Tour '24, Stage 2: First for Him & the Team

Not only did Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) win his first stage in the Tour de France today.  It was also the first time his team has ever won a stage.  That now makes two out of two stage wins for the French.  Unlike, Bardet yesterday, Vauquelin will not be pulling on the Maillot Jaune.  He did manage to make the early break and then ride away from all of his erstwhile companions on the two climbs of the Cote de San Luca.  He did move up 68 places on the General Classification into 71st place, but as he said, he had a terrible first stage of the Tour.  Clearly, stage two was far superior for him and the team!

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"First for Him & the Team TdF24-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: Covering the Attack

After feigning an attack on the first trip up the Cote de San Marino, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went again.  However as before, he was quickly covered by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  The two raced together to the line, later joined by two others of the favorites for this year's Tour.  Despite having finished at the same time, it will be Pogacar who pulls on the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  While it was the same stage that he took the lead in the Giro d'Italia, he wasn't able to shake his main rival in the Tour de France.  Regardless, it was very exciting to watch the infighting coming so soon.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Covering the Attack TdF24-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: They've Played Their Cards

With just one more climb up the Coite de San Luca, Nelson Oliviera (Movistar) jumped clear of the rest of the early break away.  Both Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) struggled, but finally caught the wheel of the Frenchman.  As they climb up the colannade lined hill out of Bologne, it was Vauquelin that went on the offensive.  That move was the end of Oliviera, but Abrahamsen was able to regain the slipstream of the Arkea man (for a little while anyway).

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"They've Played Their Cards TdF24-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: Doctor Visit

Just a quick touch of wheels and riders can find themselves sliding across the asphalt at 30 miles an hour with no warning.  Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) found that out along with two other guys as the peloton approach the sprint point in Santa Sofia.  Once he had rejoined the main group, he dropped back to get himself clean up and bandage by the race doctor.  With no time-outs it is necessary to keep going if possible and get patched up on the fly.  He and the rest of the peloton have another 83 kilometers yet to race.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Doctor Visit TdF24-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: Double Checking

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) worked hard to get into the early break away and he'd be damned if anyone was going to steal King of the Mountain points from him over the first climb of Stage 2.  He looked back over his shoulder as he neared the summit of the Cote de Monticino just to make sure no one was planning a 'cheeky move.'  He could see Nelso Oliveira (Movistar) and Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) just watching him ride off the front of the break.  He went on to be the first over every climb of the day except the last one (where he was second instead).  Coincidentally, he also finished second on the stage, too.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Double Checking TdF24-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Can It Be First & Second?

The short answer is, yes!  Romain Bardet and his teammate Frank Van Der Broek (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) were able to hold off the charging peloton of sprinters by five seconds.  It means that not only did the break away succeed in the opening stage of the Tour, but Van Der Broek is now the best place young rider, and Bardet takes the lead.  It also means that Van Der Broek is the leader in the sprint competition as well.  Since Bardet will start in the Maillot Jaune, and Van Der Broek in the Maillot Blanc, the Maillot Vert will fall to Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) since he finished third on the stage.  Or you could say he won the bunch sprint behind the break away duo.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Can It Be First & Second? TdF24-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Teaming Up

Once his team leader, Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) jumped clear of the chasing peloton, Frank Van Der Broek dropped out of the break away to help out.  He quickly brought Bardet back to the break and then the pair dropped his former companions.  The two flew down the Cote de San Marino on their way to the finish in Rimini.  It was a tall order to hold of the chasing peloton, but thus far they seemed to be equal to the task.  It is just as easy for the break away as it is for the peloton on the descent, but the flats into down will be the real test.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Teaming Up TdF24-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Clearly Ahead

Over the previous three climbs of the day, Jonas Abrahamsen (UnoX-Mobility) had been fighting it out with others to claim the maximum points in his quest to claim the first King of the Mountains jersey.  One of those giving him a hard time was Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ).  Clearly, he went over the Cote de Barbotto first despite Madouas attempt to claim the maximum points.  He is now the virtual leader in the competition.  As long has he continues to claim more points than the Frenchman he will wear the Polka Dots at the start of stage 2.  Spoiler, he did.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Clearly Ahead TdF24-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Looking After Cav

Clearly the heat, and perhaps other problems were giving Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) a rough start of the Tour.  As the peloton hit the first of seven climbs in the opening stage, Cav quickly dropped off the back losing huge chunks of time very quickly.  His teammates, Michael Morkov, Cees Pol, Michele Gazzoli, and Davide Ballerini dropped back to help their team leader stay as close to the main group as possible.  Shortly after I painted this, Cav went over the top of the climb, and then empty his stomach violently.  That seemed to do the trick for him, but not for Gazzoli who dropped out of his first attempt at the Tour as they started the next climb.  With another 155 kilometers to race, Cav and his teammates will be racing to get home before the time limit elimination.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Looking After Cav TdF24-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Working Together

The Tour started today in Italy (for the first time in the Tour's history) under sweltering heat in Florence.  It took a while, but the break away finally formed after about forty kilometers of racing.  TotalEnergies managed to get to of their guys into the break.  Matteo Vercher dropped back to the team car to get an ice bag for himself and then passed one to his teammate Sandy Dujardin.  They were joined by six others including Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) and Frank Van Der Broek (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  They managed to build a lead of almost six minutes before the peloton started to get nervous about some of the members of those in the break.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Working Together TdF24-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)