The Art of Cycling: September 2020

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.

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/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

Tour, Stage 18: It Doesn't Get Any Easier

There is an adage in cycling that seems to be attributed to Greg Lemond the only American to win the Tour that has not had is victories expunged for doping. He is quoted as saying that riding never gets easier, you just get faster. This was the opposite for this quartet on the lower slopes of the Montee du plateau des Glieres. Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) was drifted back through the peloton having once been in the break away. He is now hoping to latch on to the EF Cycling trio of their leader, Rigoberto Uran and his domestiques Daniel Felipe Martinez and Hugh Carthy. It may not be fair to call Martinez a domestique, after all he has won a mountain top finish stage in this year's Tour.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703945-124-282744/Painting/it-doesnt-get-any-easier-tdf20-117.html

Tour, Stage 18: "What Do You Want Me to Do?"

I am assuming that was what Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) was asking as this trio came off of the Col des Aravis. The other possiblity was he was trying to find out what happen to Marc Hirschi (Sunweb) who had been in the group at the start of the descent. Hirschi had crashed, he was up quickly but he wasn't going to see the front group again. On the wheel of the former World Champion was his teammate Richard Carapaz and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain McLaren). It was beginning to look like this trio was going to be the winning move of the day. Others were chasing by these three were holding off those behind.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703919-123-282744/Painting/what-should-i-do-tdf20-116.html

Tour, Stage 18: I've Got You Covered

Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) had tried to escape from the small group that was the leaders on the road. He used a round-about to mask his attack, but Marc Hirschi (Sunweb) must have seen the attack out of the corner of his eye. Hirschi swung onto the Ecuadorian's wheel and nullified this escape. The pair were at different purposes, it seems that Carapaz had decided that he should fight to claim the Miallot a Pois, whereas Hirschi was solely after the stage victory (not to say that Carapaz wouldn't want the stage as well as the jersey).

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703893-122-282744/Painting/ive-got-you-covered-tdf20-115.html

Tour, Stage 18: Checking on His Teammate

Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) set the pace on the front of the break away, check back regularly to see how his teammate, Richard Carapaz was doing. Ineos-Grenadiers have had to quickly rethink their team stradegy since the sole designated leader had to drop out of the Tour yesterday mid stage. Pello Belbao (Bahrain-McLaren) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) were benfiting by the Polish riders efforts in the lumpy valleys had Ineo-Gerandiers went looking for a stage win and perhaps the Maillot a Pois. It was a great day for the break to succed as long as no one under a half hour behind the leader dared to go up the road.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703889-121-282744/Painting/checking-on-his-teammate-tdf20-115.html

Tour, Stage 18: It's Going to Be a Long Hard Day

After the intermediate sprint point the peloton was facing 5 catagoried climbs the smallest of which was a catagory 3. Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) has been struggling mightily to come home inside the time limit since we have gotten to the Alps. As he drop away on the first climb of the day, the Catagory 1 Cormet de Roseland, he must have thinking it is just this stage and then the big mountains are done for the 2020 Tour de France. But if he wanted to sprint for another victory in stage 19 or on the Champs Elysees in Paris, he had to stay inside the time limit today.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703886-120-282744/Painting/its-going-to-be-a-long-hard-day-tdf20-114.html

Tour, Stage 18: He Wants to Keep It

The planners of the race decided to cut a break for the sprinters and set the intermediate sprint long before they had to face all of the climbing of the day. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) proved he wanted to keep his Maillot Vert. At Bourg Saint Maurice les Arc, he out sprinted everyone for maximum points at the line. It was Matteo Trentin (CCC) crossing second and the last step of the podium went to Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe). For the last two days Sagan has been ceding a couple of points back to Bennett, making it look like Sagan will not be getting his record 8th Sprinter;s Jersey when we get to Paris on Sunday.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703847-119-282744/Painting/he-wants-to-keep-it-tdf20-113.html

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Tour, Stage 17: The Fruits of His Labor

It was one of the three from the previous post. Miquel Angel Land (Astana) was just able to hold of the fast closing peloton of the elite riders of the Tour. It was the Maillot Jaune of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) the came across next and Maillot Jaune of Tadiej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) rounded out the podium atop the Col de la Loze.

As the riders finish, the are a gaggle of press photograhers waiting to get the shot that tells the story of victory and perhaps, later, the struggle of defeat on the faces of those who thought they could have done better on a day of big climbs.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703130-118-282744/Painting/the-fruits-of-his-labor-tdf20-112.html

Tour, Stage 17: Is It One of These Three?

As this trio, the was still of the front, it was looking like the stage was going to go to one of these three riders. Izaguirre was repalced by his teammate Miquel Angel Lopex (Astana) in the front. It was still Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) pushing the pace up the Col de La Loze with just 16 kilometers to the top and the end of thier efforts. I am unclear when Lopez got there, it could have been that he was miss identified early by the commentators on NBCSN. Or I could have be dozing off due to meds from yesterday's surgery.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703125-117-282744/Painting/is-it-one-of-these-three-tdf20-111.html

Tour, Stage 17: Checking the Time

A bit antiquated but the Tour still has a motorcycle who's sole job is to go between groups of riders out on the road. Now adays this information is easily communicated via race radios that are in every riders ears. There are times when they will pull the earpiece out of their ears just to concentrate on the job at an. When you on your limit, it really doesn't help to have someone screaming in you ear to go faster. The red bib numbers on the back of Carapaz's jersey is for being the most combative racer on the prevous stage. Although I think it should have gone to Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe). Afterall it was his aggressive riding that won him the stage, Carapaz was second yesterday, and it wasn't a close second either. But then the jury has bad a couple of bad decisions in this Tour thus far.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703119-116-282744/Painting/checking-the-time-tdf20-110.html

Tour, Stage 17: At It Again

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) is never one to give up, that is part of the reason I ama big fan. On the Col de la Madeleine this trio left the rest of the large break. Along with the aggressive riding of the Frenchman, Gorka Izaguirre (Astana) and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) jioned in in the effort to get away. Alaphilippe was just riding the only way he knows how, but Carapaz was hoping to give his team a stage win, since Bernal has now left the race. Carapaz would be much higher on the GC had been caught out by the cross winds in Stage 7.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703116-115-282744/Painting/at-it-again-tdf20-109.html

Tour, Stage 17: One Giving Chase

First let me start by saying I've just had major surgery, I donated a kidny on the 16th. This is the one painting I was able to do on that day. So please forgive me any factual mistakes or unseen typos. I am wirting this about a day and a half afte getting out of the OR.

That being said, I believe this is Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) giving chase to the break aways going up the road. I don't think he ever got across, which says somthing about the groups up the road.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3703068-114-282744/Painting/one-giving-chase-tdf20-108.html

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Tour, Stage 16: Pure Power

Pure power is the only description for how Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe) won his first stage in the Tour de France. He simply road away from four quality riders from near the top of the final big climb of the day. He then increased his lead as he crossed the valley and up into the finishing town of the Villard de Lans. We have all been expecting an image of a Bora-Hansgrohe rider raising his arms in victory, but we had expected it to be Kamna's teammate, Peter Sagan. Although, he would usually already be in the Green Jersey of the leader of the sprint competition. It is still uncertain if Sagan will be able to win his eighth Maillot Vert by the time we reach Paris.

This painting is the last I will be doing prior to under going surgery tomorrow morning early. I will be donating one of my kidneys in a paired donor exchange. Later tomorrow, my wife Bridget will be recieving a kidney transplant from a different donor as mine goes off to another recipient. I hope to be able to continue to paint the Tour from the hospital and from home as I recover, but I doubt seriously I wll be painting Stage 17 live (or even on the same day) after all as the peloton goes up the Col de la Madeleine, I will be having a kidney removed from my body. This seems to be an appropriate title to go into the surgeries with.

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-2020/3701770-113-282744/Painting/pure-power-tdf20-107.html

Tour, Stage 16: Coming Home Alone

Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe) distanced his erstwhile break away companions at the top of the Montee Saint Nizier de Moucherotte and he stretched out his lead on the way down the other side. He is a three time Swiss National Time Trial Champion so staying away from those chasing behind should be a do-able thing. His one concern my be the last three kilometers that climb up to the finish in the Villard de Lans. Behind his is the Ecuadorian climber from team Ineos-Grenadiers and his countryman and reigning Swiss Road Race Champion, however neither could pull back anytime on Kamna.

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-2020/3701756-112-282744/Painting/going-home-alone-tdf20-107.html

Tour, Stage 16: Attacking Each Other

Near the top of the Montee Saint Nizier de Moucherotte it was the time for the best of the break to start attacking each other. The big move came from Richard Carapz (Ineos-Grenadiers) who was hoping to get something for his team after the disaster that was the last day of racing. His team has dominated the Tour for most of this past decade so it is odd to see their riders vying for stage wins out of a break away. Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe) was on the front when the attack came, but he as still able to jump onto the Ecuadorian's wheel. And Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama-FDJ) dove onto the wheel, but slowing dropped off the pace as the other two raced to the top of the 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3701745-111-282744/Painting/attacking-each-other-tdf20-105.html

Tour, Stage 16: Au Revoir

When I painted (and titled) this, I thought this was the moment Benoit Cosnefroy (Ag2r La Mondiale) was going to be saying farewell to his Maillot a Pois. Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) had pulled even with him on points and there were still to categorized climbs to go in today's stage. All Rolland had to do was score just one point and Cosnefroy's 15 days in the jersey would be over. Spoiler alert, Rolland scored no more points, and count back determined that he would have at least on more day in the King of the Mountains jersey. He was using the wheel of a countryman, Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie) to keep the fading peloton in side on the way up the Montee Saint Nizier de Moucherotte. It is always a bad sign when the race referee car that follows the peloton and the Mavic neutral service vehicle pass you on the way up a climb. The only race vehicle that will never pass you is the Broom Wagon, currently right on Caleb Ewan's wheel.

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-2020/3701739-110-282744/Painting/au-revoir-tdf20-104.html