Tour, Stage 21: Around the Place du la Concorde

Some day someone will invent a pen with spell check...  I try to be as much in the moment when creating these works as possible and sometimes I get my titles wrong.  When I published my Tour de France book in 2014 (on my website under "Cycling Books Gallery") there were lots of edits, and I had to correct spelling on everything I tried to use French words for.

Now back to the race.  With the traditions of the day honored, it was time for some bike racing.  Every time, someone tries to surprise the peloton and jump off of the front.  In very, very rare occasions, this gambit has worked.  This quartet of Omar Fraille (Astana), Tom Scully (EF Education First), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain-Merida) and Niels Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) thought they would be the ones to beat the odds.  They weren't.  As they rounded the corner to go into the tunnel under the Place de la Concorde they had built up a twenty-five second lead over the currently contented 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.

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%202019/3366688-123-263530/Around%20the%20Place%20de%20la%20Concorde%20%20TDF19-123.html

Tour, Stage 20: As Promised

It looked like Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) was taking his cue from the great opera starts of Italy as he bowed to the crowd atop the Val Thorens.  Nibali had suffered illness and less than ideal form throughout the first two third of the Tour, but he came right when it mattered.  Nibali had promised his fans a stage win and earlier in the Tour it looked like that wasn't going to happen.  To his credit, he stuck it out, staying in the Tour.  Today was his last chance to deliver on his promise, and he found the legs to do it.  It may well have helped that the stage was just one climb instead of the planned three.  He seemed to fade as the previous stages grinded on.  No matter, he has the stage win he came for.

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%202019/3366255-118-263530/As%20Promised%20%20TDF19-118.html

Tour, Stage 20: The Last Chance

For those who aren't sprinters, today was the last chance to win a stage in the 2019 Tour de France.  Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) had come to the Tour not to win the race (something he has done in all three grand tours) but to win a stage.  At the start in Albertville today he had yet to accomplish that feat.  So it was that he was off the front with just six kilometers left to climb.  At least one countryman found the Italian and literally flew the flag for Italy.  Hopefully, Nibali can do it figuratively.

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%202019/3366234-117-263530/The%20Last%20Chance%20%20TDF19-117.html

Tour, Stage 20: It's a Long Shot

The early break that included Micheal Woods (EF Education First), Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and two others hoped that the peloton would be too interested in each other to bother with them.  With such a short stage, but a long climb, it was going to be a bit of a long shot to stay off of the front.  Behind there would be efforts to drop one another which will inevitably increase the peloton's pace.  Woods has been racing most of this Tour with two broken ribs, which makes his position off the front on a big climb just that much more impressive.

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%202019/3366048-114-263530/It's%20a%20Long%20Shot%20%20TDF19-114.html

Tour, Stage 18: Over the Big One

The first of the two HC Catagory climbs was the Col d'Izoard.  Julian Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) looked set to take the maximum points having led the whole way up the climb.  Sadly for him, it was the sprint of Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Merida) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) that swamped him within side of the summit.  Caruso got the points, with Bardet going over second, leaving third for Bernard.  Bardet has not been having the Tour he hoped for, but moving closer to the Maillot a Pois, should certainly raise his spirits.  If possible, it will raise the spirits of the French fans as well.  This is truly the Tour of the French!

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%202019/3365257-98-263530/Over%20the%20Big%20One%20%20TDF19-98.html

Tour, Stage 14: Starting His Effort

Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) has been saying from the start of this Tour that he is only here to win stages.  He certainly is too far back to be an overall contender.  Today he got into the break and then went on the offensive on the first big climb of the day, the Col du Soulor.  He was joined by another potential GC man who is too far behind, Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin).  The third member of the leading trio is Lennard Kamna (Sunweb), no back story here, he is just keeping an eye on the proceedings.

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%202019/3362735-75-263530/Starting%20His%20Effort%20%20TDF19-75.html

Tour, Stage 12: Day after Day

Not only does one need to be an excellent sprinter to win the Maillot Vert, one needs to be there day after day, sprint after sprint.  With some tall mountains on the back side of the stage, it was a large group of sprinters that got into the largest break thus far in the 2019 Tour de France.  Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) added to his lead by taking the sprint in Bagneres de Luchon ahead of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) and Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates).  Now it is on to the Col de Peyresourde.

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%202019/3361662-61-263530/Day%20after%20Day%20%20TDF19-61.html

Tour, Stage 9, Making a Move

Somehow I missed that Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Merida) and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) were responding to an attack from the break.  I thought it was Benoot who had started the attacks and Tratnik and Stuyven were joining him in the effort.  The break away had grown to 15 guys and more importantly had over ten minutes on the peloton back down the road.  With that kind of gap the stage winner was coming from the break (again) and some weren't doing their share of the work.

Quite a bit was made of the motos in the Tour providing a draft to some riders during the finale of yesterday's race.  Given the hub-bub I thought I should include one in at least one painting.  I don't think it was much of a big deal.  As Jens Voigt said, "If you want the advantage that usually goes to the attackers, then go on the attack."

See this painting come to life in this time lapse film clip:

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3359809-46-263530/Making%20a%20Move%20%20TDF19-46.html

Tour, Stage 6: Literally Caught at the Line

Given how steep the final ascent was, and that the line was right at the apex of the climb, there were helpers ready to catch each rider as he crossed the line.  So it was that as Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) struggled to raise his arms in victory, he was stablized by one of those assigned with making sure they didn't fall on their faces after the effort of reaching the top.  Teuns took the stage, but it was the man coming in second Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) who took over the lead in the Tour albeit by just six seconds.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3358806-33-263530/Literally%20Caught%20at%20the%20Line%20%20TDF19-33.html

Tour, Stage 5: Surprises at Every Kilometer

I never know what to expect to happen at any moment during the Tour, neither does the peloton.  I've been watching since the previous century (and reading about it before that) and I have never seen an umbrella blown into the main peloton.  Fortunately for Tony Gallopin (Ag2r La Mondiale) he, nor Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida), went down as a result.  Considering what could have happened, he was happy to just to have been held up for a few seconds as he got himself untangled from the flying debris.  Bob Roll describe it as flying in with everything but Mary Poppins hanging from the bottom.  Kudos, Bobke!

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%20de%20France%202019/3358250-22-263530/Surprises%20at%20Every%20Kilometer%20%20TDF19-22.html

Tour, Stage 4: Post Sprint Chat

In order to win the Maillot Vert of most consistant sprinter, one must be ready to race for every sprint point along every stage of the Tour.  While the three break away riders had sucked up the major points on offer in Lerouville, the marquee sprinters still revved up their legs for the more minor points left on the road.  With Elia Viviani taking the honors of the best of the rest, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) had a little chat afterwards as they waited for the peloton to catch back onto their wheels.  The pair had taken the next two placings, allowing Sagan to add to his sprint point tally.  Michael Matthews (Sunweb) seemed not to want to hear what they had to say.

Watch as I talk about this image while painting it in real time, here...

https://youtu.be/2bNYQl-f_TI

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%20de%20France%202019/3357925-18-263530/Post%20Sprint%20Chat%20%20TDF19-18.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: His First Ever

His team must have know something was about to happen for Ivan Garcia (Bahrain-Merida), they had been on the front most of the day driving to pace to pull back the break away.  And they were right! Garcia had the legs to hold off Maximilliano Richeze (Deceuninck-Quickstep) and Serio Higuita (EF Education First) to take his first win in a Pro Tour race.  The final climb had dispatched the marquee sprinters, but it was still a hard fast sprint to the line for the young Spaniard.  Deceuninck-Quickstep finally had its winning streak broken, but only by about a bike length.  They still had two men in the top four on the stage!

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%20of%20California/3333249-81-223355/His%20First%20Ever%20%20ToC19-26.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 2: Bonus Seconds

Part of race strategy is picking up bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints along the road.  Normally, those sprints are on flat stretches of road, but the second sprint today was on the climb up Luther Pass with just 30 kilometers left in the stage.  The break was still off the front and it was Dennis Rohan (Bahrain Merida) racing for a new team, vieing for a three second bonus against reigning ToC champion, David de la Cruz (Ineso).  Apparently, Rohan had a slip of gears and just missed getting the maximum seconds, taking second to de la Cruz.  These seconds can be very important, almost every Tour of California has been decided by less than a minute.

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%20of%20California/3331451-63-223355/Bonus%20Seconds%20%20ToC19-8.html

Paris Roubaix: Fighting Back

Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) wasn't having the best luck on the way to Roubaix.  He had a problem on the cobbles in the Forest of Ardenne where he took a teammates bike to chase back to the peloton.  After getting his back up bike from the team car after catching the peloton, he crashed on a corner.  He had to chase back again, but succeed in the effort.  Shockingly, he was able to be a factor in the final kilometers in the race until the multiple chases finally sapped his strength.  Heinrich Haussler (Bahrain-Merida) was twice able to use the motivated Van Aert to draft his way back into 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3319173-433-195767/PaintingFighting-Back--PR19-4.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: Tit for Tat

Like every break away that sees a chance for victory, this one broke down as the stronger climbers started attacking the others.  It was the local rider on a French team, Miles Scotson (Groupama-FDJ) who launched the aggressions.  Initially, it was Scotson and the Austrian, Herman Pernsteiner (Bahrain-Merida) that gapped the other four.  Only Jasha Sutterlin (Movistar) that was able to claw is way back to the duo's wheels.  Not content to just catch back on, Sutterlin attacked the others, giving 'tit for tat.'  However, as it oft happens, the aggressions spelled the doom of the break as those behind closed 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3286123-132-194179/PaintingTit-for-Tat--TDU19-14.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: Quite an Advantage

Today's group of escapees (six strong) built up the biggest advantage yet allowed by the chasing peloton.  With 74 kilometers left to race, these guys had almost five minutes on the true contenders behind.  Three of those in the break include Herman Pernsteiner (Bahrain-Merida), Benoit Cosnefoy (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Miles Scotson (Groupama-FDJ).  Cosnefoy is still covered with bandages up and down his right side from his spectacular crash in the sprint at the end of Stage 2.  Clearly, pro cyclist deal well with pain.  After a similar crash in my early amateur career, I hung up my racing cleats.  I chose instead to focus on my more successful (then beginning) art career.

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-Down-Under/3286109-130-194179/PaintingQuite-an-Advantage--TDU19-12.html

Tour, Stage 19: Up in the Clouds

I haven't commented on it yet, but this is the first Tour I have ever watched where it hasn't rained.  I hope I am not jinking the peloton for the last two days of the Tour.  In fact only at the top of the Col d'Aubisque have I even seen clouds.  Of course, given the height of the final climb of the Tour, the riders were in these clouds.  By this point over the summit, the stage hopefuls and the general classification guys have all joined up on the front of the race. Bob Jungels (Quick Step) and Gorka Izaguirre (Bahrain Merida) are both hanging on to the back of the group in the respective national jerseys.  The group is being lead by the Sky duo of Egan Bernal and Chris Froome.  Froome has now become a super domestique (super-duper to say the least) for the Maillot Jaune of his teammate Geraint Thomas.  Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) still hopes to upset the apple cart although it looks less and less likely with every pedal stroke, and the ever agressive Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) is still hoping for another stage victory.

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-2018/3195561-105-251072/PaintingUp-in-the-Clouds--T18-104.html

Tour, Stage 16: Leaving Them Behind

On the final climb of the day, the Col du Portillon, Robert Gesnik (Lotto NL Jumbo) jumped free of the dwindling break away.  With a sharp drop down to the finish town of Bagneres de Luchon it was a strong probablility that whomever went over the top first would take the stage win.  Gesnik's attack was covered by Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) as the pair charged up the final five kilometers to the summit.  Behind, you can just catch sight of Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott) trying to bridge across to the leaders.  Spoiler alert, he did.  And was in the lead on the descent until he slid out in a wet corner.

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-2018/3193211-86-251072/PaintingLeaving-Them-Behind--T18-85.html

Tour, Stage 15: A Little Cat & Mouse

As it would be expected, the three riders with teammates in the final leading group, were who was able to come to the line to contest the sprint.  The two without were out gunned in the closing kilometers.  The trio of Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) and Jon Izaguirre (Bahrain-Merida) had time in hand to shadow each other prior to launching the sprint.  Izaquirre took a peek back over his shoulder, making sure the others were closing in in the final couple of hundred meters.  As Mollema looked back, Nielsen opened up his sprint.  After playing cat and mouse, forcing Nielsen to go from the front, it was still the Dane that out sprinted the others for victory.  That now gives Astana back to back stage wins going into the final rest day of the Tour.  Had I been able to stay caught up, I could be enjoying the rest day myself.  This rest day falls on my birthday this year.  Last year I got to watch the final stage in Paris as I celebrated my 60th.  This year is a bit more calm, for the peloton and myself.

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-2018/3192263-82-251072/PaintingA-Bit-of-Cat-&-Mouse--T18-81.html

Tour, Stage 15: Back Together

After a flurry of attacks from the front group on the road, the break is now all back together.  They had caught Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the way into Carcassone.  Majka and the local rider, Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) were going to be at a distinct strategical disadvantage for stage victory.  Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) had another teammate with him, as did riders from Trek-Segafredo and Astana.  With a pair of teammates, one can attack while the other covers the counter, thus discouraging the chase and aiding in letting one's teammate get off the front relatively unchallenged.  With just seven and a half kilometers left in the stage, it was looking like the local wasn't going to have a chance for glory in his home town.

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-2018/3192252-81-251072/PaintingBack-Together--T18-80.html