Paris Nice, Stage 2: Setting Up Schachmann

You know you are in good shape when you have the three time World Champion, Peter Sagan (Bora- Hansgrohe) leading out your sprint for bonus seconds.  Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) wasn't leaving anything for granted as he sprinted for a bonus of three seconds in the small town of Puiselet.  Schachmann has taken over the Maillot Jaune on stage one and wasn't about to risk losing it (even if you can barely see it under his rain jacket.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3488560-7-272742/Painting/setting-up-schachmann-pn20-7.html

Paris Nice, Stage 2: The End Is Nigh

While some of us may be feeling that the end is nigh on the grander scale, for these purposes it is simply the end of Jonathan Hivert (Total Direct Energie) and Jose Manuel Diaz's (Nippo Delko Provence) break away.  The attempt was not in vain for Hivert, he added three more climbs maximum points to his total in the King of the Mountains campaign.  With today's effort, he will be wearing the Maillot a Pois for at least two more days.  After 100 kilometers off the front, it was time for the peloton to set things up for the sprinters.  Now it is only the crosswinds that can upset the fastmen's plans.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3488555-6-272742/Painting/the-end-is-nigh-pn20-6.html

Paris Nice, Stage 1: Over the Top

Frequent readers will know that I love a title that can have more than one meaning.  This one is another of those titles.  Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) had come over the top of Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-McLaren), as well as Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) and the fading Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step), to take the win in Plaiser.  The slight climb to the finish required Schachmann to have the legs to literally come over the top of the climb to claim the first Yellow Jersey of the 2020 Paris Nice.  So the opening GC battle is now Schachmann followed by Dylan Teuns and then Tiesj Benoot.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3487803-5-272742/Painting/over-the-top-pn20-5.html

Paris Nice, Stage 1: Two More Coming

With just four kilometers left to race, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) looks over his shoulder to see that two more riders have leapt out of the chasing group in an attempt to bridge across to him and Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb).  Leading the charge is the German National Champion, Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) with Dylan Teuns (Bahrain McLaren) glued to his wheel.  It will vastly increase the chances of staying off the front to the line, but now one of the four will not be on the podium for the stage.  Conversely, one of the four will be pulling on the Yellow Jersey of race leader in four kilometers' time.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3487782-4-272742/Painting/two-more-coming-pn20-4.html

Paris Nice, Stage 1: Do You Have the Legs?

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) had sprinted it out for the bonus seconds of the first intermediate sprint.  While Alaphilippe had won the sprint, the pair found themselves with a small gap over the other fourteen from the leading group.  The Frenchman convinced Benoot to continue the effort with just 26 kilometers left to race back to Plaiser.  They had opened up thirty seconds on those behind.  A move akin to what but Alaphilippe into Yellow in the 2019 Tour de France.  Will it work again?

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3487779-3-272742/Painting/do-you-have-the-legs-pn20-3.html

Paris Nice, Stage 1: Holding Their Advantage

After the crosswinds had split the peloton apart, this rather elite group of sixteen guys continued to press their advantage over the chasing peloton.  Leading the effort were two domestiques Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Connor Swift (Arkea Samsic).  One of the favorites to make the split was Nairo Quintana on his new team Arkea Samsic.  With 38 kilometers left to race they were hoping to grow their 30 second advantage.  Those behind were doing all they could to prevent that from happening.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3487773-2-272742/Painting/holding-their-advantage-pn20-2.html

Paris-Nice, Stage 1: Securing Polka Dots

So while I realize this race has already completed, I am painting this as if it were live.  I do not know the finale of the race (or if even raced all of the stages).  As I am now out of work due to Covid-19 and have the time to do this project.  That being said, here goes.

Jonathan Hivert (Total Direct Energie) had been out in the early break of the day and grabbed the first King of the Mountain points on offer.  Later the peloton caught the early break but that didn't stop Hivert from breaking free on the next KOM climb to ensure that he would pull on the Polka Dot Jersey at the end of the first stage of Paris Nice.  The race will come up the Cote de Neauphle le Chateau on more time but regardless of who takes maximum points the jersey is Hivert's.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3487769-1-272742/Painting/securing-polka-dots-pn20-1.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: With Inches to Spare

Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) was able to catch (and pass) Jasper Philipsen (UAE-Team Emirates) who was the first to open up his sprint into Tanunda.  Bennett managed to just get past to open up his season with a win.  On their wheels were some of the marquee sprinters, all past stage winners, including Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), Elia Viviani (Cofidis) and Andre Greipel (Israel-Start Up Nation).

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.

Due to personal issues I will be doing a much appreviate coverage of this year's Tour

https://greigleach.artspan.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3454549-146-194179/Painting/With-Inches-to-Spare--TDU20-3.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: A Little Peak

I enjoy a title that can have more than one meaning, so it is with this one.  One interpretation is that this is a little peak of the Rainbow Jersey that was won at the end of last season by Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo).  The other is that Pedersen is taking a little peak over his shoulder looking for his team car.  Joining the Dane at the back of the peloton is Antwan Tolhoek (Jumbo-Visma).  Just ahead of this duo seems to be the entire Movistar team.  I am sure all of this positioning will change in the charge to the line in another 24 kilometers.

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.

https://greigleach.artspan.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3454486-145-194179/Painting/A-Little-Peak--TDU20-2.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: Leading Off His Season

I always look forward to the opening race of the season.  This year it is set against a back drop of horrorific fires further east in Australia.  The stage started with a hard fought four man break away.  One of those felt that the others weren't continuing with the effort.  Joey Rosskopf (CCC) saw the opportunity to leave the other three and take enough King of the Mountain points to pull on the first Polka Dot Jersey of the Pro Tour season.  The stage was tailor made for the sprinters so it is unlikely he will stay off the front for the remaining 45 kilometers, but he will have something to show for his work.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3454483-144-194179/Painting/Leading-Off-His-Season--TDU20-1.html