Paris Roubaix '26: Bringing Wout Back

It is said of Paris Roubaix, "it isn't a question of if you will have bad luck, it is only a question of when."  Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) had an early mechanical and was paced back to the peloton by his teammate Christophe Laporte with another 147 kilometers to race.  Clearly, he has plenty of time to get back on, but it is never good to have to use energy chasing that you are going to need at the end of the day.  Alexis Renard (Cofidis) was thrilled to have a strong duo to pull him back to the peloton over one of the early cobbled sectors.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Bringing Wout Back PR26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 16 ITT, Stomping on the Pedals

Today is the lone individual time trial of this Tour de France.  Usually there are two, plus on occasion a team time trial as well.  It was not a lucky one for Alexis Renard (Cofidis).  He crashed in the very first corner, but got back up and kept riding.  NBC had a commentator in the team car, and as Renard got back up and onto his bike he told the team director that he had dislocated his elbow.  Later in the stage NBC was informed that he had fractured his elbow). That might have something to do with why he was caught by Soren Werenskjold (Uno-X).  To be fair, Renard had just past the guy who started ahead of him, which of course means the Norwegian Time Trial Champion has now passed two guys on the course.  The Norwegian beat Renard by three and a half minutes but was over seven minutes behind the guy who won the stage.  Renard was the Lantern Rouge on the stage, but then he left the race after he finished riding with a broken elbow.

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-2023/3966006-102-297438/Painting/stomping-on-the-pedals-tdf23-102.html

 

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: Long Chase, Short Road

All during the race I have had trouble identifying which rider was whom, I am quite sure I wasn't the only one struggling with the race numbers hidden under various jackets and rain capes.  So I can't say which of the Israel Premier Tech riders was leading the chase (unsuccessfully) of the escapeing duo, but he was being aided by Daniel McLay (Arkea Samsic), Alexis Renard (Cofidis) and Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X).  It was awful nice of Uno-X to give Tiller Norwegian Champion's jacket and vest along with his champion's jersey.  I don't know which of the Bora-Hansgrohe riders is looking back to see if any help was forth coming.  With 14 kilometers left to race, it is very unlikely the couple of seconds they were pulling back were going to get them to the leaders in time, thus the title, "Long Chase, Short Road."

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3942463-512-195767/Painting/long-chase-short-road-gw23-5.html

 

Tour Down Under '23, Stage 4: On to Main Street

 As the lead peloton swung on to the main road of Willunga, the could see the finish line up the rise.  This is the first time I can remember the Tour Down Under not riding out of town and up Willunga Hill.  I am sure all of the sprinters were quite happy to finish before hitting that climb.  Alexis Renard (Cofidis) lead a rider from Israel-Premier Tech, Emils Liepins (Trek-Segafredo) and the front half of all of those still left in the Tour.  I am sorry I wasn't able to figure out who the Israel-Premier Tech rider was, the image was rather pixelated.  He soon swung off to let his sprinter, Corbin Strong do what he could 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-Down-Under/3928411-170-194179/Painting/on-to-main-street-tdu23-24.html