TDF, Stage 18: Over They Go

While two guys had already gone over the top of the Tourmalet, it was Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) taking the most points of any of those near him in the quest to wear the Maillot a Pois in Paris.  He followed Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education-Nippo) and was in turned followed by Omar Fraille (Astana-Premier Tech).  The problem Poels is facing in this stage is the knowledge that the guy in second is Tadej Pogacar, who is leading the race in the Maillot Jaune and will most likely go for the stage win at the top of Luz Ardiden.  If he does it will be another 40 KOM points added to his total.  Poels will have to finish at least 5th to keep hold of the Polka Dots.

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/3824249-119-291436/Painting/over-they-go-tdf21-118.html

TDF, Stage 14: Moving Up

I just now realized that this title is a pun.  First, my intention was to capture an image of Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) as he raced in one of the leading groups on the road.  He was tucked in with some chasers of the leader and another small group on the road.  He had Omar Fraile (Astana-Premier Tech) and Elie Geshert (Arkea-Samsic) for company, amongst others, to help build his gap back to the Maillot Juane group.  The other interpretation of the title is that this shot was caught from the helicopter as it literally moved up from this group and went in search of the peloton.  His effort led to him moving from ninth place overall into second just over four minutes off the lead in second place.

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/3823020-88-291436/Painting/moving-up-tdf21-87.html

TDF, Stage 10: What Are Our Chances?

Maybe the Tour organizers decided to be a bit kinder this year.  The take back from the rest day was a long flat stage giving the peloton a chance to loosen their legs back up before heading to a hard mountain stage tomorrow.  So that set up the vain glorious attempt to out wit the peloton.  I think Hugo Houle (Astana-Premier Tech) knew the answer to his question to his companion, Tosh Van Der Sande (Lotto Soudal).  However, if you aren't a sprinter, you know their is no chance you will win a flat stage anyway.  So why not take a very, very slim chance and go off the front.  The duo built up about a five minute lead at 158 kilometers to go, but then those behind decided that was far enough.

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/3822275-58-291436/Painting/what-are-our-chances-tdf21-57.html

TDF, Stage 8: It Was Enough for Yellow

 As this trio rounded the corner within site of the finish in Le Grand Bornand, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) knew he had done enough to be swapping his Maillot Blance for a Maillot Jaune.  Technically he will have both jersey, but will be wearing the Maillot Jaune at the start line tomorrow.  As he lined up for the sprint against Ion Izagirre (Astana-Premier Tech) and Michael Woods (Israel Start Up Nation) he also new there were some time bonuses for second and third place.  I don't know if he decided he didn't need the bonus, or he had blown his legs in the amazing effort to sieze the jersey, but he finished third out of these three and fourth on the stage.  Regardless, he now has a large lead in this Tour and I am wondering if we saw him win the Tour today.  Can anyone rival his attack today? Or is anyone remotely close to the level of this 22 year old?  I am sure he was heartened to see all of the Slovenian flags that are appearing all along the routes of this year's Tour.  

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/3821779-51-291436/Painting/it-was-enough-for-yellow-tdf21-50.html

TDF, Stage 8: Time to Go!

The Col de Romme was the penultimate climb of the day and an unlikely place to launch an attack out of the main peloton.  Never the less, that is exactly what Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) did.  With another seven kilometers on this climb and then one more climb up the infamous Col de la Colombiere it may be a bit early to go on the attack, but he did just use the last of his teammates so why not.  When he went only Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) was able to follow the move, although Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech) did jump on the pedals in an attempt to go with the two climbers.

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/3821758-47-291436/Painting/time-to-go-tdf21-46.html

TDF, Stage 8: Dressing Up

On the Cote de Mont Saxonnex, the first Catagory 1 climb of this Tour, Ion Izagirre (Astana-Permier Tech) drops back to get a rain cape for the coming descent.  It has been a very wet day, and the high speed descents in wet clothes can make for a very chilly ride down the mountain.  There are a lot of factors that go into just finishing the Tour, let alone winning it.  Catching a cold can quickly ruin a rider's chance of making it all of the way to the Champs Elysees.  Just ahead, Nans Peters (Ag2r-Citroen) is struggling to hold the wheels of this chasing group.  They are all facing a second big climb and another 47 kilometers before the end of today's effort.

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/3821670-45-291436/Painting/dressing-up-tdf21-44.html

Dauphine, Final Stage: Giving It Another Shot

Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) had tried several times to escape from the group with the Yellow Jersey (and the rest of the top positions on the general classification).  Undaunted, he went again with just 3 kilometers to the end of the stage, and the race.  This time it worked.  While he wasn't going to be able to catch the three up the road, he was going to be able to move himself up a couple of positions finishing the Dauphine in eighth place.  In the distance you can see Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech), who finished in second, looking back at the Maillot Jaune of Richie Porte (Ineos-Grenadiers), perhaps trying to decide if he should go after O'Connor in hopes of overtaking Porte.  Geraint Thomas, Porte's teammate, simply wasn't going to let that happen.

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/3816654-128-185083/Painting/giving-it-another-shot-cd21-44.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Showing Their Colors

After Astana-Premier Tech pushed the pace on the way up the Col du Porte, it was Movistar hitting the front on the way back down the other side.  Carlos Verona took the team over the top, down the other side, and on up the penultimate climb of the day.  Stuck to his teammate's wheel was the designated team leader, Miguel Angel Lopez.  On the wheel of Movistar was the guy sitting second overall, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech).  He just needed to stay on the front to guarantee he would be the next to pull on the Maillot Jaune.

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/3815290-114-185083/Painting/showing-their-colors-cd21-30.html

Dauphine, Stage 5: Did I Do It?

The answer to Geraint Thomas' (Ineos-Grenadiers) implied question is "yes."  He had gotten enough of an advantage leading to the final meters of the stage that he had just enough to stay ahead of the fast closing sprinters.  His move left Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) to take his fourth mass sprint, but yet again the sprint was for second place.  Rounding out the top five were Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech) - who was third for yet another stage-, Carlos Bargero (Qhubeka-ASSOS), and Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Israel Start Up Nation).  The current Maillot Jaune, Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) owes a debt of gratitude to these sprinters their closing of the gap to Thomas meant that he gained no more than the bonus seconds for finishing first.  Had he kept the gap he opened up and 500 meters he most likely have been the next leader of the Dauphine.  As it was the 10 second time bonus moved him up to 6th place in the general classification, just 16 seconds behind Postlberger.  And it moved him to the highest ranking amongst his teammates as well, but only by two seconds.

I'm sure the climbing to come will open up much larger gaps on the general classification.

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/3815110-110-185083/Painting/did-i-do-it-cd21-26.html

Dauphine, Stage 4: Outta' No Where

Ion Izaguirre (Astana-Premier Tech) caught everyone by surprise including Bob Roll who is covering the race for NBC Sports.  The Spanish rider on the Kazakh team times had not been aired, nor had we seen him out on course for the entire broadcast.  But here he suddenly was, about to post the best time as he crossed the line by over seven seconds.  He ended the day taking second on the stage, just beat out by his teammate Alexey Lutsenko.  His effort also left him in fourth place in the general classification, ahead of the only guy to best him today.

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/3814866-103-185083/Painting/outta-no-where-cd21-19.html

Dauphine, Stage 3: Finally!

 "Finally!"  That had to be on the lips of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) as he took his third mass sprint in a row.  However, this time it was for stage honors.  The last two sprints had been after a sole rider had already crossed the line seconds ahead of the closing peloton.  Unable to get around the Italian were Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech), Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo).  McNulty was smart to grab some bonus seconds towards his general classification aspirations.  Stuyven may have been left wondering how he could have fared had he not been forced to chase back to the peloton earlier.  And then while relieved, Colbrelli fell just two seconds shy of claiming the Maillot Jaune with this victory, but he did increase his lead in the Maillot Vert competition.

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/3814735-98-185083/Painting/finally-cd21-14.html