Liege Bastogne Liege: Now There Are Five

Casper Pedersen's (Aqua Blue Sport) attack served only to split up the nine man break away.  First, it left him to tired to stay with the chasers once they got back onto the Dane's wheel.  And second, the chase left a few off the back to be swept up by the peloton in just a few minutes time.  Those left on the front of the race included Pedersen's teammate, Mark Christian, along with Loic Vliegen (BMC), Jerome Baugnies (Wanty Groupe-Gobert), Paul Ourselin (Direct Energie) and Anthony Perez (Cofidis).  Perez road in the early break on Wednesday in La Fleche Wallone, only to find himself trying again today.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3151236-423-195767/PaintingNow-There-Are-Five-LBL18-3.html

Liege Bastogne Liege: Sprinting for Euros

Unlike multi-day stage races, there is now King of the Mountains jersey to be won in a single day race like Liege Bastogne Liege.  However, there is prize money for being the first to crest each of the eleven catagorized climbs that make up this "Old Lady" of cycling.  Jumping away from his eight break away companions was Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue Sport).  Anthony Perez (Cofidis) just watched him ride away perhaps in disbelief of the effort the Dane was putting in.  Pedersen went on with his attack on the descent gaining about a half a minute on the rest of the break.  With the Cote de Bellevaux lying so far from the finish of the day, it seemed a tall order to hold of a peloton that was already beginning to reel the break back in.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is
available.

This painting is sold!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3151235-422-195767/PaintingSprinting-for-Euros-LBL18-2.html

Liege Bastogne Liege (Women): Zipping Up

Perhaps it was a little bit of foreshadowing, but it was Anna Van Der Breggen (Boels Dolman) who came to the finish alone.  She had time to savor her victory (and zip up her jersey) before saluting the crowd.  It is disappointing that all we could see of the second Women's Liege Bastogne Liege was the final kilometer.  And even that little bit was sandwiched inbetween some duller moments of the early kilometers of the men's race.  There has been some movement towards parody in prize money for men and women, now we need to get some parody in base salaries and TV/Web broadcast coverage.

It was foreshadowing of how the men's race would be decided in about another three hours.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3151233-421-195767/PaintingZipping-Up-LBL18-1.html

Fleche Wallonne: Leaving Them All!

With his final kick, Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep) was able to leave everyone behind.  He didn't have time to offer a victory salute as he crossed the line, but I am sure the win was far more important than the celebration for the camera.  Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) just didn't have the legs to close the gap to the Frenchman, but he did claimed the second step of the podium.  Thus he traded places with Alaphilippe from 2017.  Rounding out the podium was the Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Soudal) who had been the first to start the sprint (if you can call it that on the Mur de Huy) to the line.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148377-420-195767/PaintingLeaving-Them-All!--FW18-7.html

Fleche Wallonne: Within Meters

Poor Maximilian Schachmann (Quickstep) was caught within meters of the summit of the Mur de Huy.  He could take some comfort in the fact that one of those he could see passing him was his teammate, Julian Alaphilippe.  Leading the charge was Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Soudal).  Surprisingly, there is no sign of the defending champion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).  Could this be the year that he looses his steel grip on the race and this fabled climb?

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148328-419-195767/PaintingWithin-Meters--FW18-6.html

Fleche Wallonne: Speeding On

After the final climb of the Cote De Cherave, it was Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) that drove the pace back down the other side of the climb.  Surprisingly he and Maximilian Schachmann (Quickstep) were opening up a gap on Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Tanel Kangert (Astana).  With just five kilometers left to race, Haig and Schachmann were able to hold off the peloton to the base of the final ascent of the Mur de Huy. 

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148323-418-195767/PaintingSpeeding-On--FW18-5.html

Fleche Wallonne: Displeased

With teammates in the group up the road, both Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) were annoyed with the TV moto being too close.  While we enjoy getting nice images of the front of the peloton, their concern was that Mikel Landa (Movistar) was enjoying to much of a draft off of the moto.  Landa was trying to pull back the escapees in order to set up his team leader (and winner of the last four Fleche Wallonnes) Alejandro Valverde.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148307-417-195767/PaintingDispleased--FW18-4.html

Fleche Wallonne: Just a Minute

I enjoy have a little fun with titling my paintings.  This one is a bit of a play on words.  How many times have you told some one, "Just a minute."?  Of course, the riders in the break were being told by the slateboard that the peloton was only one minute behind.  Patrick Muller (Vital Concept), Cesare Benedetti (Bora Hansgrohe), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence) had built up a lead of almost three minutes, but could never really break free of the grasp of the peloton.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148296-416-195767/PaintingJust-a-Minute-FW18-3.html

Fleche Wallonne: A Bit of a Move

The course of Fleche Wallonne has the peloton climbing the fabled Mur de Huy three times.  On the first trip up the climb, it was Rob Power (Mitchelton-Scott) launched a bit of an attack.  His move was covered by former World Champion, Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo).  There was still a group of eight guys further up the road, but they were less then two minutes ahead now.  The crowds on the climb had already been able to watch the women's pro peloton climb this hill twice, now it was the turn of the men's teams.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148289-415-195767/PaintingA-Bit-of-a-Move-FW18-2.html

Fleche Wallonne: Tapping Out the Rhythm

Some day I will figure out how to spell 'rhythm.'  It is a shame there isn't spell check for my pen.  UAE Team Emirates started the day taking on the responsiblity of keeping the early breakaway in check.  Their Aussie rider, Rory Sutherland, got on the front of the peloton, with his teammates on his wheel, and tapped out a pace that kept the gap at a managable distance.  He seemed not to change his cadence as he went up and over the Cote d'Amay for the first of three ascents.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148265-414-195767/PaintingTapping-Out-the-Rhythm--FW18-1.html