4.html#.WLzsQPkrLIU

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