Tour of California, Stage 3: Checking the Time

With the Polka Dot jersey of King of the Mountains on his shoulders, Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling) went in the early break hoping to add to his point tally.  Not to be outdone, Oscar Clarke (Holoweska/Citadel) joined in the assault of the multiple climbs on the day.  .The duo swapped summit victories, leaving the jersey on the shoulders of Huffman until the final climb of the day, assuming he would be in amongst it at the finish.  Tucked onto the tail of the seven man break away group was Krists Nielands (Axeon Hagens Berman).  However with the big climb at the end of the stage, it was unlikely that the peloton would make the same mistake as they did on Stage 2.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792216-10-223355/Painting.html#.VzvBO_mDGko

Tour of California, Stage 2: With Seconds to Spare

On rare occasions the break away actually succeeds, today was one of those days.  Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling) opened up the sprint with about 500 meters left to race, but was unable to hold of the more experienced Ben King (Cannondale) who had the advantage of starting the sprint from behind Huffman.  The pair had wisely not played any cat and mouse games knowing full well that the peloton was in full flight just behind them and gaining on them all the way to the line.  In the end both would have a leader's jersey for their efforts of the day.  Huffman is now the King of the Mountain and King pulls on the Yellow Jersey of race leader.  You can just see the peloton sprinting a mere 8 seconds behind the winning Richmonder.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" that was created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art (and two cycling books) are 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791616-9-223355/Painting.html#.VzqIz_krLIU

Tour of California, Stage 2: Topping Up

With just over 15 miles left to run to the finish line, the last two from the early break were beginning to think they might have a chance to hold off the charging peloton.  The pair seemed to have work out some sort of alliance over the final summit of the day.  Ben King (Cannondale) seemed to let Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling) claim the final King of the Mountain points, enough points to award him the Polka Dot Jersey at the end of the day.  King reached out to grab a couple of bottles and energy gels for the final assault on the finale of the stage.  At this point the duo had ridden William Barta (Axeon Hagens Berman).  Barta had either flatted or crashed on the final descent, but then managed to catch back up to these two.  However, it seems that the effort left his legs deadened for the final little climb of the day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" that was created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art (and two cycling books) are 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791586-8-223355/Painting.html#.VzqFm_krLIU

Tour of California, Stage 2: Hunting the Break

One the second of the four climbs of the day, the peloton decided that the break of four had built up more time than they should have, so off they went in pursuit.  Tinkoff had used all but the Sagans Peter and Juraj, so it was Direct Energie and Trek-Segafredo who moved up to lend a hand in the chance.  While it is not unusual for the break to build a big lead, it seemed that the peloton wasn't pulling those up the road back as quick as they would prefer.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" that was created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art (and two cycling books) are 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791505-7-223355/Painting.html#.VzqCd_krLIU

Tour of California, Stage 2: Across the Valley Floor

True to form, Stage 2 of the Tour of California had its small break away.  At least it was the small one that was allowed to build up a seven minute lead on the peloton.  Earlier, 22 riders had escaped the main body of racers, and that was not allowed to amass any time on the peloton at all.  The foursome included Ben King (Cannondale), who hails from my hometown of Richmond, Virginia, along with Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Giant-Alpecin), William Barta (Axeon Hagens Berman) and Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" that was created live during the race using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art (and two cycling books) are 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791502-6-223355/Painting.html#.Vzp-vPkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 1: To Perfection

To quote Paul Sherwin, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), timed it to perfection.  The World Champion managed to burst out of the back and chase down the sprinting Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) and Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL Jumbo), to claim yet another victory while wearing the rainbow jersey that he won in my home town of Richmond, Virginia.  Sagan's win will have him trade in his stripes for the yellow jersey of race leader, a jersey that he took home as the over all victor a year ago.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, is 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791112-5-223355/Painting.html#.VznrGvkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 1: Got Anything Left?

After the final intermediate sprint, Oscar Clark (Holowesko/Citadel) but in a hard acceleration which only Jacob Rathe (Jelly Belly) and Daniel Patten (Team Wiggins) could follow.  Clark and Rathe soon shucked Patten and the pair pushed on in hopes of staying away from the closing peloton.  With the big teams and their fast men looking for a victory in the opening stage of the Tour of California, it was unlikely the pair had much of a chance.  With Rathe looking to see if Clark had anything left in his legs, it was almost a forgone conclusion the the pair would soon feel the wind of the passing peloton.  However Clark had done enough on the day to claim the first Polka Dot jersey of best climber.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, is 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791106-4-223355/Painting.html#.VznpEfkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 1: Gaining Points

At two different points along the course of each stage the organizers will have designated sprint points.  This is where racers will be given sprint points towards the sprinters jersey and bonus seconds reduced from their overall time.  With shorter stage races the bonus seconds can mean the difference between winning the overall or missing the podium altogether.  Michael Sheehan (Jelly Belly) was able to be the first across the line both times ensuring that he will pull on the sprinters jersey at the end of the day (even if he doesn't win the stage - because whomever wins today will have the yellow jersey of overall race leader).  Just missing out on maximum points were Daniel Eaton (UnitedHealthcare) and Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, is 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791097-3-223355/Painting.html#.VznmuPkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 1: Stretching the Peloton

Once the peloton had made it over the one big climb of the day, it was time for teams to see if their sprinters were still in the group.  With everyone still onboard, it was Katusha who took up the chase of those up the road.  Katusha was riding for their very successful sprinter, Alexander Kristoff.  The other teams with strong hopes pinned to their fast men were happy to let the Russian team do the work of pulling back the break away.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, is 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791088-2-223355/Painting.html#.VznkP_krLIU

Tour of California, Stage 1: Way Off the Front

This is my first time painting the now 11 year old Tour of California.  Normally I am all wrapped up in the Giro d'Italia but I thought that this year it would be a treat to paint a race that happens within the USA.  Besides, I do love to watch Peter Sagan race.  Most stages will feature an early break away frequently populated with members of the smaller Continental teams.  Today was no exception, amongst the seven to build up a six minute lead on the peloton were, Danny Pate (Rally Cycling), Daniel Patten (Team Wiggins), Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk) and Daniel Eaton (UnitedHealthcare).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting (only 4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The work, along with the rest of my cycling art and cycling art books, is 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2791079-1-223355/Painting.html#.VznigPkrLIU