Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: Tightly Packed

The peloton had started the process of pulling back the breakaway when there was still another seventy-five kilometers to ride to Angers.  The gap had been out to four minutes but by now it was just over three minutes to the four-woman group off the front.  Inside the peloton Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) was riding with her teammates shepherded by the Belgium Champion Justine Ghekiere.  Next to the Maillot Jaune Herietta Christie (EF Education-Oatley) passes a bottle over to her teammate (an USA National Champion) Kristen Faulkner.  Faulkner came to the world's notice when she won the Gold Medal in the Olympic Road Race on the same course that the men finished the Tour de France yesterday.

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. 

"Tightly Packed TdFF25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 15: He Caught Them Napping

Using Phil Liggett's expression, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) in his Belgium Champion's jersey had been sitting on the back of the breakaway for most of the day.  He was playing 'I am here to help my team leader should it become necessary' card and refusing to pull through in the effort to add more of an advantage in the escape attempt.  When the group was finally joined by the four that had been chasing, he saw it as his chance to surprise everyone on a little rise.  Attacking from the back, he was already at full speed before the others realized he was going.  The first to try and catch him were those who had just worked hard to catch on.  After a few minutes, it was clear no one was going to be able to hold his much fresher wheel.  With forty kilometers to go it was literally a long shot that he could hold off all of the chasers solo, but that wasn't going to deter him.  He had done much the same thing to earn the tricolore Belgium Champion jersey the weekend before the Tour started.

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.

"He Caught Them Napping TdF25-99" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 3: A Solo Effort for a Sole Point

Right before Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) went off the front of the peloton, he could be seen talking with those around him on the front line of the group.  It almost looked like he was asking permission to go off on this solo raid for the lone KOM point on the top of the only climb of the day.  Whether he was allowed to go, or simple had the power to ride off on his own, he came alone to the top of Mont Cassel.  He claimed the one point towards the King of the Mountains competition taking the jersey off of his team leader, Tadej Pogacar.  There was some speculation that this would allow Pogacar more time to recover by not be obliged to go to the podium presentations nor sit for post-race interviews.  The other possibility is that he would rather be in his rainbow jersey for now and then trade in for the coveted Maillot Jaune.  Whatever the plan was, Wellens is now the leader in the King of the Mountains competition.  

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.

"A Solo Effort for a Sole Point TdF25-16" (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 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 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)

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 1: The First to Wear Yellow

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) used the climb to get away from the peloton, and then used her time trial skills to stay off the front.  She left everyone almost a minute behind as she rode towards the line in Clermont-Ferrand.  Not only will she wear the first Maillot Jaune of the second Tour de France Femmes, if it were possible, she would also be wearing the Maillot Vert and the Maillot a Pois as well.  She was first over the only climb therefore she is the best climber today, and she won the stage so by the points definition she is the best sprinter today as well.  Since she can only wear the Yellow Jersey, the Green will be on the shoulders of Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step) and the Polka Dots will be on the shoulders of Katarzyna Niewadoma (Canyon-SRAM).  With six climbs tomorrow and both a sprint and a bonus sprint, I am sure the jerseys will move about a bit by the end 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 $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-2023/3967218-143-297438/Painting/the-first-to-wear-yellow-tdff23-5.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 16 ITT: Inside the Final Kilometer

Bedecked in his Belgium National Time Trial Champion's jersey, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was on a storming ride.  He was posting the new best time at the first three time checks out on the 22 kilometer course.  Urged on by the fans inside of the final kilometer of the stage, it was beginning to look like Van Aert may unseat the race leader from the hot seat, Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step).  He has been looking for a stage win for the previous fifteen stages, was today going to be the day?

Spoiler alert: He did have the best time when he finished, but he did not win 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 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-2023/3966058-106-297438/Painting/inside-the-final-kilometer-tdf23-106.html

 

Paris Nice 23, Stage 5: Worthy of Celebration

With arms spread wide and fingers showing he was number one on the stage, Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) celebrates a sprint victory into Saint Paul Trois Chateaux.  After the team’s disappointment of losing time against the new race leader, it was nice of their sprinter to give them something to celebrate.  Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) was forced to start his sprint a bit too early, but held on to take second place on the stage.  That placing was enough to earn him the Maillot Vert outright.  While the color green changed, it still means that he is the most consistent sprinter in this year’s race.  Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) in his Belgium National Champion jersey closed quickly but ran out of road to finish third.  You can see Arne Marit (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) coming in eighth with his teammate just behind him.

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/Paris-Nice/3939025-101-272742/Painting/worthy-of-celebration.-pn23-19.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Closing the Deal

This painting actually has a lot going on.  Obviously, it is Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) raising her arms in victory just edging out the defending champion Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar).  But it was down to the hard pace set by her teammate Chantal Van Der Broek-Blaak that set the Belgium champion up for a perfect (and fresh leg) sprint.  As the race coverage swung over to the Belgium fans watching the finish, they were all spraying each other with some very tasty Belgium beers as their champion became the new champion of Ronde Van Vlaanderen.  They had been deprived of seeing the male Belgium champion, Wout Van Aert, race today due to his having Covid.  Van Vleutin seem to accept that she had very little chance of getting the win going up against two very strong teammates, but was still quite happy to take second, just the same.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877206-47-207546/Painting/closing-the-deal-rvv22-14.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Coming Home Together

Defending Ronde Van Vlaanderen champion, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) was in a tough position coming to the five kilometer banner with two women from Team SD Worx.  On the back of the threesome was the leader of the team (the one with the one at the end of her bib number), Lotte Kopecky.  The Belgium champion had the advantage of having her teammate, a former winner of this race herself, Chantal Van Der Broek-Blaak, on the front driving the pace all of the way to the finale.  Less anyone forget, here is a perfect example of cycling being a team sport, not just the racing of an individual.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877202-46-207546/Painting/coming-home-together-rvv22-13.html