Tour '22, Stage 21: A Clean Set of Wheels

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had such a strong sprint that you can barely see anyone else in the frame.  He finished leaving everyone else looking at him.  He did a bike throw at the line, but he could have been celebrate for the last 50 meters given just how much daylight he had over Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange-Jayco) and Alexander Kristoff (Intermache-Wanty Gobert).  Kristoff has Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) trying to bump him off of Groenewegen's wheel, but there was no way the tiny Australian was going to budge the veteran sprinter.  Peter Sagan may not be in the frame, but he did finish fifth on the final stage of the Tour.

This is it for the men's Tour, but I will be painting the Tour de France Femmes for the next seven days, so I hope you will continue to follow along.

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-2022/3895598-148-294403/Painting/a-clean-set-of-wheels-tdf22-142.html

Tour '22, Stage 21: Attacking the Bell Lap

None of this Tour had gone to script, so why should today be any different.  I am not sure who went first, but is suspect it was Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked on the bell lap and was quickly covered by Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers).  Given the presence of Thomas' teammate, Luke Rowe, I am inclined to think it was Ineos-Grenadiers who went on the offensive first.  I am not sure that Jonas Vingegaard even saw this move, but he certainly didn't try and cover it.  He knew full well that no one was going to gain over three minutes nor eight minutes in the final lap of the Tour de France.  I am not sure why they did this, but it did make for a few minutes of exciting television before the final sprint to the finish in a ten minutes time.

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-2022/3895597-147-294403/Painting/attacking-the-bell-lap-tdf22-141.html

Tour '22, Stage 21: Down the Other Side

Now that all of the ceremonies are over (well until the final jersey presentations) it is time to race.  I have always loved this view of the peloton sweeping around the l'Arc de Triomphe since the circle was included in the 100th Tour de France.  Conversely, I am disappointed to not see the giant French flag that has flapped under the arch.  As the peloton upped the pace to set up their sprinters they were moving too fast for me or Phil Liggett to catch their names (or at least reveal them on air).  All I know is that it is Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl, BikeExchange-Jayco, and Team DSM lining out the peloton to help out their sprinters.

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-2022/3895595-145-294403/Painting/goose-bump-tdf22-139.html

Tour '22, Stage 21: Goose Bumps

 Every single rider that ever enters the Champs Elysees on the final day of the Tour de France get goosebumps (or a similar phrase based on their cultures).  It is an awesome mixture of emotions, but I am sure that pride to have made it and awe of the spectacle of racing up to the l'Arc Triomphe.  The icing on the cake as it were, is when the French airforce does its beautiful flyover down the Champs as the peloton goes up.  The only other time the Champs Elysees is shut down to traffice is just ten days ago for Bastille Day.  There are rumors that it may be turned into a pedestrian and bicyle only road.  That does beg the question, where will the Tour race to then?

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-2022/3895595-145-294403/Painting/goose-bump-tdf22-139.html

Tour '22, Stage 21: Art of Cycling

My twitter handle is "artofcycling" so it just seemed too perfect to entitle this image "Art of Cycling."  The new entry onto the Champs Elysees for the Tour is to ride through the plaza of the Louvre, around the Pei pyramid and then back out onto the streets of Paris.  If you don't know the Louvre holds one of the most amazing collections of art, sculpture, and architectural history.  While you can find the 'Mona Lisa' there, there is so many other famous works.  This route wasn't used by the women this morning, mainly because they were not on a promenade, but were racing from the flag being pulled in as they rode along the Siene.  The men will be ready to race in earnest in just a few more minutes.

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-2022/3895594-144-294403/Painting/art-of-cycling-tdf22-138.html 

Tour '22, Stage 21: Cheers!

Wout Van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) clink glasses as they team celebrates their victories.  Tiesj Benoot waits for his turn as the sports directors and mechanics celebrate in the team cars behind.  Vingegaard has won both the Maillot Jaune and the Maillot a Pois and Van Aert has broken the record for the highest number of points earned towards the Maillot Vert.  All in all a great result for the team and the five members who made it all of the way to Paris.  Actually, right after this, Sepp Kuss almost ran into Vingegaard as he struggle to balance both his bike and his champagne.

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-2022/3895593-143-294403/Painting/cheers-tdf22-137.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: Second

I learned my lesson earlier while painting this stage.  When Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) crossed the line in Rocamadour, he was second on the stage.  With just one man behind him, it might be possible that he would finish the day in second place on the stage.  He definitely finishes the Tour in second on the GC (again provided he stays upright on the way to the Champs Elysees).  I had planned to title this "Second on the Day, Second in the Tour" but a little voice in my head said stop now (after I had written the word 'second').  He did lose another eight seconds to Vingegaard, but it is clearly already a done deal.  He couldn't match his surprise win over Vingegaard's teammate Primoz Roglic in the final TT two years ago that led to his first TdF win.  He does go out the winner of the Maillot Blanc for the third consecutive year, down side, he can't be in that competition next year.

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-2022/3895460-134-294403/Painting/second-tdf22-135.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: Tunnel Vision

This is the third title today that was just fun for me to come up with.  Sometimes I paint the image because what I see inspires the title.  The obvious take is that there is a tunnel in Geraint Thomas' (Ineos-Grenadiers) field of vision within the final two kilometers of this stage.  Thomas was second at the line, but dropped to fourth on the day as the two behind him finished ahead of him.  Another way to look at the title is that it takes an incredible focus to ride a successful time trial, one needs to quiet the mind, ignore the body, and stay dialed in on the road ahead.  Finally, I need to have tunnel vision to be able to focus on the Tour for three weeks and be able to create compelling watercolors that tell the story of this race I love so much.  This year it will take even more focus as I start painting the Tour de France Femmes tomorrow just ahead of the men finishing on the Champs Elysees. Wish me luck, I am feeling like a sprinter facing a second mountain top finish in the Pyrennes.

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-2022/3895459-133-294403/Painting/tunnel-vision-tdf22-134.html  

Tour '22, Stage 20: Even Faster

The title pretty much sums up this Tour de France for Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).  He started the day with a three minute buffer on his closest rival, Tadej Pogacar, and eight minutes on Geraint Thomas.  Each of them were on a great ride all posting early split times making it look like each was going faster than the other, and Vingegaard's teammate, Wout Van Aert.  However, Vingegaard was even faster at each check point along the course.  He only came up short to his own compatriot, Wout Van Aert.  His second place on the day just nineteen seconds behind the Maillot Vert, but ahead of those that he was also ahead of on the general classification.  Tomorrow he need only stay upright and the Tour is his!

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-2022/3895458-132-294403/Painting/even-faster-tdf22-133.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: Going Out Hot

The aconversation amongst the commentators was that Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had gone out way too hard at the start of the final time trial of the Tour.  Van Aert knew more what he was about than they did.  He had a double purpose with this ride, he was hoping to repeat his feat of winning the final time trial last year, and he was doing recon for his team leader.  I think he figured if he pushed himself a full speed, he would be able to report where all of the dangers lie.  He may have been doing the latter but he succeed in achieving the former.  Now, can he repeat the win on the Champs of Elysees from last year again tomorrow?

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-2022/3895457-131-294403/Painting/going-out-hot-tdf22-132.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: An American Going to Paris

 I'm sorry but I was having a little to much fun with the titles today (more to come).  This one is a riff on the Gene Kelly movie, "An American in Paris"  I guess I can use that title if one of the five Americans still in the Tour show themselves on the Champs Elysees, or on the way towards those iconic smooth-ish cobbles between the l'Arch Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde.  The fans in Lacapelle-Marival cheered Joe Dombrowski (Astana-Qazaqstan) and each and every man who rode down the start ramp and up this small rise as they got underway in the final time trial of this editioin of the 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 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-2022/3895456-130-294403/Painting/an-american-going-to-paris-tdf22-131.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: Simply the Best

Ah, the pit falls of painting a time trial live...  The Time Trial World Champion Flippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) was having an incredible on the 40.7 kilometer course.  He set a new best time through each check point.  As he neared the final climb up to the finish line in the beautiful Midevel town of Rocamadour he was looking like he was on a ride no one was going to beat.  Therefore, I went with this title.  Spoiler alert, he wasn't simply the best.  In fact, he was 5th on the stage.  Clearly he road a much better time trial at the Worlds in Flanders almost a year ago.  He was the best man on the day then, but sadly, not today.

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-2022/3895455-129-294403/Painting/simply-the-best-tdf22-130.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: Farewell Tour

This Tour de France has definitely been a changing of the guard.  This is another reason why, Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) is rolling down a start ramp for the last time in the Tour de France.  He has announced that he will retire at the end of this season.  He turned 40 in the middle of this Tour de France, and that is a pretty common age to step off the bike.  He is a former Belgium champion, and World Champion.  I suggest looking at his wikipedia page to see just how great his career has been.  He didn't exactly burn up the course today finishing in 115th place.  Still that is considerably faster than I have ever been able to ride.  He rode an average of just over 44 kph!

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-2022/3895454-128-294403/Painting/farewell-tour-tdf22-129.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: On a Rough One

My heart breaks for poor Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-EasyPost).  In the opening time trial he crash twice.  This discipline is his speciality, so he has ridden all the way around France just to have another go at the closing time trial.  And here he is having to change bikes.  He either had a flat tire or perhaps an electronic shifter issue, but either way he had to stop and get another bike.  In a race that is decided by seconds he knew that this moment was the one that ended his hopes for winning a Tour de France Time Trial.  Starting the day in 88th overall, he clearly wasn't going to be anywhere near the top ten, nor is he much of a sprinter, so tomorrow isn't a day for him either.  Given that this was his day, he was amazingly calm as he gently layed down his (rather expensive) bike as the mechanic got his other one off of the team car's roof.  Knowing his stage was over now, he just noodled the rest of the way in finishing in the mid fifties on the day.

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-2022/3895453-127-294403/Painting/another-rough-one-tdf22-128.html

Tour '22, Stage 19: Won for France

I meant to use 'won" and not 'one' in the title.  I do love a play on words.  Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), who is French, jumped out of the sprint trains and went off ahead of the peloton with just meters to go.  He first got onto the wheels of the remnants of the late break but then started his sprint as the lead out men behind wound it up for their sprinters.  Laporte had been leading out his team's sprinter Wout Van Aert on nearly every stage in both the intermediate sprints and in the finales that the two were there to contest.  With this win, the French finally have a win by one of their countrymen and Laporte got his chance to win a stage.  Plus I think this means the sixth win for Jumbo-Visma.  Plus the team has three of the four leaders' jerseys.  Clearly they are the dominate team despite Ineos-Grenadiers leading in the team competition by over a half hour.  In the background you can see Jasper Philipsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) who will have to settle for being the best of the rest in Cahors.

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-2022/3895303-126-294403/Painting/won-for-france-tdf22-127.html

Tour '22, Stage 19, I Know They Are Coming

Sorry that this is out of focus, but then this deep into the Tour I am nearly as exhausted as the racers.  So I just didn't feel like re-shooting the artwork.  The actual painting isn't blurring, just the photograph and since I am not going to offer this as a print, I thought I would just let it go.  The peloton wasn't going to let these three go either.  But Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM), and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) weren't going to make it easy for those behind.  They only had 14 seconds with 9 kilometers left to go.  They did manage to stay off the front until the last kilometer of the stage.  It actually looked like Wright might be able to win the stage with just 500 meters to race.  But the sprinters were set to have their day.

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-2022/3895290-125-294403/Painting/i-know-they-are-coming-tdf22-126.html

 

Tour '22, Stage 19: Going Off Script

Normally, on a flat stage no one would try to gain time on the race leader, but then Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is certainly not a normal rider.  Pogacar saw Max Schachmann (Bora-Hasgrohe) and Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) winding up to attack the peloton in some minor crosswinds.  He may have thought, "why not have a go?"  I am sure neither Schachmann nor Houle were pleased to see the man in second over all going off the front with them.  With the Maillot Blanc with them, there was no way the peloton was going to let this threesome go up the road.  In fact it was Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was the one who popped out of the peloton and brought them all back.

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-2022/3895289-124-294403/Painting/going-off-script-tdf22-125.html

Tour '22, Stage 19: The Exuberence of Youth

The five mam break away was a long shot, but going it alone with 46 kilometers was really extremely long odds.  But the title says it all.  Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) is the youngest rider in the Tour having just turned 21 years old.  His youthfulness may explain his trying to go on alone.  He had been with Matej Mohoric, but the veteran sat up and went back to the peloton just forty five seconds behind the now lone American.  I am sure Simmons was going for the red bib number of most combative rider in the stage.  Given how many times he has been off the front of the peloton, he may be hoping to get that title for the whole Tour once they all reach Paris.

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-2022/3895285-123-294403/Painting/the-exuberence-of-youth-tdf22-124.html

Tour '22, Stage 19: Keep It Going

It was most likely a fools errand but these five went out in a break away on a day earmarked for the sprinters.  It looked like Nil Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) was trying to get the rest to keep working together in hopes that they could get a bigger gap on the motivated peloton behind.  I do wonder what Taco Van Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) had to say in response.  Leading the group was the ever present break away artist, Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) along with Mikkel Honore (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious).  Both Politt and Mohoric are the only members of the  group  who have won a stage of the Tour, a total of three between them.  All of those wins have come from them going in a break away that made it to the end.  It is unlikely either will repeat the feat today.

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-2022/3895278-122-294403/Painting/keep-it-going.html 

Tour '22, Stage 18: The Stage, Another Jersey, & Probably the Tour

After multiple attempts by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) it was Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) finally dropping Pogacar and going alone to the top of the Hautacam.  As they started the climb, Wout Van Aert finally dropped back to help his leader.  As he joined his other teammate Sepp Kuss, Kuss swung off and Van Aert upped the pace yet again.  That was the pace that finally broke Pogacar.  Vingegaard put another minute and four seconds into the man in the Maillot Blanc, plus another four seconds in time bonuses.  I do think that will be more than enough to hold off the superior time trial artists, Pogacar and Geraint Thomas.  Chapeau, Jonas!  or should I say Tillykke!

Oh yes, I almost forgot, with the win atop the Hautacam Vingegaard also is the new leader in the King of the Mountains.  While technically, Simon Geschke is in second place now in the King of the Mountains competion he will be wearing the Maillot a Pois at the start tomorrow.  Obviously, the Yellow Jersey takes precidence over the Polka Dot one.

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-2022/3895209-121-294403/Painting/the-stage-another-jersey-and-probably-the-tour-tdf22-122.html