The Art of Cycling: July 2022

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8 Finale!: Mountain Queen

I realize now I could have titled this "Joy and Pain." Demi Vollering (SD Worx) had chased Annemiek Van Vleutin up mountains for the last two days, never quite able to catch the Dutch woman on the Spanish team. But she did get over some of the climbs before her, and she got over some climbs before the attacks for the stage got started. So while she wasn't able to win the stage nor the Maillot Jaune, she is on the podium in second and takes the Queen of the Mountains title in the first Tour de France Femmes, or the return of the women's Tour de France. Judging by the crowds on the side of the roads along the 1,033 kilometers over the past eight days, and millions watching all around the world, this won't be a one off. Despite her exhaustion at the summit, Vollering did try to make a heart over her chest as she crossed the line, thanking her team, the fans, and her family who awaited her.

Well done to everyone who started the race in Paris, and to all of those who finished atop the La Super Planches des Belle Filles. Chapeau!

This is the last of my paintings of the first Tour de France Femmes (and the return to a women's Tour de France). I am clearly also finished painting the men's race as well. I don't plan to be painting any more cycling until the UCI World Road Championships in late September, althougth that is just seven weeks from now.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc. And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896752-195-294403/Painting/mountain-queen-tdff22-54.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: The Stage, the Jersey, the Tour!

This painting is sold but prints are now available.

As she came over the crest of the La Super Planches des Belle Filles Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) had barely enough left to pump her fist in the air. She was then caught by one of the helpers waiting to support each and every woman as they crossed the line completely exhausted. Once she had caught her breathe, the reality of winning the first Tour de France Femmes and the first true woman's Tour de France in almost forty years began to sink in. And she had done it by a bit under four minutes. She actually added time to her advantage over everyone else two days in a row, and won the stage both times. She is the second woman to win a stage wearing yellow in these past eight days. Gefeliciteerd

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896749-194-294403/Painting/the-stage-the-jersey-the-tour-tdff22-53.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Alone, Again

This painting is sold, but prints are available.

Much was made during the first hundred kilometers of the stage about just how deep Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) had gone yesterday, and just how much she had had to chase today after 5 seperate bike chances. Would she have the legs to hold off the attacks, or at the very least keep them within her time buffer? Why would they doubt the co-queen of the women's peloton? While Marianne Vos has won everything flat and bumpy, the other dominant woman on the road is Van Vleutin. Today she prove all of the doubters wrong going on the offensive with six kilometers left to race. She was racing with the two fruits of yesterday's labors, naturally the yellow jersey, but also the red bib numbers of the most aggressive rider of the previous stage. She should get both of those honors again today.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896714-193-294403/Painting/alone-again-tdff22-52.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: There to Help

Paula Andrea Patino (Movistar) had been in the front group all stage long just waiting for her team leader (and the Maillot Jaune) Annemiek Van Vleutin to catch up with the leaders out on the road. As they closed in on the last kilometers of the stage, the Planche des Belle Filles, and the Tour de France Femmes, she was there to help Van Vleutin make her move to distance the rest of the peloton. Just as it was yesterday, only Demi Vollering (SD Worx) had any chance of holding onto the wheel of the former world champion. Vollering was over three minutes behind Van Vleutin on GC, but she had a six point lead on the Maillot Jaune in the quest for the Polka Dot Jersey of the Queen of the Mountains. All Vollering had to do was to finish within three places to claim the final Maillot a Pois.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896708-192-294403/Painting/there-to-help-tdff22-51.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Attacking the Final Climb

As the lead group hit the turn onto the final climb up to La Super Planches des Belle Filles Pauliena Rooijakkers (Canyon/SRAM) went hard off the front. Yara Kastelijn (Plantur-Para) and LIane Lippert (DSM) were the first to respond. It seems that Grace Brown was swinging out of line to be ready to help her three teammates that were in the chasing group of the Maillot Jaune. That group was just over a minute back. I suspect that the team wanted her to have something left in the legs to help her companions out. FDJ had started the day with two riders in the top ten and I am sure they wanted to hold those positions or more likely to improve them by the end of the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896690-191-294403/Painting/attacking-the-final-climb-tdff22-50.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Thanks

Antri Christoforou (Human Powered Health) reaches out in her Cyprus Champion's jersey to tap her thanks to her teammate, Nina Buijsman, for helping her chase back onto the group with the Maillot Jaune at the bottom of the Ballon d'Alsace. She joins Alena Amialiusik (Canyon/SRAM), Evita Muzic and Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) and of course the woman in yellow herself, Annemiek Van Vleutin. They all had just one more obstacle today, getting up to the top of the La Super Blanches des Belle Filles. That was going to be no easy task on the eighth day of racing. Who will still be with the Maillot Jaune at the top?

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896684-190-294403/Painting/thanks-tdff22-49.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Catching the Front Group

I found a new chance to create a title that can be interpreted two ways. First the press photographer has gotten off the back of his motorcycle to catch a shot of the front group while his driver waits to take him to the next photo-op. And second, the American Krista Doebel-Hickok (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) has just come across to join the tail of the front group and the wheel of Yara Kastlijn (Plantur-Pura). The group was on the penultimate climb of the day, the Tour in fact, the Ballon d'Alsace. Would this be the group that would leave the peloton behind getting to the line first? I'm sure they all planned that to be so.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896680-189-294403/Painting/catching-the-front-group-tdff22-48.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Swapping Bikes

Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) was having the best of starts to her final stage of the Tour de France Femmes. Yes, she did start the day in the Maillot Jaune with a three plus minute buffer, but things weren't going to her way mechanically. She had started the stage in an all yellow bike, but when she had to trade bikes with her teammate Arlenis Sierra, she was getting off of a black bike with just yellow bar tape. As she rode off on the blue bike that wasn't an exact fit Sierra waited for their team car to get her spare. Later Van Vleutin was seen back on the yellow one. And still later, she finished the stage back on the black bike with a different rear wheel. I make that five bike changes in a single stage. That makes for a lot of chasing back on, what will she have left on the final climb?

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896675-188-294403/Painting/swapping-bikes-tdff22-47.html

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: The Girl in the Middle

Demi Vollering (SD Worx) was stuck unable to catch up to Annemieke Van Vleutin (Movistar) but then those behind weren't able to catch her either. As she went over the top of the Grand Ballon, she was just over two minutes behind the stage winner, but she can take some comfort in being the next Queen of the Mountains and moving up into second place over all. She is three and a quarter minutes behind the new Maillot Jaune, but tomorrow will be an even harder day, the ends both the stage and the Tour on the top of Super Planches des Belles Filles. Conversely, she only has a minute and three quarters on the woman sitting in third. When she reached the top and hugged her parents it was looking like she was totally spent. It all comes down how well she and Van Vleutin can recover tonight.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896671-187-294403/Painting/the-girl-in-the-middle-tdff22-46.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Riding into the Yellow Jersey

This painting is sold.

I'm sorry I couldn't resist the temptation when I saw Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) rode past this inflatable yellow jersey on her way to winning one of her own. Van Vleutin has been on a tear this stage. Having dropped the only rider who could go with her on her original attack she has only gained time on literally everyone out on the road. The way she was climbing up the Grand Ballon I am willing to bet she even dropped a motorcycle or two. In this painting you can see both of her goals for the day, the Maillot Jaune and the summit of the climb with its statue of Diable Bleus, the mountain soldiers of WWI. She did accomplish both goals. Oddly, there wasn't a good camera angle of her stage win. So this will have to do as the image of her epic ride to both the stage victory and becoming the new owner of the Maillot Jaune. Tomorrow will tell if she went way to deep for today's stage or while she will be able to keep this hard won jersey.

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Hoping to Fly Away

Katarzyn Niewiadoma (Canyon'SRAM) seems to have been riding the entire Tour de France Femmes with her jersey unzipped. Today it was flapping in the wind behind her, now I know why she was about to use her tails as wings for the final climb. When she went Juliette Labous (DSM) and Cecilie Uttrop Ludwig (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) were the only two in the group that had the legs to follow. I admit that I have been a bit embarassed when the camera swings around to film Niewiadoma from the front, I feel a bit like I have been caught looking down her blouse. But then her legs remind us all of why she started the day in second place on the general classification. Her flying move wasn't enough to catch Demi Vollering (SD Worx) so she slips to third after today.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896664-185-294403/Painting/hoping-to-fly-away-tdff22-44.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: On to the Final Climb

This group has been hanging out in the middle of the leader's and the group of the Maillot Jaune for kilometers. It was nice to see Urska Zigart (BikeExchange-Jayco) dangling off of a leading group rather than the back of the peloton. Her riding position implys she isn't comfortable around her fellow riders. It seems she should just go on a solo raid since she is spending the entire Tour de France Femmes riding in the wind anyway. She was keeping close to Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel & Service), Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) as they sextet swung onto the road that will take them up the Grand Ballon. Zigart moved up 43 places due to her efforts on the day, she still sits 46th on the general classification. Persico is riding to hold onto her third place over all. If she can't catch the two up the road, she will slide down a bit. She did slide to sixth. I was still trying to figure out if Muzic was riding for her team leader, or the other way round.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896657-184-294403/Painting/on-to-the-final-climb-tdff22-43.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Third on the Road

Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) was kind of stuck in no-man's-land, or should that be no-woman's-land. I believe she had tried to go with the early attack on the Petite Ballon (the on air broadcast started after that climb) but wasn't possible. She must have decided to continue with the effort but never got up to the two leaders on the road, nor was she caught by the six women chasing behind. She never did get more than a minute and a half on those ladies either. I'm not sure why she didn't drop back to them on the valley before the final climb up the Grand Ballon. She seemed to be wasting a fair amount of energy. And she did pay for it when she was finally caught on the ascent of the final climb of the day. Once caught she could hold onto the group finishing the day almost seven minutes behind the stage winner, she did finish with one member of that six woman group, a minute and a half behind some of the others, and a half a minute ahead of the rest.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896655-183-294403/Painting/third-on-the-road-tdff22-42.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Thirsty?

FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope had managed to get three women into the elite group that had six minutes on the group with the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot a Pois, and the Maillot Blance. By this point, Grace Brown had dropped off of the sextet. Their team leader, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, had dropped back to the team car for a conversation and a couple of waterbottles. She then got herself back into the rotation and passed a bottle to Evita Muzic as she dropped back through the group. While they had six minutes on the leader of the race, they were just over six minutes behind the leader on the road. I doubt they can hope for stage honors, but they will move up on the general classification and still may vie for the podium of the stage.

My website's host "upgraded" this week and there have been big problems. Of course! So right nowyou can't buy the painting you want so email me through the website and we can work out an off site sale.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896394-182-294403/Painting/thirsty-tdff22-41.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Searching for Yellow

This painting is sold.

I have seen two riders do this kind of come back stage in all of the years that I have been watching cycling. One wasn't a clean effort, and the other was Chris Froome in the Veulta d'Espania (I think). Today Annemieke Van Vleutin (Movistar) rode absolutely everyone still in the Tour de France Femmes off of her wheel by the time she reached the top of the Col du Platzerwasel. I know she went out today knowing she would have to attack early if she expected to go for the stage win. She also knew everyone would expect her to do exactly what she did. Thing was, no one could do anything about it. As she crested the climb, she had a minute on her erstwhile companion, Demi Vollering. She had another five minutes on Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) who had started the day in fourth. Then six minutes to the rest of those who were ahead of her on the general classification with the noted exception of the Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (SD Worx) who were already eleven minutes down the mountain. The only question that remains is just what are her reserves having been ill at the start of the race.

My website's host "upgraded" this week and there have been big problems. Of course! So if you can't buy the painting you want, email me through the website and we can work out an off site sale.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896381-181-294403/Painting/searching-for-yellow-tdff22-40.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7, Coming Round Right

Annemiek Van Vluetin (Movistar) has bee unusually absent from the Tour de France Femmes, until to day. The Dutch former World Champion had been suffering with a stomach virus but announced yesterday that she was feeling much better. Clearly she was on form, and on fire today. She had left the peloton on the Petit Ballon before the on air broadcast began. The only one capable of going with her was Demi Vollering (SD Worx). Vollering had started the day in 6th overall with Van Vleutin in 8th. Both were just over a minute behind the Maillot Juane of Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma). As the two climbed the Col du Platerwasel they had built up an eight minute lead on the Maillot Jaune. The two were the virtual first and second places on the road. It was equally possible that either would take over the lead in the Queen of the Mountains competition.

My website "upgraded" this week and there have been big problems. Of course! So if you can't buy the painting you want, email me through the website and we can work out an off site sale.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896375-180-294403/Painting/coming-round-right-tdff22-39.html

Friday, July 29, 2022

Tour Femmes, Stage 6: Winning in Yellow

This painting is sold.

Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) hasn't spent much time off the front of this Tour de France Femmes. Even if she hasn't won a stage (she has) she has finished everyone in the top ten if not the top five. Today she honored the Maillot Jaune today by winning in yellow. She was able to out sprint Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) in her Rainbow Jersey, and the ever unzipped Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM). The now official Maillot Vert, Lorena Wiebes had crashed on the final descent and finish the day over seven minutes behind Vos. Naturally, she didn't score any green jersey points, so it goes back to Vos. That means she will be back to wearing in on loan from the race leader.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896241-179-294403/Painting/winning-in-yellow-tdff22-38.html

Tour Femmes, Stage 6: Using the Final Climb

Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) had missed the attempt to get away on the rpevious descent so she went on the final climb of the day, the Cote de Boersch. Her moved was covered again by Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma), but Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) didn't have the legs for this move. It probably didn't matter much, the peloton had closed to almost twenty seconds. With ten kilometers left to race, it was looking like even these few remaining members of the break away's day had come to an end. Just behind Lowden you should be able to make out the blue motorcycle (wait, isn't that a cocktail?) of Shimano Neutral Sevice ready to lend a wheel should it be necessary.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896238-178-294403/Painting/using-the-last-climb-tdff22-37.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 6: Exploiting a Descent

Both Christine Majerus (SD Worx) and Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma) use the descent of top of an uncategorized climb to distance the remnants of the early break. Majerus looks back at Henderson from her aero tuck, just checking to see if Anna had the nerve to fly down the descent. She shouldn't have worried, the Jumbo-Visma rider came to cycling from downhill skiing, she loves to go down hills fast. While Majerus' position looks odd, it is safer than the now banned super-tuck. However this one does kind of put one's butt up in the air. I am just thinking now that it reminds me of a cat that is very happy with being petted. Regardless, it does make her far more aerodynamic than Henderson's position on the bike.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896223-177-294403/Painting/exploiting-a-descent-tdff22-36.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 6: Slipping Away

With the break away basically back together the next obstacle facing the group of now 13 riders was the intermediate sprint. They had managed to keep the peloton at bay, so it was their opportunity to gain some sprint points, not that any of them had a chance of catching up to Lorena Weibes in her Maillot Vert, or Marianne Vos, who is in the Maillot Jaune and in second in the competition for the title of best sprinter. Nevertheless, Tamara Dronova-Balabolina (Roladn Cogeas Edelwiess Squad) slipped away from the others to get the sprint price (yes there is some cash on offer). Behind her Christine Majerus (SD Worx) in her Luxembourg Champion's jersey, Jesse Vandenbulcke (Le Col-Wahoo), Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) and Silke Smulders (Liv Racing Xstra) just kept rolling along. They knew what she was after and didn't want to spend the energy to contest the sprint. With 45 kilometers left to race and only a minute and a half on the peloton, they had quite a lot of work to do if they wanted to contest for stage honors.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896221-176-294403/Painting/slipping-away-tdff22-35.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 6: Making Her Escape

Today was marked by a very large break away containing 14 women. That size can mean there are som passengers not willing to do the work to help everyone to stay off the front of the stage. As this leading group neared the top of the hardest climb thus far in the Tour de France Femmes, the Cote de Grednlbuch, Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) went on the attack. While she was also in search of the Queen of the Mountain points, her move was designed to get rid of the "dead weight" in the break. Her move was initially marked by Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope), like Kathrin Hammes (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) she dropped away from the attack as they neared the top of the climb. With this effort and those of the day, she moved herself into second place in the race for the Maillot a Pois. The next two days will be the chances to rack up big points in that competition. However, this effort only rid the group of one rider.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896218-175-294403/Painting/making-her-escape-tdff22-34.html

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: Winning a Power Sprint

The gradual rise up to the line in Saint Die des Vosges it was clear it was going to take a strong power sprinter to win on the day. Just before the sprint was a sweeping right turn, for some reason Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) went left through the gap to let all of the race vehicles divert from the finishing straight. As I am writing this, I don't know if that mistake cost her time (and positions) in the general classification, or if the three kilometer rule was followed and she was given the same time as the lead group. So she was out of the sprint so it was her teammate (and World Champion) Elisa Balsamo mixing it up with Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Lorenas Wiebes (DSM) for stage honors. The victory went to the pure sprinter, Wiebes, with Balsamo claiming second. The third step of the podium went to Marianne Vos in her Maillot Jaune. The erstwhile Maillot Blance, Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo) was in the mix in fifth place. This may be my favorite painting of the Tour de France Femmes thus far. And definitely my favor sprint finish painting of either 2022 Tour de France.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896130-174-294403/Painting/winning-a-power-sprint-tdff22-33.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: That Should Work Better

Former World Champion Chantal Van Den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx) was one of the rolling wounded after the huge pile up quite a few kilometers back now. I just confused myself, this painting should have come before the previous one, so it goes. Anyway, a new feature in the streaming broadcast on NBC Sports on Peacock includes a few of the radio communications between the riders and their sport directors. After the crash you can here Chantal asking for medical attention telling them she is bleeding quite a lot. She is told that all of the medical staff is busy dealing with those that can't yet stand up. She calmly responds that is okay, she will keep going. When we see her next, she has a towel rubberbanded to her arm that is covered in blood. After getting back to the peloton, she then drops back to get real medical first aid. I guess second aid would be a bit more accurate. The doctor cleans the wound, but not the blood that has run down her arm and puddled in her glove, and puts on a proper dressing. She then rides off into the mass of women ahead to help her sprinter contest for stage honors.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896128-173-294403/Painting/that-should-work-better-tdff22-31.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: Still Possible

Antri Christoforou (Human Powered Health) in her Cyprus Champion's jersey and Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) had rid themselves of their former break away companions and were in with a chance to contest the stage win between themselves. Berteau had attacked the others on a rise when the peloton was within 30 seconds. Only Christoforou was able to get back to the Frenchwoman's wheel. As they went past the 10 K to go banner they still had 36 seconds on the peloton. The gap was just now starting to drop but it was coming down very slowly. The sprinters behind weren't going to let their last real chance for a stage win go up the road, so I am thinking their chances are very slim to pull this off.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896127-172-294403/Painting/still-possible-tdff22-32.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: Adjusting on the Fly

A few kilometers earlier there was probably the largest crash in a bike race I have ever seen. One rider slipped off the edge of the pavement and fell back into the peloton near the front. As she fell she took out a couple more and that led to about a 100 riders hitting the asphalt. They were literally stacked three deep. It took sometime to get everyone, and every bike sorted. You could see riders desparately trying to find their bikes, others struggling to get themselves untangled from bikes and each other. Finally, there were some that spent time with the medical staff. Fortuantely, it was only one rider who was forced to abandon the race due to her injuries, Emma Norsgaard (Movistar).

Like many others, Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) had to get her spare bike after the wreck. She lost time so didn't want to stop again to get her seat adjusted properly. So here is her mechanic leaning out of the team car making the adjustments as they all speed down the road towards Saint Die des Vosges. Unlike yesterday on another team, there was no further incidents with the team car.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896122-171-294403/Painting/adjusting-on-the-fly-tdff22-30.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: Keeping It Close

It is looking like Lorena Wiebes (DSM) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) will be sprinting against each other at every sprint point throughout the Tour de France Femmes. The first four placings at the intermediate sprint in Charmes were taken by the break away (see the previous painting), but the next two placings had a two point differential. In her Maillot Vert (on load from Vos) Wiebes got the better of Vos in her Maillot Jaune. Trailing in the sprint points tally by over fifty points, Wiebes is going to have to get a few more riders behind her before Vos crosses the line behind her if she wants to claim the Green Jersey as her own.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896112-170-294403/Painting/keeping-it-close-tdff22-29.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: Points to be Had

While none of the women in the break away figured in the sprint competition, there were both points and prize money to be held just ahead. So as the quartet of Victoire Berteau (Cofidis), Emily Newsom (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB), Antri Christoforou (Human Powered Health), and Anya Louw (AG Insurance-NXTG), road through the town of Charmes, Louw jumped her break away companions. Berteau looked over as she went but decided not to put any effort into out sprinting the AG Insurance rider to the line. Once the line was crossed, the quartet got back to the work of staying away from the peloton almost two minutes behind them.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896109-169-294403/Painting/points-to-be-had-tdff22-28.html

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Tour Femmes, Stage 4: Time to Celebrate

You can read this title either way. Either Marlen Reusser's (SD Worx) minute and twenty-four seconds means she has plenty of time to celebrate her stage victory. Or as she crosses the line it is time for her and her team to celebrate their first stage win in the Tour de France Femmes. Behind her what I can only assume is an executive for Zwift sticks their cellphone out the window to capture their view of Reusser's victory salute. Zwift is a title sponsor of the race, so officially this is the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Not to be outdone, the grocery store, E. Leclerc has stuck their logo on top of the race commissare's car.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896052-168-294403/Painting/time-to-celebrate-tdff22-27.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 4: On Her Own

Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) used her time trial skills to ride away from every woman still in the Tour de France Femmes. With nine kilometers to go she had build up a forty one seconds on the three who were trying to get across to her. She has just over a minute on the group that contains the Maillot Jaune and all of the other high up on the general classification. She has just gone through the time bonus point out on course. So while she isn't a GC factor, she just took three seconds off of her total time thus far in the Tour. She is riding alone save the race referee's car, the Shimano neutral service, and just visible is one of a flotilla of race motorcycles. I can't image anyone catching her now, she is adding to her advantage with nearly every pedal stroke on her wasy to Bar sur Aube.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896050-167-294403/Painting/on-her-own-tdff22-26.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 4: Smoke Screen

This painting is sold.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) used the final dusty section of gravel to split up the peloton. With just eighteen kilometer left to go, it was a move that Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) had to take very seriously. Niewiadoma started the day in third over all just sixteen seconds off of the lead between here and the finale there is a possiblity of a total of thirteen bonus seconds between the bonus sprint and the finish line. Liane Lippert (DSM) can barely be seen through the dust trying to stay with the two ahead of her. The rest of the peloton can't be seen for all of the dust being kicked up by the race vechicles and the riders themselves. I am thrilled that the motorcycles can be in front of the action to bring us all these scenes, but it does mean that they are kicking dust and grit into the riders' faces. The top three places remain the same at the end of the day with the same time gaps. With the exception of the Spanish Champion, Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ) all of the GC contenders made it across the gravel with their positions and bodies intact.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896048-166-294403/Painting/smoke-screen-tdff22-25.html

Tour Femmes, Stage 4: Rough Roads

When the camera first found Maaike Boogaard (UAE Team ADQ) she was picking up what I (and the commentators) assumed was her bike. Naturally, the guess was that she had wrecked on the loose gravel of the Chemin Blanc du Plateau de Blu. Actually, she had just given her bike to her team leader Mavi Garcia. Now I understand why the bike seemed way too tall to be hers. She played her role of support rider sending her teammate off to stay in her high placing in the general classification. Unfortunately, another teammate had to give her a bike, and the team car eventually give her two bike in the course of the stage. Worse yet, she swung in to a line in front of her team car and clipped the vehicle with her rear wheel. It was miracle that the drive didn't run her over as she slid across the road. She did well to only finish three minutes and nineteen seconds behind the stage winner. Sadly that meant she dropped from sixth place to eleventh on the GC.

I am thrilled to see Boogaard in this race. I met her when she was racing as a Junior in the World Championships in Richmond, VA in 2015. I have a paternal feeling watching her career grow to this level. She was just so excited that I would paint her way back then.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896044-165-294403/Painting/rough-roads-tdff22-24.html