Tour de France 23, Stage 7: Friends Along the Way

Admittedly, you can't see that the guy with the striped shirt is holding a flare.  When this first came up on screen, I thought that Anthony Perez (Cofidis) was going to yell at the guy for setting of a flare as the peloton road by.  That was further inforced a milisecond later as the guy with the flare wasn't sure if he should high-five Perez or what.  Actually, Perez stopped and the two embraced with joy and fondness (flare still held pointing away from the Cofidis rider.  I figure the orange umbrella wasn't enough of a marker to help Perez find them, so the flare was actually being use to the purpose for which it was intended.  After a momentary visit, Perez rejoined the tail of the peloton and got back to racing 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 $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-2023/3964239-39-297438/Painting/friends-along-the-way-tdf23-38.html

Tour '22, Stage 18: Not the Day He Wanted

Simon Geschke (Cofidis) hadn't expected he could hold onto the Miallot a Pois through the Alps but now that he was riding the final mountain stage of the Tour he had dared to believe he could gain enough points to hold it the rest of the way to Paris.  Alas, having tried mulitple times to get into the break, he was beat by the time he finally across to the leaders only to lose the pace on the way up the Col d'Aubisque.  He had a chance to hold onto the lead, but he would need others to not score points as well.  His teammates Ion Izaguirre and Anthony Perez had come back to help him in hopes he would come right for the next to climbs.  It was unlikely since they would factor into the GC battle that was sure to kick off on the Col de Spandelles.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895181-112-294403/Painting/not-the-day-he-wanted-tdf22-113.html

Tour '22, Stage 11: Defending by Winning

Anthony Perez (Cofidis) had joined the break away in hopes of being the Frenchman to win a stage of the Tour on Bastille Day (it hasn't happen in at least five years).  Yet, by being off the front, he could suck up the lion share of the King of the Mountain points thus protecting the Maillot a Pois of his teammate Simon Geschke back in the peloton.  

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. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893744-70-294403/Painting/defending-by-winning-tdf22-70.html

Tour '22, Stage 10: Still Not Established

Perhaps it was the long downhill to kick off the stage, or perhaps it was due to yesterday's rest day, but it took a long, long time to get a break established in Stage 10.  Attack after attack was pulled back only to watch another group attempt to get away.  Finally, this bunch was beginning to look like they might be the ones to make it stick.  Anthony Perez (Cofidis) looks back to see who might be joining him in this effort.  Over his shoulder he could spy the Ineos-Grenadiers duo of Luke Rowe and Dylan Van Baarle.  He probably spotted the bright pink kit of the former King of the Mountains, Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost).  However behind his opposite shoulder was Jack Bauer (BikeExchange-Jayco) and the American Tour neophyte Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar).  With 73 kilometers to go, it was the start of the Col de Jambaz the set up their departure from the grip of the peloton.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893260-53-294403/Painting/still-not-established-tdf22-53.html

Tour '22, Stage 4: Record Breaking

Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) strengthened his hold on the Maillot a Pois by taking the first five category 4 climbs in the first stage on French soil.  In doing so he set a new record winning the first 11 climbs of a Tour de France.  Neither I nor the TV cycling pundits can conceive of that record ever being broken.  After attempting to take the first climb of the day, Anthony Perez (Cofidis) decided to let Cort have his day.  The pay back was letting Perez take the intermediate sprint, and to go on solo in hopes of winning the Most Combative award for the stage.  With the peloton closing quickly in hopes of setting up a bunch sprint, it was unlikely that either will still be away to take the final climb of 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892129-18-294403/Painting/record-breaking-tdf22-18.html

Tour '22, Stage 4: "No You Don't"

Anthony Perez (Cofidis) launched the first attack but he was almost immediately marked by Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost).  As they approached the summit of the first climb of the day, the Cote de Cassel, Perez attack.  Cort got around the Frenchman and then looked back as if to say, "Oh no you don't!"  Cort wasn't letting anyone take his Maillot a Pois if his legs had anything to say about it.  When he went over the climb first he tied a record set back in 1958 of winning the first five climbs of any 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892121-16-294403/Painting/no-you-dont-tdf22-16.html

TDF, Stage 21: Their Work Is Never Done

Unfortunately, my pen does not have spell check, nor does it catch bad grammar.  Clearly, I meant 'their' not 'there.'  Somehow I got to the last stage of the Tour without a single painting of a daredevil mechanic leaning way too far out of a team car to effect a bike repair on the fly.  Anthony Perez (Cofidis) had a plastic bag stuck in his rear derailleur hanger which was bound to interfere with shifting if not completely lock up the rear wheel.  With the peloton going full gas, there wasn't enough time to stop for a repair or bike change, so out the window it was.  It worked and Perez was able to quickly catch back onto the rear of the peloton.  And the mechanic still had all of his fingers.  It really does take a full team to compete successfully 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3824856-141-291436/Painting/their-work-is-never-done-tdf21-140.html

TDF, Stage 17: Flying the Flag

On the Col de Val Lauron Azet Anthony Peres (Cofidis) was looking to carry the flag for the French, and his French team.  While it has been since 2017 that a Frenchman was able to claim a stage victory on Bastille Day, it has been an additional nine years since his team has taken a stage win in the Tour.  The French fans were out in force on all of the climbs of the day, many waving the tri-colore of France for everyone in the peloton.  But they were especially excited to see one of their own off the front on the second big climb of the day.

Spoiler alert... Perez stayed off the front until the final three kilometers of the stage, so the French and Cofidis will have to wait another year. Well Cofidis still has three stages to claim a stage win in the 2021 Tour de France.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.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 from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3824051-108-291436/Painting/flying-the-flag-tdf21-107.html

TDF, Stage 2: Watching Each Other

Anthony Perez (Cofidis) was keeping a very sharp eye on Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe) as the two traded sprints for King of the Mountain points.  As the duo neared the summit of the Cote de Pordic the two were even on points.  Behind Jonas Koch (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) was taking full advantage of the speed the other two were building.  Their efforts were helping him and the rest of the break away to stay clear of the following peloton.  Schelling was able to get the better of Perez which ended up ensuring that he would hold the Maillot a Pois for a second day in his first Tour de France.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3820468-9-291436/Painting/watching-each-other-tdf21-9.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Climbing Well

This was the front of the early break being led up the Col du Porte by Anthony Perez (Cofidis).  Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) was climbing well and looking to keep his polka dot jersey of the best climber of this Criterium du Dauphine.  On his shoulder was one of the guys who went on the offensive yesterday (to no avail), Sven Erik Bystrom (Uae Team Emirates).  Seemingly about to drop off the pace is Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo).  As it turned out, as soon as I finished painting this an restarted the video, he jumped the other three and went up the road.  It was the start of multiple attacks and counter moves as the peloton continued to close in.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815281-112-185083/Painting/climbing-well-cd21-28.html

Tour, Stage 3: Dressing for Success

The rescheduled Tour de France has not provided the best weather thus far.  Today the peloton, and this break away, were in and out of rain showers all day.  This trio was off the front.  Benoit Cosnefroy (Ag2r La Mondiale) started the day in the Maillot a Pois, however he was even on points with the man on the front, Anthony Perez (Cofidis).  Jerome Cousin (Total Direct Energie) just saw a break away forming and jumped with the other two.  Perez got the best of Cosnefroy on the first two climbs of the day to become the leader of the KOM competition virtuale.  Alas, Perez crashed on the descent of the Col de la Faye, apparently into the back of his own team car, and broke his collar bone.  Clearly he was unable to continue with his Tour de France, leaving Cosnefroy in the continued possession of the Polka Dot Jersey of best climber.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3688322-19-282744/Painting/dressing-for-success-tdf20-13.html

Paris Nice, Stage 6: Time to Chat

The big news at the start of today's stage was that the race would end one day early.  Organizers decided to cancel the stage through the streets of Nice to help curtail the spread of the Corona Virus.  Additional the Bahrain McLaren team decided to leave the race and Tejay van Garderen pulled out in order to be able to get home before the banning of flights out of Europe being allowed to land in the USA.  These are strange time.  I am painting this race about ten days behind the actual racing, so I know what these guys are only guessing at.  All that being said, I will now go back to writing about this race in an "as live" manner.

Today's stage was rather hilly and marks the penultimate stage of Paris Nice now.  While the Maillot Jaune has over a minute on his nearest competitor the other GC positions are all very close together.  This is the back of the early break.  Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) took the chance to chat with Winner Anacona (Arkea-Samsic) as he rolled to the back of the group after his turn on the front.  Just ahead, Anthony Perez (Cofidis) recovered a bit before it was his turn to do his part on the front of the group.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3491230-24-272742/Painting/time-to-chat-pn20-24.html

Tour, Stage 11: Quick Repair

Another stage, another break away trying to test the will of the peloton.  With just this stage and the stage into Paris left for the pure sprinters, it was unlikely this foursome of Stephane Rosetto (Cofidis), Aime De Gendt (Wanty Gobert), Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Lilian Calmejane (Total Direct Energie) were going to be given much of an advantage.  They weren't. 

Since the Tour is decided on total elapsed time, riders avoid stopping for most anything.  So, when there is a bike problem, they will ride beside the team car as their mechanic hangs out the rear window trying to fix the problem on the fly.  With any luck there are no unexpected bumps, debris nor road hazards.  I have seen this move go rather badly in the past.

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%202019/3361263-55-263530/Quick%20Repair%20%20TDF19-55.html

Tour, Stage 4: What Time Is It?

The Tour de France is full of traditions, and hold overs from days gone by.  Before the edition of race radios, the riders kept taps on the where abouts of the breaks and peloton by a moto carrying a chalkboard and showing the time gaps to each group.  With all of the information available to the team directors in the team cars, this is now basically a cute hold-over complete with an attractive woman holding up the chalkboard for the rider's momentary distraction.  In fact, it only seems to be Jerome Cousin (Direct Energie) that is even giving the moto more than a passing glance.  Guillaume Van Kiersbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) along with the Cofidis riders, Anthony Peres and Dimitri Claeys, seemed to just be getting on with the job at hand.

You can see this painting come to life at my You Tube channel, where I hope you will be come a suscriber.  Or you can see it here:

I will be sharing one of my paintings being created each and every stage throughout this Tour.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3185643-17-251072/PaintingWhat-Time-Is-It?--T18-17.html

Tour, Stage 4: I've Got a Question

Stage 4 has the Tour back out on the road of the Britton region of northern France, and has the requiste early break up the road.  The two Frenchmen and the two Belgiums were collaborating now, but they will be cheering against each other with tonight's World Cup Semi Final between the two countries.  Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) is calling for his team car, most likely looking for a little information about where the peloton is (or where they are for that matter).  Joining him are Jerome Cousin (Direct Energie) in his second break away of this Tour and two riders from Cofidis, Anthony Perez and Dimitri Claeys.  This foursome buitlg up eight minutes on the peloton before the group decided to start chasing them down.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3185637-16-251072/PaintingI've-Got-a-Question--T18-16.html

Liege Bastogne Liege: Now There Are Five

Casper Pedersen's (Aqua Blue Sport) attack served only to split up the nine man break away.  First, it left him to tired to stay with the chasers once they got back onto the Dane's wheel.  And second, the chase left a few off the back to be swept up by the peloton in just a few minutes time.  Those left on the front of the race included Pedersen's teammate, Mark Christian, along with Loic Vliegen (BMC), Jerome Baugnies (Wanty Groupe-Gobert), Paul Ourselin (Direct Energie) and Anthony Perez (Cofidis).  Perez road in the early break on Wednesday in La Fleche Wallone, only to find himself trying again today.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3151236-423-195767/PaintingNow-There-Are-Five-LBL18-3.html

Liege Bastogne Liege: Sprinting for Euros

Unlike multi-day stage races, there is now King of the Mountains jersey to be won in a single day race like Liege Bastogne Liege.  However, there is prize money for being the first to crest each of the eleven catagorized climbs that make up this "Old Lady" of cycling.  Jumping away from his eight break away companions was Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue Sport).  Anthony Perez (Cofidis) just watched him ride away perhaps in disbelief of the effort the Dane was putting in.  Pedersen went on with his attack on the descent gaining about a half a minute on the rest of the break.  With the Cote de Bellevaux lying so far from the finish of the day, it seemed a tall order to hold of a peloton that was already beginning to reel the break back in.

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.

This painting is sold!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3151235-422-195767/PaintingSprinting-for-Euros-LBL18-2.html

Fleche Wallonne: Just a Minute

I enjoy have a little fun with titling my paintings.  This one is a bit of a play on words.  How many times have you told some one, "Just a minute."?  Of course, the riders in the break were being told by the slateboard that the peloton was only one minute behind.  Patrick Muller (Vital Concept), Cesare Benedetti (Bora Hansgrohe), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence) had built up a lead of almost three minutes, but could never really break free of the grasp of the peloton.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3148296-416-195767/PaintingJust-a-Minute-FW18-3.html

Vuelta, Stage 15: Finally Established

Today was a short stage (160K) with three steep, steep climbs at the end of the journey, so it was going to be hard and fast.  The first hour covered over 50 kilometers as group after group tried to get into the break away of the day.  Finally after 40 kilometers of racing it was this group of eight that made the break stick.  It helped that the best place rider was over 45 minutes behind the race leader.  Some of those in the break included Lluis Mas (Caja Rural-Seguros), Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Matteo Trentin (Quickstep), and Sander Armee (Lotto Soudal).  Trentin was able to take advantage of one of the few early intermediate sprints to add to his point tally in the sprint competition.  Despite how well he has been climbing, there was no chance he would be there at the final summit of the day.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Vuelta-2017/3026987-25-239162/PaintingFinally-Established-V-26.html