Tour '25, Stage 15: Plenty of Time to Celebrate

Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) had over a minute-and-a-half over the lone chasers and another few seconds over the group from the early breakaway.  That gave him more than enough time to celebrate with the fans along the final kilometer of the stage.  After exchanging high fives, he gave the two-armed salute for the cameras as he won his first Tour de France stage of his career.  He now joins a relatively small group of Pro Tour riders who have won a stage in all three Grand Tours.  It is the fifth stage win for his team as well.  Much talk was made about just how strong of a team Visma-Lease a Bike brought to the Tour, but judging by stage wins the advantage goes to UAE Team Emirates.  It is true that Visma is leading the team competition by sixteen minutes.  That is determined by the combined times of any teams three best place members.

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.

"Plenty of Time to Celebrate TdF25-101" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 15: One of These Four?

With forty-five kilometers yet to race, it was beginning to look like the break from the breakaway would be the ones to fight it out for the stage victory when they reach Carcassonne.  There are four more guys behind this quartet of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates).  They do have nineteen seconds on those chasers, with the rest of the early break strewn over the course as much as four minutes behind.  Even further back is the peloton tooling along over six minutes later.  I should note, there is an even bigger group of sprinters and other even further back then 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"One of these Four? TdF25-98" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne: In Another Winning Pair?

The title harkens back to Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) going in a two woman break in last weekend's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.  This time the former World Champion was joined by Lotto Kopecky (SD Worx) who had not been able to stay with Annemiek in Omloop.  That time it was her teammate Demi Vollering that held on to the wheel.  Yet today it was Vollering who didn't hang to the escaping Dutch woman.  With 10 kilometers left to race the duo had build up an 11 second gap on the chasers so it was a very thin chance that they would stay away, but both were showing really great legs. (the expression has nothing to do with the aesthetics of their limbs, but everything to do with the strenght both racers were exhibiting)

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/3870238-32-207546/Painting/in-another-winning-pair-sbd22-4.html

Men's Omloop: Riding Away

I am beginning to wonder if there is anything Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) can't do on a bike.  Van Aert used his teammate, Tiesj Benoot, to soften up the ten man break.  Once Benoot had been pulled back, it was Van Aert's turn to go off the front - on his own.  Even with nine guys chasing him, the Belgium Champion, kept extending his lead finishing the day almost a minute ahead of the sprint of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) and Greg Van Avermaet (Ag2r-Citroen) who finished in that order.  It had to be that much more special to win the first race of the season in Belgium in the Belgium National Jersey. 

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/Spring-Classics-/3868965-458-195767/Painting/riding-away-ohn22-6.html

Men's Omloop: What Are They Saying?

I would love to know what Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) were taking about.  Colbrelli, the European Champion, was the only one in this five man break that didn't have a teammate.  Van Aert had Tiesj Benoot to work on his behalf.  At the front of the group were the Ineos-Grenadiers duo of Jhonatan Narvaez and Tom Pidcock.  Clearly it is an advantage to have a teammate in the break with you.  Colbrelli will have to chase any attacks whereas the others can share the duties of keeping other escapees in check.

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/Spring-Classics-/3868963-456-195767/Painting/what-are-they-saying-ohn22-04.html

TDF, Stage 15: Sprinting to the Top

Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma) decided he would get into the mix of the race for the Maillot a Pois. As Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) and Michael Woods (Israel Start Up Nation) traded sprints for the last two days, it was Van Aerts who surprised them both.  The Belgium champion was fourth in the race for the King of the Mountains title at the start of the day, so I am not sure why Poels and Woods were surprised by his attack for maximum points atop the Col de Puymorens.  What was surprising is that Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) stay out of this sprint on the one on the previous mountain.  Perhaps his form isn't where it should be, or he could be suffering from some undisclosed malady.

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/3823337-93-291436/Painting/sprinting-to-the-top-tdf21-92.html

TDF, Stage 11: Any Way He Can

I don't think I have ever seen someone do what Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) has done in the last two days.  Yesterday he just about beat the Maillot Vert of Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-Quick Step) to the line in a flat sprinter's stage.  The very next day he drops all of the big names of the Tour on a truly tough stage that included a Catagory 1 climb followed by two trips up the fabled Mont Ventoux.  And as if that wasn't a big enough feat, he decided that his victory salute should be done while standing on the pedals, out of the saddle and with his hands spread wide.  Now that is some serious bike handling that I would never, ever attempt.  Plus he gave the team something to celebrate as yet another member of the black & yellow squad was forced to leave the race due to injuries from a crash out on course.

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/3822579-71-291436/Painting/any-way-he-can-tdf21-70.html

TDF, Stae 8: He Might Get Yellow

Despite Tadej Pogacar being up the road, it was entirely possible that Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma) would be the new Maillot Jaune.  Van Aerts had started the day with roughly two minutes on the young rider from Slovenia.  All Van Aerts has to do is get home within two minutes of the time of Pogacar.  Spoiler alert, he didn't make it.  Joining Van Aerts was Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos-Grenadiers) who had done what he could for his team leader Carapaz.  Unfortuantely for Van Aerts, he was going to get any help from Castroviejo, his team leader was gaining time on the Belgium champion in hopes of taking over second place for himself.

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/3821767-49-291436/Painting/he-might-get-yellow-tdf21-48.html

TDF, Stage 7: Locked Together

These two have spent most of their cycling career locked together in friendly competition.  The two even race against each other in the off season in the Cyclo-Cross discipline.  Today they went to the line together, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) ensuring he would spend yet another day in the Maillot Jaune.  Riding into Creusot with the leader of the Tour was the current Belgium champion, Wout Van Aert Jumbo-Visma).  Van Aert is sitting third at the start of the day, but this effort moved him up to second.  Behind Van Aert, his team leader, Primoz Roglic, was dropping away from the rest of the contenders, apparently succumbing to his multiple injuries from an earlier crash in this Tour.  Now Jumbo-Visma is faced with trying to decide who will be their guy for the general classification.  It is suspect that Van Aert won't have the legs to go all the way to Paris through the high mountains.  Conversely, Jonas Vingegaard sits second in the Best Young Rider competition and hung tough with the other contenders.  Perhaps tomorrow's ride over the Colombiere will decide who the team will ride for.

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/3821630-42-291436/Painting/locked-together-tdf21-41.html

TDF, Stage 7: Who Let These Two Go?

I really don't know how all of the GC riders could have let these two get into a large break away.  Worse the duo of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) were opening up a gap of over six minutes on the guy in second at the start of the day, and all of those whom had been named as a likely winner when we reach Paris in just over another two weeks.  As they climbed the Cote de Glux en Glenne, the Shimano neutral service vehicle stayed close to help should it be needed.

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/3821557-38-291436/Painting/who-let-these-two-go-tdf21-37.html

Paris Roubaix: Ill Timed

Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First) had been following every move until an ill timed mechanical took his hopes of winning away.  Vanmarcke called for his team car once the Mavic neutral service vehicle realized they could be of no help.  Vanmarcke was joined in the chase by Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Yves Lampaert (Decenunick-Quick Step) tried in vain to chase down the two leaders up the road.  It appears that Sagan, was not going to be able to repeat his victory from 2018.  Apparently only one rider has ever managed to win back to back Paris Roubaixs, and that was Tom Boonen.

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-/3319284-438-195767/PaintingIll-Timed--PR19-9.html

Ronde van Vlaanderen: For the Home Crowd

Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) had the pleasure of leading the race through Belgium bedecked in the Belgium National Road Championships Jersey.  Gilbert had gone out on his own from quite a few kilometers out from the finish.  With at least 40 kilometers left to race, it was a big ask for Gilbert to hold off the cream of Classics riders chasing behind.  It should come as no surprise that the crowds lining nearly every inch of roadway, were beyond delighted to see their champion leading the race, at least thus far.

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.

It seems that the gremlins have reappeared in my interface with technology.  I am unable to upload the artwork to my website so if you are interested in purchase this piece please email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Paris Nice Stage 2 Riding Away

With the peloton closing to within 45 seconds Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) simply road everyone off of his wheel  Admittedly he did jump from the back of his now former breakaway companions  Maartens Wynants (LottoNL Jumbo) tried valiantly to hold the fleeing Belgium's wheel but Gilbert was just too strong  Later it was Wynants who somehow found the legs to help pull Gilbert back into the fold meter by meter  Sorry I should have given you a spoiler alert

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2930029-343-195767/PaintingRiding%20Away%20PN17-8.html#.WL4obPkrLIU

Paris Nice Stage 1 Pushing Their Advantage

Before the race came on TV the major move had already happened  Racing in the flat open roads outside of Paris the crosswinds had played a decisive part in what was billed as a day for the sprinters  The early break was caught by a group that contained some sprinters and some overall hopefuls but not all of either  Most notably missing the move where Alberto Contador (Trek Segafredo) Richie Porte (BMC) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale)  More importantly it was Philippe Gilbert (Quickstep) along with most of his team that drove the pace on the head of the race  Lotto Soudal - sporting some new colors from earlier in the season - were well represented as well with Tosh Van Der Sande doing the work for the rest of the team

I apologize for the lack of punctuation but the gremlins are still denying me periods commas semi-colons and question marks  Perhaps I will devise a work around before the race reaches the Mediterranean Sea

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2929390-336-195767/PaintingPushing%20Their%20Advantage%20PN17-1.html#.WLzjMvkrLIU

Ronde van Drenthe: With Arms Stretched Wide

It was a small select peloton that entered the final kilometer of Ronde van Drenthe.  The multiple corners and roundabouts made it difficult for the Wiggle Honda sprint train to get organized, but get organized they did.  It was with well order precision that they delivered there fast woman, Jolien D'Hoore, at full speed so she could show some fierce sprinting legs and her Belgium National Champion's Jersey.  Chapeau!

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Professional%20Women's%20Cycling/2526230---207546/Painting.html#.VQZ0HY7F-xU