Paris Roubaix: Leading the Way

I can swear that this was the early break of the day, I joined the race at 169 kilometers left of the 250 plus on the day.  Mickael Delage (FDJ) and Jelle Wallays (Lotto Soudal) were one of many breaks on the day.  However like all of the others, they weren't able to get more than 40-50 seconds on the main peloton.  With the narrowed cobbled roads, the soigneurs position themselves along the pave sections (this is section 26 of a total of 29 sections) and pass bottles, food and (if needed) spare wheels because it can be a long time before a mechanic and team car are able to reach a rider in need.

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-Classics-/2947307-387-195767/PaintingLeading-the-Way-PR17-1.html

Ronde van Vlaanderen: A Walk in the Park

Surprising most everyone, except himself, Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) was able to stay way off the front of the race, all of the way to the line.  His lead was so massive that he actually got off of hisbike and walked across the line saluting the crowd.  As soon as he did finish, he raised his bike over his head in a joyful celebration.  He had prove the old adage of Jens Voigt, that if you go in the break you may have a chance of winning, if you don't go in the break you have no chance at all.

Chapeau, Philippe!

The next race I will be painting with be the famous Paris Roubaix in just one week's time.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: Still Chasing at 5K

I can only assume that Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) were surprised that Philippe Gilbert was able to hold them off with five kilometers left to race.  The third member of this group, Niki Terpstra (Quickstep) had the job of monitoring the others and to not assist in the chase.  With his teammate up the road, he wasn't going to help the others to catch him.  And in the unlikely event that Gilbert gets caught, Terpstra would have the freshest legs and could then take the win for the team.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: You've Got This!

With just eight kilometers left to race, Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) was being encouraged by his director sportif, Wilfried Peeters.  It was beginning to look like the Belgium National Champion was going to succeed in his very long, hard gamble.  The crash of his main rivals, Naesen, Van Avermaet, and Sagan, had disrupted the chase and given the former World Champion a better chance of taking the victory at the line.  Gilbert had been asking all of the motos for some since of what the time gap to the chasers was, we can assume that was another thing that Peeters had to say to his man.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: Together in Misery

It seems that it was not only Tom Boonen (Quickstep) that was having some rough luck on the rough pave of Flanders.  At first it appeared that a fan's jacket had caught Oliver Naesen's (Ag2r La Mondiale) wheel, but looking closer, it was Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) who had clipped the banners hanging from the barriers along the side of the race course.  Also tangled up in the crash was Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).  Van Avermaet was the first to jump back onto his bike and rejoin the race.  Sagan had a bit more trouble getting underway.  I never did figure out what happened to the Frenchman, Naesen.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: A Concerted Effort

One man leading the race, with two chasing it meant that this the third group on the road had to chase, and chase hard.  Amongst these six chasers was the Rainbow Jersey of Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe), Oliver Naesen (Ag2r La Mondiale), and Yoann Offredo (Wanty Groupe Gobert).  With the race spread out in numerous small groups it feel to the neutral service support sponsored by Shimano to look after the needs of these riders until their team cars could reach them.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: Having Problems

Bike racing takes great skill, training, and determination, but most of all it seems to take a good bit of luck as well.  And luck was not what Tom Boonen (Quickstep) found at the bottom of the Oude Kruisberg.  Instead he was plaqued by a jammed chain and perhaps a broken derailleur to boot.  As he tried to fix it on his own, he was photographed by the cameraman on the back of the motorcycle, the TV cameras and every fan behind the ropes lining the climb.  With so many strong riders climbing away from the base of the climb, it was unlikely that he would see the front of the race again today.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: Giving Chase

The duo of Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) and Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale Drapac) hit the bottom of the Taaienberg with a lead of about thirty seconds on the peloton, but trailing the lone figure of Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) by almost a minute.  Like E3 Harelbeke last week and Paris Roubaix next, the Ronde van Vlaanderen is punctuated with steep cobbled climbs lined by screaming cycling fans, many whom have spent the day enjoying the fine beers of Belgium.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: For the Home Crowd

Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) had the pleasure of leading the race through Belgium bedecked in the Belgium National Road Championships Jersey.  Gilbert had gone out on his own from quite a few kilometers out from the finish.  With at least 40 kilometers left to race, it was a big ask for Gilbert to hold off the cream of Classics riders chasing behind.  It should come as no surprise that the crowds lining nearly every inch of roadway, were beyond delighted to see their champion leading the race, at least thus far.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: From the Start

As soon as the start flag was pulled in, the attacks went off the front.  With the peloton facing 260 kilometers in the saddle, it was literally a long shot to succeed with the break away.  This early group of escapees included Julien Morice (Direct Energie), Oliviero Troia (UAE Abu Dhabi), Mark McNally (Wanty Groupe Gobert), Stef Van Zummeren (Veranda's Willems-Crelan), and Julian Duval (Ag2r La Mondiale).  In the distance you can see others trying to bridge across to the group.  They did gain over eleven minutes before the big names decided to bring them back into the fold.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.