Tour '25, Stage 17: Making It Two!

In the last left turn before the peloton lined up for the sprint a large bunch crashed after someone (or two) slide out on the wet road.  Since the wreck happened at the front of the peloton a number of sprinters went down or were held up too long to vie for the stage victory.  I doubt any would have had the legs to get around Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) who claimed his second stage victory of his career and this Tour.  One of those caught out by the crash was Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) who is the only sprinter to beat Milan to the line, twice.  Today it was Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) with Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL) taking the third step of the podium.  Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) sprinted to fourth today.  For Milan, his win today may mean he has done what he needed to keep the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  It really depends on the coming intermediate sprints, and how the new course on the final day in Paris will be raced.

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.

"Making It Two TdF25-116" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 11: Stuck in the Middle

This group of five were stuck about halfway between the early breakaway and the peloton.  There were some big names of the Tour pushing the pace as they rode up the Cote de Corronsac.  The fans were thrilled to find Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) chasing a stage victory.  They were joined in the effort by the ever-aggressive American Champion, Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) and Axel Laurance (Ineos-Grenadiers).  It was funny to me that the gendarme is blowing his whistle as if that was going to calm the screeching fans beside him.  I doubt they even heard him for all the noise they were making themselves.

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. 

"Stuck in the Middle TdF25-69" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 9: For the Second Time

Unfortunately for the early breakaway of Mathieu Van Der Poel and Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) Van Der Poel was caught by the charging peloton with roughly 900 meters left to race.  It was a very long shot that may have started as a lark almost came to fruition.  Instead, it was the sprinters who vied to win on the streets of Chateauroux.  The town has given itself the nickname of Cavendish City, since the record holding sprinter had won all three of the sprint stages that ended here.  Without Cavendish still racing, it would be someone new to claim stage honors today.  That honor went to Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) who edged out Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), again! This time it was about a half of a bike length rather than a half inch like Stage 3.  It was Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) getting his sprinting legs turning over taking third followed by Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL).  Sadly, my pick for the stage, Biniam Girmay, could only sprint to sixth not even making into the frame.

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.

"For the Second Time TdF25-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Problems

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) really wasn't having the best days.  Having already had a flat tire and a bike change, he was still struggling to get his bike right with 65 kilometers to go.  Behind him, the race juror is stopped with his fist in the air to warn those behind that a rider is stopped on the side of the road.  As De Lie got his chain back on the chainring, his team car pulled up on the right side of the road.  He was back onto his original bike and chasing, again.  But as the race got to the business end of the day, his efforts had sapped his legs.  He found himself unable to go with the pace on the final climbs of the day.  A sad turn of events for the Belgium Champion on the opening day of racing in Belgium.

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.

"Problems OHN25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Volta ao Algarve '25, Stage 4: A Tough Finale

The final sprint (but not the final stage) saw Milan Fretin (Cofidis) take a clear win in a clean uphill sprint.  He was able to get the better of the Green Jersey of the points leader, Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) claimed the last step of the stage podium edging out Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) and Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Girmay) at the line in Faro, Portugal.  Tomorrow, the race wraps up with an individual time trial.  It will be interesting to see how much the general classification is shaken up over the twenty kilometer course that ends atop the Malhao Category Two climb.

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.

"A Tough Finale VA25-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Volta ao Algrave '25, Stage 3: It Counts this Time

This time when Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) outsprinted the peloton, it counted.  Behind him was Alberto Dainese (Tudor Cycling) followed by Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) and the Belgium Champion Arnaud De Lie (Lotto).  While I didn't see a problem, Dainese was relegated so Girmay and De Lie moved up a step on the stage podium.  With his win today Meeus moves into the Green Jersey of the points leader.  Plus, I'm thrilled to see Girmay back at the pointy end of a stage after his brilliant 2024 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.

"It Counts this Time VA25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: All About Points

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) finally got the better of all of the sprinters, too bad it was for the intermediate sprint and not the finale.  However, he and the guys that finished second and fifth, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) are virtually tied behind the two leaders in the competiton for the Maillot Vert of best sprinter in this Tour.  Finishing second in this sprint in Les Matellettes was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who closed in on the lead of Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) who took fourth.  I doubt they went full gas since the real points are awarded at the finish line in another 96 kilometers 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"All About Points TdF24-95" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: Into the Barriers

One of the lead-out men for Lotto-Dstny leaned heavily into Amaury Capriot (Arkea-B&B Hotels) as he went by.  When he came off of his shoulder Capriot over compensated and lost his balance.  As he lost control, he took out Cees Pol (Astana-Qazaqstan) who went head over heels and blocked the way for the Lotto-Dstny sprinter, Arnaud De Lie.  A bit ironic since the crash was caused trying to move him towards the front for the sprint.  I don't normally paint crashes, I don't want to glorify the gory of the sport, but this being the thirteenth stage, it seemed appropriate.  Many, including, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) were able to avoid the flying bikes and bodies, but any that were behind the pile-up saw any chance of winning the stage go up the road.  The five-kilometer rule will mean that these guys will all get the same time as the stage winner should they be able to get up and walk or ride across the finish line.  Oddly, if they walk to the line, they must have their bike with them.

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.

"Into the Barriers TdF24-75" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 8: Taking Another Stage

It looked like the sprint was going to go to Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was finally going to get his first stage win, but he rubbed shoulders with Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) as they neared the line.  The two held off a fast-closing Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny), but he tried to go between the two when there just wasn't enough room.  So it was that Girmay got his second stage win in this Tour, and in his Tour career.  Philipsen is becoming the forever second best (if he isn't relegated).  De Lie had the legs to win but didn't get himself into the right position to bring the win home.  Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) held onto his position in the previous painting coming in fourth on the stage.  As of this posting, I don't think anyone saw any problems with the sprint between the top three 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.

"Taking Another Stage TdF24-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 3: The First Mass Sprint

The first stage win for Biniam Girmay!  The first stage win for Intermache-Wanty! And the first stage win by a rider from Eritrea!  Oh, and it was the first mass sprint of the 111th Tour de France, too.  Girmay came up the barriers at an incredible speed to get around the fading Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Neither Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) nor Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) could match the speed of the Eritrean but they did take second and third on the stage respectively.  Sadly, we didn't get to see Mark Cavendish factor in the first sprint stage of the Tour, nor Jasper Philipsen for that matter either.  Still, there are another five chances for the magical number 35.

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 First Mass Sprint TdF24-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Still Working Together

The late break of the day was a dream come true for Visma-Lease a Bike.  They had managed to get three of there guys into the break.  While Christophe Laporte was one the front driving the pace of the group of escapees, Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert were able to conserve their energy at the back.  It was a nightmare for the other three in the group.  Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) and Arnuad De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) were going to be forced to chase each of the moves one of the Visma guys made or conversely, should any one of them try an attack one of the Visma guys can chase while the others continue to save themselves for the finale.  All the while, these six were continuing to build a gap on the peloton that was now over a minute behind.

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.

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