The Art of Cycling: 2020

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, To the Line

The race today came down to the two favorites sprinting it out for the win. Both Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) waited as long as possible to start their sprint, each not wanting to give the other a chance to get around them. But with the chasing group just about two hundred meters behind, it was time to sprint it out between themselves. It was a little unclear who had taken the victory until we got a look at the photo finish. The photo confirmed that Van Der Poel had just beaten Van Aert by the length of his deep dish carbon wheel. The pair are evenly matched and they showed it by just how close the finish of Ronde Van Vlaanderen was. It may well have been the closest finish of the race since it first started 107 years ago. I tried to confirm that but the Pro Cycling Stats website only gives the time margins which shows the last five races have been close, but doesn't give the physical distance between finishers.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722808-37-280747/Painting/to-the-line-rvv20-8.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, One of These Two

With Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) out, the race was down to Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). Both riders had spent too much effort watching each other in last week's Gent-Wevelgem and marked each other out of contention for the sprint finish. Clearly the pair had no intention of repeating their mistake. While they had dueling words through the cycling press all week, today they were willing to collaborate to stay away and let their legs decide who was the better rider on the day. On their last trip up the Oude Kwaremont and the final climb, they stuck to each other like glue, and continued to work together. They have almost a minute and a half on the remnants of the peloton and they had no intention of letting anyone back into the race.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722742-36-280747/Painting/one-of-these-two-rvv20-7.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, What Happened?

Both Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) looked back to try and see what had happened. A rider can hear a crash happening behind them and can usually tell how bad it was by the sound. These two had Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) on their wheel as the trio rode away from the chasing peloton. As they caught a bit of a draft off of one of the race offical motos and then flipped around to pass, Alaphilippe had a momentary lapse of atention. That split second of talking to his team car on the radio meant that he ran his shoulder into the motorcycle or his driver and flipped his bike head over heals. That is him lying on the road where he came to rest after somersaulting over himself and his bike. He wasn't going to be rejoining the race. Normally, I don't paint crashes, and I really am focusing on his competitors reactions rather than his obvious pain, but this one change the profile of the remaining 35 kilometers of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. And not to my preferences.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722738-35-280747/Painting/what-happened-rvv20-6.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Off the Front

Everyone had been waiting for the move and at 44 kilometers up the Oude Kwareberg it came. Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie) had set himself up as the perfect springboard for Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step). Alaphilippe is riding his debut Ronde Van Vlaanderen and was hoping his Rainbow Jersey would take him to victory at the end of the day. This duo had opened some clear daylight between themselves and the peloton, but there was still quite a few kilometers of racing to go and anything could happen...

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722730-34-280747/Painting/off-the-front-rvv20-5.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Not Likely

With the early break finally mopped up by the peloton, it was time for the counter attacks to start. One of the first to go was Adrien Petit (Total Direct Energie). With another 63 kilometers left to race, it wasn't very likely that Petit could stay away. His chances were even less without anyone joining him in the effort to get away.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722702-33-280747/Painting/not-likely-rvv20-4.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Up the Wolvenberg

Ronde Van Vlaanderen (and most of the Belgium Classics) are known for their short, very steep, cobbled climbs. Sebastian Mora Vedri (Movistar) is bringing up the rear of the peloton on the Wolvenberg climb. He sits behind riders from several different wild card teams including Cofidis, Circus-Wanty Gobert, and Bingoal-WB. Normally, these embankments on each side of this stretch of pave would be four or five team with screaming Belgium (and world wide) cycling fans, but generally the public follow the wishes of the organizers and the government of Belgium and stayed away. All of Belgium will go back into lock down on Monday due to a resurgence of Covid-19.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722699-32-280747/Painting/up-the-wolvenberg-rvv20-3.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Their Time on the Front

After nearly sixty kilometers of racing the early break finally formed. The group of six build up almost a seven minute lead on the peloton, but with 126 kilometers to race it was unlikely they would stay away to the end. Fabio Van Den Bossche (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) was on the back of the group following Samuele Battistella (NTT), Dimitri Peyskens (Bingoal-WB), Gregor Muhlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Gijs Van Hoecke (CCC). The organizers had asked fans to stay away from the race and watch it all on TV. While there was clearly less cycling fans on the side of the road, it wasn't completely empty along the narrow lanes of Flanders.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722693-31-280747/Painting/their-time-on-the-front-rvv20-2.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Kissing His Babies

While cycling is full of drama, extreme physical efforts, crashes and an unending amout of pain, it does have its moments of charm and humanity. This moment was one of those. Tom Van Asbroeck (Israel Start Up Nation) took the time to stop and visit his young family on the side of the road as he raced through his home town. He started with his eldest daughter, now hugging his middle child, finishing with the babe in his wife's arms and then a big kiss for her. The race had another 100 kilometers to race, so he had no worries about not being to catch back onto the peloton after these few moments of love and happiness.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722687-30-280747/Painting/kissing-his-babies-rvv20-1.html

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Gent-Wevelgem, The Best Sprint

It turned out that Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) had the best sprint of the five that came to the line together. They had managed to drop the group that contained the two favorites and John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) who, on paper, was the best sprinter of the two groups coming into the last 500 meters. On Pedersen's wheel was Florian Senechal (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who was the best of his three teammates out of the group, claiming the second step on the podium. The two aggressors in the final kilometers, Matteo Trentin (CCC) and Alberto Bettiol (EF) took third and fourth respectively. This was Pedersen's first victory after surrendering his Rainbow Jersey three weeks ago. It was great to see that he was congratulated by all of those who just finished unable to get around the young Dane.

With the way the virus is resurging throughout Europe, and the USA, it may be unlikely that I will be painting any more racing this strange season. Hopefully, I wll be back with the Tour of Flanders next week, but I'm not holding my breath for the start of La Veulta. But then, I usually only paint one Grand Tour a year anyhow. The Giro is looking like a great race this year, but I just don't have the energy, nor strenght to try and paint it right now. I am still not anywhere near whole after my kidney donation surgery or the pneumonia complications that followed. Better, but not all better.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718368-29-280747/Painting/the-best-sprint-gw20-7.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Who Is It Going to Be?

With just six kilometers to go John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) had his head on a swivel trying to guess who was going to launch the attack. He looked back into the eyes of Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck-Quick Step) as Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and a small group looked on. A little further back it was Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) shadowed by Alberto Bettiol (EF) and Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ). Naturally the attack came from the very back with Bettiol being the one to launch the first attack out of this leading group. It came to not, but those without teammates with them are the ones who have to go on the offensive.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718350-28-280747/Painting/who-is-it-going-to-be-gw20-6.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Remembering Their Sacrafice

Much of the race has gone past memorials and graveyards of those who died in the Great War. This gate commemorates all of the military units that fought and died amongst the allies on Flanders fields. While this race was first contested after the war, others had to pause during both World War I & II. This year numerous races changed their calender or canceled altogether. This is the first time that it wasn't a war that stopped cycling, but then more have died due to Covid-19 than have died in either of the two wars fought across Europe.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718309-27-280747/Painting/remembering-their-scarafice-gw20-5.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Over the Final Climb

As the pair of Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) and Matteo Trentin (CCC) went over the top of the Kimmelberg for the final time they found themselves opening up a bit of a gap on the front group. As the others reached for bottles, gels and whatever else from their soigneurs at the summit, Kung and Trentin saw their chance to push on with their advantage. The back side of the Kimmelberg was extremely narrow with some tight turns so it was more advantageous to be in a small group then back in the peloton. As you can see from the pair's legs and jersey, this was definitely a mud-fest race that was presenting its own challenges for the riders and their mechanics. And again, the further back you are in the peloton, the muddier you get from the spray off the wheels of the other bikes. Thirty four kilometers to the end might be a bit much for the duo, but this is a race for the daring.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718303-26-280747/Painting/over-the-final-climb-gw20-4.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Last Time Up the Baneberg

The course of Gent-Wevelgem took the riders over some climbs multiple times including two climbs of the Baneberg. All of the climbs were short, steep and paved with cobblestones. I had been planning on painting the famous cobble stone race of Paris-Roubaix, yet it has been canceled due to the resurgence of Covid-19 throughout France. So I found coverage of this other cobbled semi-classic. The major difference in the two races is that Paris-Roubaix's cobbled sections are much longer and they are all flat. These roads seem somewhat smoother as well. This is the back end of the leading group on the road that includes Sep Vanmarcke (EF), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Fenix), Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale) and Luke Rowe (Ineos-Grenadiers). Gougeard was the only rider that managed to stay with the lead group from the original break away of the day. With 40 kilometers to go, most of those behind had little chance of figuring in the finale in just over an hour from now.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718294-25-280747/Painting/last-time-up-the-baneberg-gw20-3.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Yeah, They're Here

It was a treat to see Mark Cavendish (Bahrain-McLaren) back in the pro peloton. Today, he changed up his normal tactics and got into the early break in hopes of still being on the front when it came to the final sprint. He looked over his shoulder to confirm that the leading peloton had in fact caught him and his erstwhile break away companions. Ahead of Cavendish was Julien Morice (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) who didn't seem to pay any attention to those joining up with the group. Behind the Manx Missile were Alexander Konychev (Mitchelton-Scott), Leonardo Basso (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale). With 66 kilometers left to race, it was possible to think this was going to be the group that contested for the victory in Wevelgem.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718281-24-280747/Painting/yeah-theyre-here-gw20-2.html

Gent-Wevelgem, And?

At the summit of the first trip up the Kemmelberg, it was a rider from Alpecin-Fenix on the front of the chasing peloton. He looked back to the rider from Groupama-FDJ seeming to ask what he had to give. The duo had opened a bit of a gap on those behind that included Luke Rowe (Ineos-Grenadiers) amongst others. With 81 kilometers to race and a group of seven up the road, it remains to be seen if this will become a move that sticks. I am sorry that I wasn't able to get the names of these riders off the front, neither I nor the commentators on FloBikes were able to see their bib, nor bike numbers. If you know their names, please let me know.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718259-23-280747/Painting/and-gw20-1.html

Sunday, October 4, 2020

LBL Femmes, She Left It All on the Road

Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) had ridden of the front of a very talented peloton for roughly 25 kilometers, so it is natural that she was completely spent after taking the victory salute at the line in Liege. With her head down and her soigneur there to congratulate and assist her, it was a joyful and spent woman draped across her handlebars. Shortly after this, she was congratulated by her teammate who took third. And then it was time to pull on a face mask and speak to the press as the winner of the fourth Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714944-22-280747/Painting/she-left-it-all-on-the-road-lbl20-5.html

LBL Femmes, Trying to Cross Alone

Realizing that the seven chasers were never going to get organized and chase down the lone leader, Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott) attacked her erstwhile companions. Brown hope to be able to cross the gap to Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) on her own. She had enough of a gap on the others that she didn't need to worry about taking someone forward who would only out sprint her in the end. Alas, Brown never caught Diegnan, but was just a mere 10 seconds behind the winning Brit by the time they reached the line in Liege. The rest of the chasers sprinted it out over a minute later with one of Diegnan's teammates taking third. I am always concerned watching the peloton race on these Belgium cement slap roads, the center gap looks to be a tire eater and sure to cause an awful crash. Thankfully, I have yet to see it happen. I, however, have had a rather spectacular crash in a tram track while riding in Berlin. I was fortunate enough to have taken my helmet with me, but I did put quite the gash in my right ear.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714922-21-280747/Painting/trying-to-cross-alone-lbl20-4.html

LBL Femmes, Schooling the Peloton

Sometimes there is an image that I just can't resist painting. This was just such a moment, and it fit the story of what was happening in the final kilometers of today's race. Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) was schooling all of those behind on how to race the final kilometers of the Liege Bastogn Liege Femmes. As she hit the foot of the final climb, the Cote de la Roche aux Faucons, she had a minute on those that seemed unwilling to commit to chasing and just fifteen kilometers to race. I'm often ask how I choose what to paint from each race, here is an example of part of that selection process.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714911-20-280747/Painting/schooling-the-peloton-lbl20-3.html

LBL Femmes, The Chasers

This group was desperate to chase back the lone Brit, Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) who was a mere 50 seconds up the road. All of us watching ponder why would they let them go, but all of us who have raced know there is that point when you just don't have the legs to go with the move. It is a sinking feeling to watch the race go up the road and know you just can't do anything about it. With the strength of former World Champion, Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv), along with Julietter Labous (Sunweb), Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott), Kathrine Aalerud (Movistar) amongst others, should have been able to collaborate in the chase, but each desired the win, thus not wanting to pull the others up to the leader. As it is said, sometimes you have to be willing to loss to win a race. However, I think these ladies got the wrong end of that stick.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714905-19-280747/Painting/the-chasers-lbl20-2.html

LBL Femmes, Some Help at the Top

As Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) neared the top of the Cote de la Redoute (the penultimate climb of the race), she was begining to open up a gap on the group of nine she had been with. At the top she was passed a bottle by one of the team soigneurs. With just 30 kilometers to the finish, this seemed a bit to dangerous of a rider to let get a few seconds on those behind.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714877-18-280747/Painting/some-help-at-the-top.html

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Tour, Final Stage: Confirming Green

As the Tour completed its final sprint, it was Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) confirming that he was the rightful wearer of the Maillot Vert. Bennett and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) have been in a race long battle for the Sprinter's Jersey, and the stage relegation of Sagan only added to the controversary of the competition, but regardless of all with Bennett's first on the Champs Elysees, it was his jersey without a doubt. On the wheels of the Irishman, is the reigning World Champion (for another two weeks), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) followed by the seven time winner of the Green Jersey, Peter Sagan. The podium was rounded out by the winner of the very first stage of this Tour, Alexander Kristoff (UAE-Team Emirates) and Elia Viviani (Cofidis). It is worthy of note that UAE-Team Emirates held the very first Maillot Jaune for one day, and then held the very last (and the over-all) Maillot Jaune for one day.

So this is it. A great Tour under some very trying circumstances with an umpredicted winner for the first time in decades. I hope to paint the abbreviated Worlds and Paris Roubaix to wrap up this odd season. I may paint some other races, but those two are certain. Thank you for reading about the race along with me.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705874-144-282744/Painting/confirming-green-tdf20-136.html

Tour, Final Stage: On the Bell Lap

This Tour has been so very different than any I've watched or painted in the past. Each Tour is its own special three weeks, but when it look so much like this one wouldn't happen, the fact that it started at all meant so much in these Covid Days of Uncertainty. While for the first time, the Tour was raced in September, it somehow had the weather playing less of a factor rather than more of one. With the testing protocols, it was never a sure thing that this day on the Champs Elysees would arrive. So seeing the bell lap was all that more special this year. And then finally, for my wife and I this year's Tour had an extra layer of difficulty for us. As the Tour came out of its final rest day, she and I checked into the hospital for a long awaited kidney transplant for her. I would be undergoing kidney donation surgery on the same day, but the kidney would be going off to Maine since we were not a good match (internally, anyway) and she would be recieving one from Georgia. It made finishing my painting to the Tour a bit of a challenge, and I am guessing some of these post are riddled with mistakes, but with the exception of not painting Stage 19, here we are on the bell lap! She is doing great, and I am recovering well. So this is a painting, and a post, to remind us all of the beauty around us everyday, and to be sure to never miss a moment of it.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705859-143-282744/Painting/on-the-bell-lap-tdf20-135.html

Tour, Final Stage: Nothing Ventured...

We all know the expression, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." For this quartet, it is demonstratively true. They know that the likelihood of winning the stage from a break away on the Champs Elysees are slim indeed, however the chances that Greg Van Avermaet (CCC), Pierre-Luc Perichon (Cofidis), Conor Swift (Arkea-Samsic) and Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) would win from a bunch sprint are infinitely smaller still. And so it is that off they go into a four man break in hopes of staying away to the finale. They did not, but the tried, and in so doing earned some rather useless sprint points towards the Sprint Competition in the doing.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705848-142-282744/Painting/nothing-ventured...-tdf20-134.html

Tour, Final Stage: Time to Start Racing

With the formalities of the final stage our of the way, it was time to get to racing. Although, I didn't see the honorary champagne toast between the winner, his teammates and his director sportif. In the past the champagne was once replaced with a good English Cider, but I don't think I have ever not seen the toast. Nevertheless, now it was time to race for the victory of the final stage of the Tour. I was unable to identify who the Ag2r La Mondiale rider who was just rolling of the front of the peloton, but it is Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) taking over with the pace making and Christoph Laporte (Cofidis) waiting to do his part to get a break away established. While there are many iconic images of Paris, this is the one that is Paris and the Tour de France. Every year the Champs Elysees plays host to the final stage, and everyone in the peloton is thrilled to have made it to the end of the Tour. Many hope to achieve the rare feet of making a break stick for the stage, but it rarely succeeds.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705808-141-282744/Painting/time-to-start-racing-tdf20-133.html

Tour, Final Stage, The Art of Cycling

Rigoberto Uran (EFPro Cycling) wanted to make sure his teammates, TeJay van Garderen and Hugh Carthy were taking in the beauty of the moment they were experience as they road across the plaza at the Louvre. The art that resides past the entrance within the glass pyramids designed by Pei, is some of the most important artworks in the world. As the peloton rounds the corner ahead, they will allow UAE-Team Emirates and Tadej Pogacar to have a promenade onto the Champs Elysees before the race for the final sprint begins.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705777-140-282744/Painting/the-art-of-cycling-tddf20-132.html

Tour. Final Stage: Faux Sprint

The final day of the Tour is a chance for a little levity, relaxation, and a time to chat with everyone you have been racing against for the last 20 days. As of the modern era, it is traditional that the only leader's jersey that is still competitive is the Sprinter's Jersey. The rest of the jersey are decided the day before. Coincidentally, it was Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) who claimed all three of the other jerseys in the penultimate stage of the Tour. Today, the course featured one catagory four climb, awarding one point in the competition for the Maillot a Pois. As Clement Russo (Arkea-Samsic) just rode over the line, his teammate Warren Barguil fake a sprint to steal the points at the top of the Cote de Beulle. Naturally, none of this would have effected the desitination of the Maillot a Pois regardless, but it was to see a little fun and games after such a hard fought Tour unders such trying circumstances.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705721-139-282744/Painting/faux-sprint-tdf20-131.html

Monday, September 21, 2020

Tour, Final Stage: These Two!

After the required team group photo ahead of the start of the race, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) went forward to salute his countryman and final winner of the Miallot Jaune, Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates). It is to Roglic's credit that he did not seemingly hold any animosity to Pogacar for out riding him on the final competitive stage of the Tour. In fact, he hugged Pogacar shortly after finishing the Time Trial that lost him the Maillot Jaune. Not only did Pogocar win the Miallot Juane, but he also won the Maillot Blanc of best young rider (he doesn't turn 22 until tomorrow) but his time trial ride also earned him the Maillot a Pois. I leave it to others smarter than I do figure out the last time this has happened, I don't believe even the great Eddy Merckx did even pull off winning these three jerseys.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3705496-138-282744/Painting/these-two.html

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Tour, Stage 20: Surmounting His Final Challenge!

Since I have been painting the Tour, and the decades I've been watching and reading abou the Grand Bouclee, I don't remember the Maillot Jaune changing hands on the penultimate stage of the Tour. Nor do I remember anyone holding the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot a Blanc and the Maillot a Pois as the race comes into Paris. I believe that only Eddy Merckx has won three jerseys in a single Tour, those were the Yellow, Polka Dot and Green. As far as I know he never won a best young rider's jersey. Yet, that is eactly what has happen in this moment of the painting, as Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) creasted the final climb, he was set to claim the stage, the Maillot Jaune, keep his Maillot Blanc, and his final climb also let him claim the Maillot a Pois!

Many of you may know that I have been finishing up painting the Tour from a hospital room. On the 16th of September I donate a kidney in a paired exchange, which provided a kidney transplant for my wife. While I was watch the time trial the nurses came and took my vitals and my heart rate was way high, 110bpm. They left the room concerned, as was I, until I realized I was just really excited about Pogacar's time trial.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704479-137-282744/Painting/surmounting-his-final-challenge-tdf20-129.html

Tour, Stage 20: Riding on to the Podium

Richie Porte's (Trek-Segafredo) wife had a baby right at the start of the Tour de France, according to the press she wanted him to go and ride the Tour. Porte has felt that this was his last chance to ride the Tour has a team leader, in fact he has official said he will not do so again. According to the press again, all he wants is to photograph on the Champs Elysees standing on the podium. His third place in today's time trial ensure that his desire was going to be his reality. He stormed around the course going so far as to pass his two minute man, Mikel Landa (Bahrain McLaren) and to gain enough time to over take Miquel Angel Lopez (Astana) who had started the day third on the general classification.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704450-136-282744/Painting/riding-on-to-the-podium-tdf20-128.html

Tour, Stage 20: Flying into Town

Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) road a storming ride around the only time trial course for this Tour de France. As he crossed the line in La Planche des Belles Filles he posted the fastest time thus far. He was later only topped by the winner of the stage and the guy who will win the Tour de France in Paris. It is tradition to not attack the Maillot Juane, but to honor the jersey on the final day of the stage. All of the other jerseys and the final sprint are all full on racing once the peloton puts its wheels onto the cobbles of the Champs Elysees. It was wonderful to se Dumoulin showing his true form on the last day of flat out racing in this Tour. At the end of the day the Team of Jumbo-Visma held the three of the top five placings on a truly hard individual time trial. Thus laying to rest any doubt who was the strongest team in the race.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704449-135-282744/Painting/flying-into-town-tdf20-127.html

Tour, Stage 20: Losing Some Precious Seconds

As Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) went through the second time check at Plancher les Mines it was clear he was starting to lose a few seconds to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) the only one with any realistic chance of taking the Maillot Jaune of the shoulders of the Slovenian. However, Slovenia need not worry the small country will merely be swapping one countryman winning the 2020 Tour de France for a different countryman. The international quality of the Tour is apparent in this painting. It is a Slovenian, in yellow, in a race around France being photograph by someone wrapped in a Dutch flag with the race director riding in a full electric car made by a Czech auto company, Skoda who is a big race supporter.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704443-134-282744/Painting/losing-some-precious-seconds-tdf20-126.html

Tour, Stage 20: Maximum Effort

Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe) but in a maximum effort on the final climb of the individual time trial. He finished high on the rankings when he came in, but then due to the rides coming after him he ended his race of truth in 21st place. I'm not trying to say anything about what is painted on the road way. The start town of Bourg en Bresse is where Thibaut Pinot was born so the final kilometer of the steep climb was painted with his name over and over and over. All we can see due to the hugh (mostly masked) crowd are the last three leaders of his last name, Pi NOT.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704437-133-282744/Painting/maximum-effort-tdf20-125.html

Tour, Stage 20: Points to Fight For

I think it is rather unusual that there is actually a chance to score KOM points on an indidivual time trial, but this has been an unusual Tour for many, many reasons. We might as well add KOM points as yet another stop on this crazy train ride. Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) had taken the Maillot a Pois on stage 18 while is teammate claimed the stage win, a decision they made to share the spoils of victory. Today he is just 2 points ahead of the man in second place, and in the Maillot Blanc, so his ride will not be for stage honors, just to be the fastest from the bottom to the top of the final climb. Alas, he was not. Sorry for this image being out of focus, but I am shooting this work (along with creating it) in a make shift studio while I am in the hospital recovering from kidney donation. I may try to replace it once I get home.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704426-132-282744/Painting/points-to-fight-for-tdf20-124.html

Tour, Stage 20: A Gaggle of Covidiots

I was hoping to get a view that would allow me to paint Thibaut Pinot (Groupama FDJ) with the French Flag. I didn't realize it would be a gaggle of drunk idiots who almost failed to pull the flag out of the way as Pinot raced across his home town roads. The macho men also neglected to wear a mask or respect the riders in their labors. I think the new term for 2020, Covidiots, fits this group like a glove. All of the other fans seemed to get what they should be doing, and also that it would be wise to be out of the distance of these guys air and spittle.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704380-131-282744/Painting/a-gaggle-of-covidiots-tdf20-123.html

Tour, Stage 20: Getting Himself Going

It was great to be able to see TeJay van Garderen (EF Pro Cycling) out and visible on the road today. I have always been a fan of this Coloradian cyclist and I have been hoping to include at least one painting of him in the 2020 Tour de France. I feel like it was his job to be the wise veteran on this Tour offering his guidance on how to handle what the Tour can do to your phsyche and your body over the three week Grand Buclee. He is in 90th place almost four and a half hours behind the Maillot Jaune.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704376-130-282744/Painting/getting-himself-going-tdf20-122a.html

Tour, Stage 20: Down the Ramp

Yes, I did skip stage 19. With all that is going on with us medically, it just wasn't possible to squeeze in painting an extra stage to be back in sync with the Tour after donating a kidney on Wednesday, and my wife have a kidney transplant on the same day. Small complications have kept us in the hospital for extra days. I am writing this from my bed, as I have painted stages 17, 18 & 20 from either my bed or the chair in my room. We both have a good chance of going home tomorrow. So, now on to the Tour de France and my artwork thereof.

Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) was one of the riders in the middle to early on the start list. The riders start based on where they are on the general classification, the last goes first and the Miallot Juane goes last. Cavagna was a last minute call up to race the Tour and has done great work for the team including today. While wearing the tricolore of being the champion of the time trial discipline in France, he laid down a best time that stood for most of the day. He ended the day in sixth over all. Three of those ahead of him on the day are the top three going into the final day of the Tour.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3704368-129-282744/Painting/down-the-ramp-tdf20-122.html

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Tour, Stage 18: You Should Take It

Given how far back the rest of the splinter peloton was from Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) and his teammate Richard Carapaz were, the duo had time to decide how to divide the spoils of the stage. Carapaz had done enough with Kwiatkowski's help to take over the lead in the King of the Mountains, giving the team something to cheer about in their less than ideal Tour. It appeared that Carapaz was telling his racing buddy that he should take the stage victory, that was they would both be on the podium at the finish line in La Roche Sur Furon. In the end the came across the line together holding arms,but it was Kwiatkowski wheel that was the one to cross first. I enjoyed this image more than that one, this really should the heart of these teammates and their respect for each other. See cycling really is a team sport.

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-de-France-2020/3703987-128-282744/Painting/you-should-take-it-tdf20-121.html

Tour, Stage 18: A Devil of a Ride

I titled this as I did for two reasons. First of Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) descended like a demon to get within striking distance of the GC contenders in this Tour de France. He joined up with the Jumbo-Visma duo of Wout Van Aert and Tom Dumoulin who were more interest in getting back to their team leader, Primoz Roglic than they weren't concerned that they were bringing Porte back into the group of the Miallot Jaune. With just a flat stage, a uphill time trial, and the promenade into Paris, this was realistically the last chance to put time into each other's rivals, but instead it was a relatively neutral day. That being said some riders slipped away on the final climb.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703982-127-282744/Painting/a-devil-of-a-ride-tdf20-120.html

Tour, Stage 18: Quick Change at a Bad Time

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) is having a great Tour despite his near daily need of a bike change when the race is at its most decisive. Today it was the gravel section across the final climbs plateau that puncture his front tire. He manged to keep racing on the flat while both calling for his team car and staying with his group on the gravel road. His bike change was swift and he was able to catch up on the decent to finish with his GC rivals. I do enjoy seeing the cowboy bandit scarf method of a mask that Porte's mechanic is employing.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703971-126-282744/Painting/quick-change-at-a-bad-time-tdf20-119.html

Tour, Stage 18: Alone Together

It was the Ineos-Grenadiers guys, Michal Kwiatkowski and Richard Carapaz, who were the first to hit the gravel section on the top of the Montee du plateau de Glieres. The announcers on NBC Sports were equating this stretch of road to Paris Roubaix, but it is more clearly a mini Strade Bianchi. Perhaps Phil Liggett didn't want to draw attention to a race that NBC doesn't broadcast.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703959-125-282744/Painting/alone-together-tdf20-118.html