Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: All Alone

She did it!  Ricarda Bauernfiend (Canyon-SRAM) had left the grip of the peloton of favorites to grab bonus seconds some thirty kilometers ago.  She quickly built a minute and a half on the groups she left (plus and eight second bonus) as she went solo to Albi.  Despite the best efforts of some very celebrated riders, they were never able to reel her back into the fold.  She was then chased by two national champions who couldn't get closer than ten seconds to the young German. Her efforts not only won her the stage (and the first win for her team) but she moved up to ninth place on the general classification.  I would be surprised if she wasn't wearing the red bib numbers of the most combative rider of Stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968200-175-297438/Painting/all-alone-tdff23-31.html

 

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: Chasing Champions

I suppose I should have titled this "Champions Chasing."  This duo used the final descent to break free of the peloton and go after the lone break away.  The two had ten seconds on the peloton but still had to make up another twenty-three seconds on Ricarda Bauerfiend with just two and a half kilometers to race.  The German Champion, Laine Lippert (Moivstar) and the Swiss Champion, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to be more concerned about trying to out smart the other to be able to work together to chase the rider up the road.  In addition, each were riding in defense of their respective team leaders, so at least they can hope to suck up any remaining bonus seconds at the finish line.  

The two never got closer than twenty-two seconds to Bauerfiend, and the peloton never got closer than the ten seconds that they have right 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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968195-174-297438/Painting/chasing-champions-tdff23-30.html

 

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: Showing Her the Way

Throughout the men's Tour de France, I was struck by these banners both directing the riders and warning them of impeding danger.  Somehow I never got the right image of the riders and the banner together.  As Ricarda Bauerfeind (Canyon-SRAM) went pass one of these that turned her from a bit of traffic calming furniture, the image finally came together.  Bauerfeind had jumped free of the peloton with another as she raced towards the bonus seconds six kilometers ago.  She used that move to keep driving on her own toward Albi.  In just six kilometers she had but just shy of a minute and a half into the small peloton of Tour Femmes favorites.  With another twenty kilometers to race, it is right on the bubble if she will be able to stay clear, or will she, too, be caught within sight of the finish line.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968191-172-297438/Painting/showing-her-the-way-tdff23-28.html

 

Tour, Stage 10: Those Who Lost Time

On a day that should have been a simple formula, of break goes - sprinters' teams chase, catch is made - sprinter takes the stage, today was anything but.  While a non-sprinter won the stage, the rest of the podium was manned by the fast men of the sport.  However, behind the winning group, were three distinct groups full of general classification riders losing between a minute thirty seconds and over two minutes.  Again, today was not a day to win the Tour, but many lost their chance of winning.  Or in other words, today, they lost the Tour.  Coming in a minute and a half down this group contained some of those that started the Tour thinking they could win like, Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo, Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First), Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ). These king of time losses shouldn't have happened on a flat stage before the rest day, but they did.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3360521-54-263530/Those%20Who%20Lost%20Time%20%20TDF19-54.html

Tour, Stage 10: Adding to Jumbo-Visma's Total

Today's stage makes 4 stage wins for the Jumbo-Visma. This time it was Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) just squeaking out a victory ahead of the fast closing Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-Quick Step).  The third step of the podium belonged to Caleb Ewan (Lotto Sudal) and Michael Matthews (Sunweb) as yet to find the formula that will give him the stage victory.  So far in this Tour, no individual rider as won more than one stage, I can think of a time when that has been the case ten stages in. Tomorrow is a rest day and then there is only one more sprint stage until the final day in Paris.  By the way, Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe took fifth on the stage, he just didn't manage to get inside the edges of this painting.  The bigger story on today's stage was the splits in the peloton and who was up front versus who missed out.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3360499-53-263530/Adding%20to%20Jumbo-Visma's%20Total%20%20TDF19-53.html