Tour '24, Final Stage: The Final Corners

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) made the final turns on the Promenade des Anglais in his effort to win the final stage of the Tour de France.  Evenepoel had won the first time trial of this Tour and is the reigning world champion in this discipline.  He is also the best young rider in the Tour, thus is lack of the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion.  He did post the best time when he finished in Nice.  But that result only lasted until the next man came in, and that until the last man finished.  Evenepoel finished the day in third, and finished the Tour in third as well.  Not a shotty debute in the Tour de France, not bad at all.

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. 

"The Final Corners TdF24-141" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Both Gaming & Losing Time

Given that I titled my painting of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) "Gaining Time" in the first individual time trial, I thought I should be a bit more accurate this time.  Vingegaard was one an incredibly strong ride on the way into Nice.  He was setting new best times at every check point enroute.  A particularly positive sign since Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) was the rider ahead of him on the road.  Not so positive was that the next guy on the road, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was also setting new best times that were better than Vingegaard's.  Therefore, Vingegaard was gaining time on Evenepoel who was in third, and losing time on Pogacar who will remain in first.

The results mean that Vingegaard is both second on the stage and in the Tour.  And, Evenepoel is both third on the stage and in the Tour as well.  Although he hasn't finished yet, Pogacar will be both first on the stage (his sixth of this Tour) and in his third Tour de France.

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. 

"Both Gaining & Losing Time TdF24-140" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Bad Luck on the Final Day

As he turned onto the first climb up out of Monaco, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) slid out in the corner.  He had attempted to stomp on the pedals as he came out of the turn to keep his speed up on the ensuing climb.  Fortunately, he nor his bike were hurt.  He was back up and underway in less than twelve seconds.  It could well have been the end of his stage.  That or, it could give him the adrenaline rush to push him that much faster over the remaining twenty-five kilometers to Nice.  

Side note, he was a few seconds behind at the first time check, but then started setting the best times through the next two time checks and the most important time at the finale.  His ride cemented his hold on eighth in the general classification.

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. 

"Bad Luck on the Final Day TdF24-137" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: One More Time

Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) rolled down the start ramp and got up to speed in his final stage of the Tour de France.  He has hopes of posting a good time as he got underway in Monaco.  I do think as he realized that he wasn't going to have much chance of winning the stage, he began to really enjoy his final race on the roads of France (well technically, he is in the Principality of Monaco right now). Thank you for the great years of entertainment, and congratulations on a day in Maillot Jaune.

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. 

"One More Time TdF24-136" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Finishing in Green

It wasn't like anyone expected Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) to light up the final stage of this Tour. But he has lit up all of the cycling communnity!  Girmay is the first Eritrea to win a stage in the Tour, and obviously the first Black African to do so.  He went on to win two more stages and in so doing won the Maillot Vert, again a first for Africa and the Tour.  He was very active in the intermediate sprints to make sure that his jersey was his today in Nice.  

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. 

"Finishing in Green TdF24-135" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Mark's Last Trip Around

I am not afraid to admit that I thought that Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) would pull out of the Tour prior to the Pyrenees since he had already won the mythical thirty-fifth stage.  With no more sprint stages in which to ply his trade and add to his total number of Tour stage wins, I couldn't quite see the point.  I missed the all important one, Cav respects the Tour, the sacrifices of his team, and of his family.  There was no way he was going to pull out unless his body wouldn't let him continue.  He already had my respect, but this shows the caliber of the man both on and off the bike.  Chapeau!

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.  

"Mark's Last Trip Around TdF24-134" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Mutual Respect

Sometimes it isn't the victory salute that is often staged for the gaggle of press photographers at the line, but the interaction after the effort.  Having dropped Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final 500 meters of the stage, the first person Tadej Vingegaard (UAE Team Emirates) wanted to see was Vingegaard.  This is the fifth year the two have battled it out in the Tour de France.  The first two went to Pogacar, the next two to Vingegaard.  Now the pendulum has swung back to Pogacar.  He will win the Tour tomorrow barring any serious catastrophy.  While I said some cross things about Pogacar yesterday, today he has rekindled my respect, mainly for the respect he showed his main rivals today.  And the incredibly fast attack he launched in the closing meters of the final road stage of the Tour.  Please, don't let us find out anything was untoward with his 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.  

"Mutual Respect TdF24-133" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Recovery

I should explain the title of this piece.  All three of these guys have a story of recovery. For the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has recovered from the disappointment of coming in second place in the last two Tours de France to come and stamp his authority on this Tour.  Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is coming back from a life-threatening crash just three months ago.  In fact, this Tour is the first time he has been in a race since that awful day.  Additionally, he had a horrible day losing time, and collapsing in tears into the arms of his partner at the end of Stage 19.  Today he bounced back able to attack on the final climb.  And finally, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) crashed out of stage one of the 2023 Tour.  While he did wear the third Maillot Jaune in this Tour, he suffered in the first day in the Alps, losing the jersey and any real chance of ever getting it back.  He was weak through most of the second week of the Tour but came back strong.  He won his first stage of the Tour in the high mountains and has now won the Maillot a Pois.  Up until the two leaders came up from behind, it was looking like he might win this stage as well.  With just two kilometers to race it was still anyone of these three guys' stage.

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. 

"Recovery TdF24-132" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Long Expected

It came as no surprise when Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) attacked the last pieces of the peloton on the final climb of the day.  He had had his whole team on the front all day pushing the pace, so he was clearly planning something.  Yesterday, he was able to gain some time back on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and was hoping he could gain even more today.  He had seen a weakness that he thought would still be there today, but when he went Vingegaard was immediately on his wheel.  Just as close was the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  It didn't take long for Evenepoel to realize he wasn't going to get the gap he hoped for.  In fact, not long after this he was dropped by the two behind him when Vingegaard launched his own attack.

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. 

"Long Expected TdF24-131" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: The Next Victim

I try not to be negative in my titles, but facts are facts.  Despite being in the early move of the day, Kevin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ) found the breakaway's pace up the Col de la Couillole just a bit too much.  This is the final climb of four in the final road stage of this Tour de France.  Geniets is the national champion of Luxembourg.  That is why he has a different jersey than the rest of his team.  I do prefer this over Groupama-FDJ's current racing kit.  He did manage to finish the stage nineteenth of the day.  So, while he dropped off the pace, he did finish way up over the majority of those still in the Tour.

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. 

"The Next Victim TdF24-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: The King of the Mountains

By going over the Col de la Colmaine first Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) secured the Maillot a Pois for himself, his team, and the first for his homeland of Ecuador.  His point total is such that he doesn't need to score anymore points, and even if the man in second in this competition, Tadej Pogacar, scores all of the remaining points available through Sunday, the title is his.  Behind him, Enric Mas (Movistar) prepares to join Carapaz in a super-fast descent off of the mountain.  They have another 37 kilometers to race with the hopes of holding off the peloton of the top riders of this Tour.

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. 

"The King of the Mountains TdF24-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: You Wouldn't Dare!

As the break reached the top of the top of the Col de Turini, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) looked back seemingly daring anyone to try and take "his" King of the Mountain points.  Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) looked like he was going to challenge the Maillot a Pois on behalf of his teammate who sits in second in the race for polka dots.  Watching the two men was Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike).  His team leader sits third in the race for this title, but is too far back to worry about it any longer.  Most of this group was more interested in the stage win seventy-three kilometers from now.  Not to say that wasn't Carapaz's goal 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. 

"You Wouldn't Dare! TdF24-126" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19: With Authority

At the bottom of the final climb of Stage 19, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was roughly three minutes behind the last four guys out front from the breakaway.  By the time he crossed the line atop Isola 2000, he had twenty-one seconds on the then lone leader.  He stamped his authority on this Tour winning his fourth stage, three of which were while wearing the Maillot Jaune.  The stage he won without the jersey was the win that put him in it.  I am sure his fans loved the bravado, but I doubt he made many friends in the peloton.  It isn't like he needed to take the stage, he's won three already.  He didn't need the thirty seconds he gained over Vinegaard and Evenepoel he already had well over three minutes on one, and five on the other.  And was there any real reason to steal the stage win from a young super domestique, even if he did ride for his rival's team?

I am happy for what appears to be his third Tour de France win.  I just wish he had a touch more class.

Sorry, not sorry.

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. 

"With Authority TdF24-124" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19: The Ones He Left Behind

With his teammate up the road looking to win the stage Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike) was doing his best to disrupt the chase of Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula).  Kelderman wouldn't pull through, but he chased anyone who tried to launch an attack.  Should the others manage to bridge up to Matteo Jorgenson, then Kelderman would be the freshest and able to still get a win for the team.  Both men had been in the break to function as support for their leader, Jonas Vingegaard, when he went on the attack.  Since that didn't happen, they were free to ride for the stage, still providing a collaborative duty for 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. 

"The Ones He Left Behind TdF24-122" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19, Looking to Catch Back On

Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) had been dropped near the summit of the Cime de La Bonette.  He was diving down the mountain as fast as he possibly could in hopes of catching back onto the tail of the greatly reduced peloton.  He did manage to catch up, but did so at the base of the final climb of the day.  Once the road went up again, he wasn't able to hold on.  Given that he had detached on the previous mountain, and had spent huge amounts of energy to catch, it was little surprise he was dropped again.  He did finish nineteenth on the stage which was enough to keep him in thirteenth overall.  

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 to Catch Back On TdF24-119" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Tour '24, Stage 19: Step A

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) went off from the start of the stage with a mission.  Now that he has his stage win in a Tour de France, he wants to pull on another leader's jersey.  He wore the second Maillot Jaune for one stage until the current leader of the Tour took it off of his shoulders way back in stage 3.  Ironically, the current holder of the Maillot a Pois for the best climber in the Tour is the same guy who took the jersey off of him, Tadej Pogacar.  Perhaps he will be able to take the polka dot jersey off of him at the end of the stage.

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. 

"Step A TdF24-117" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Using the Descent

After going over the Cote des Demoiselles first, Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) used his descending skills to build a gap on the large breakaway behind.  I love using the directional arrows that the Tour organization uses to warn the riders that the turn is tighter than it may seem going in.  It seems that there should be padding behind the yellow and black zebra stripes.  Usually however, they hay bales are wrapped in white and red diagonal plastic.  I am sure they have appeared in a number of my paintings over the past twelve years.

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.

"Using the Descent TdF24-112" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Open Road

The fun part of painting live (or as close to it as possible) is that I can only get what is going on by what I see when the camera man catches it.  So, as I painted this, I was assuming that Jasper Philipsen (Aplecin-Deceuninck) had been tailed off of the peloton and was looking at a long hard day trying to make the time limit.  But no, he was actually chasing back to the main peloton after having a wheel change.  What is the old saying about assuming?  I love the feeling this evokes.  The thought of being out riding on a wide-open road with mountains lurking on the horizon.  Well, maybe not the impending mountains part.

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.

"Open Road TdF24-109" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: Celebrating His First!

After trying multiple times, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) finally got the stage win that he and his team had been hoping for.  Carapaz jumped from the group that had rolled away from the peloton and went in search of each guy up the road.  By the time he had gone over the Col du Noyer, he had a ten second lead on his closest chaser.  He continued to expand that lead finishing thirty-seven seconds ahead of Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) who took second by another twenty seconds ahead of Enric Mas (Movistar).  They all finished nearly eight minutes ahead of the top guys on the general classification.  Carapaz has now won at least one stage in all three major Tours.

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.

"Celebrating His First! TdF24-108" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: Chasing Just One Guy

Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) had tried several times to get into the early breakaway, but the heads of state weren't having it.  After the sprint point, first a small group got up the road and then a much larger one went after them.  Apparently, the top riders in the general classification were happy with who went up the road, so they kind of sat up.  This Yates managed to get into the big group.  From there he was able to jump across to the four-man earlier break, and then drop them almost as quickly.  Alas, he couldn't hold the wheel of Richard Carapaz as he went by.  As the duo neared the top of the Col du Noyer he trailed the Ecuadorian by ten seconds with just twelve more kilometers to race.  

Spoiler:  He never caught Carapaz, but then, no one caught him either.  He did move up one spot in the GC but still sits just over 28 minutes off of the Maillot Jaune.

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.

"Chasing Just One Guy TdF24-106" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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