Paris Nice, Stage 5: Preparing to Launch

With just over a kilometer left to race, it was full on on the the front of the peloton.  As always, it was a combination of sprinters wanting to take the stage, and GC contenders trying to stay at the front to avoid trouble or splits that could result in lost seconds.  Arnaud Demare (FDJ) has his guys on the front hoping to make his Sprinter's Green Jersey that was on loan from Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep) into his own.  Around the Frenchman were some other hopefuls including John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) and lead out men for Sunweb and LottoNL-Jumbo, as well as his own pilot fish.

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%20/2932249-358-195767/PaintingPreparing%20to%20Launch%20PN17-22.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Leaving the Others

Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) knew that the peloton would soon be upon this quartet, so on a small rise out of town, he decided to see if he could create the surprise.  At first it seemed that the other three weren't interested in chasing the fleeing Frenchman, but Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Axel Domont (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) eventually caught back up to Di Gregorio's wheel.  Ironically, it was Di Gregorio who was finally caught first by the charging peloton, not that it was much longer before everyone was back in 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2932045-357-195767/PaintingLeaving%20the%20Others%20PN17-21.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Ever Hopeful

The early break had been larger, as had their gap on the peloton, but this foursome of Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), Pierre-Luc Perichon (Foruneo-Vital Concept) and Axel Domont (Ag2r La Mondiale) were able to keep working together.  As they worked to stay off the front, hoping against hope that they would make it to the end of the stage, the peloton was getting it together for a sprint royale.

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%20/2932040-356-195767/PaintingEver%20Hopeful%20PN17-20.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Lantern Rouge

The honorific of Lantern Rouge is usually reserved for the rider in last place on the general classification, however Joe Dombrowski (Cannondale Drapac) is only one spot (30 seconds) removed from the honor.  Today he was spending his time hanging on to the tail end of the peloton (until he lost contact near the end of the stage).  Just ahead of the American are the Eritrean Tsgabu Grmay (Bahrain-Merida) and Gatis Smukulis (Delko Marseille Provence KTM).

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%20/2931657-354-195767/PaintingLantern%20Rouge%20PN17-19.html

Paris Nice, Stage 4: The Final Meters

For those of you who have been reading this blog for a while now, you will know that I enjoy playing word games with the titles of the paintings.  This one has two possible interpretations, first the obvious, it is just a few meters left on course for the race leader, Arnaud Demare (FDJ).  Secondly, these are the final that he will be wearing the Maillot Jaune in the 75th Paris Nice.  Demare was well aware that today would be the day that he lost the jersey, an uphill time trial doesn't exactly play to his strengths.  But better to have worn Yellow and lost it than to have never worn it at all.

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%20/2931073-353-195767/PaintingThe%20Final%20Meters%20PN17-18.html#.WMBdnvkrLIU

Paris Nice, Stage 4: Cheering Him On

French cycling fans, and indeed fans from all over Europe, are very enthusiastic about their sport, but none more so as when one of their own flies past them.  Particularly if they are doing as well on the day (and the race) as Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep).  Alaphilippe started the day in second place overall and in the White Jersey of best young rider.  He was hoping to exchange white for yellow at the end of the day.  A hope that could well be realized since the Yellow Jersey of Arnaud Demare (FDJ) is on more of a sprinter than a climber like Alaphilippe.  What wasn't expected was that the young French man would not only claim the Yellow Jersey, but the stage as well.  Chapeau!

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%20/2931062-352-195767/PaintingCheering%20Him%20On%20PN17-17.html#.WMBbjfkrLIU

Paris Nice, Stage 4: In the Last Turn

Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) has been keeping a low profile thus far, but in the individual time trial, there is no place to hide.  Fortunately for the Russian, he had now reason to hide nor to be ashamed of his performance today.  He just missed upsetting the time of Alberto Contador, but his ride today kept him well within striking distance of the Yellow Jersey as the race moves southwards.

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%20/2931061-351-195767/PaintingIn%20the%20Last%20Turn%20PN17-16.html#.WMBZMPkrLIU

Paris Nice, Stage 4: Dancing Up the Hill

Alberto Contador (Trek Segafredo) sporting his new team's kit, was another of those pre-race favorites who lost time on the first stage of the race.  Unlike Porte, he has been fighting to stay close on the general classification.  Today he hopes to combine his climbing abilities with his time trial prowess to move back into contention for the Yellow Jersey.  Contador laid down strong early time splits and took over the lead on the day as he crossed the finish line atop Mont Brouilly.

Today's stage started in Beaujeu and rode through the vineyards made famous by Beaujeulais wines every fall.

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%20/2931057-350-195767/PaintingDancing%20Up%20the%20Hill%20PN17-15.html#.WMBXY_krLIU

Paris Nice, Stage 4 Cautiously

Richie Porte (BMC) isn't having the Paris Nice that he wanted.  As is the tradition in any stage race, he is wearing number 1 as the defending champ from last year's edition of the race, but he is far from number one this year.  Porte lost big chunks of time in the first two stages of the race and has seemed to have just packed it in since then.  Even today, on an uphill individual time trial, he seemed not to have the heart to take on the stage (or the wet course).  But I guess the thinking is, " Why risk injury in a losing cause... after all it is a long season."

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%20/2931048-349-195767/PaintingCautiously%20PN17-14.html#.WMBU9fkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 3 Ahead of Some Big Names

The Irish cyclist Sam Bennett (Bora Hansgrohe) had to be very pleased with his sprint victory indeed
Not only had he been guided through the final kilometers by the World Champion and teammate Peter Sagan but he was able to out sprint the likes of Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) - 2nd place John Degenkolb (Trek Segafredo) - 3rd place and Marcel Kittel (Quickstep) - 4th place  Rounding out some of the other top ten placings were Michael Matthews (Sunweb) and Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal)  The mass sprint also meant that none of the jerseys changed hands including the Polka Dots of Romain Hardy (Fortuneo Vital Concept)

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%20/2930347-348-195767/PaintingAhead%20of%20Some%20Big%20Names%20PN17-13.html#.WL74zPkrLIU