Tour '25, Stage 2: Over a Small Climb

At the half-way point of the longest stage of this edition of the Tour de France, the breakaway climbed the first climb of the day at the 105 kilometer mark.  The two sprinted away from their breakaway companions to vie for the single KOM point atop the Cote de Cavron Saint Martin.  The sprint was taken by the Norwegian Champion Andreas Leknessund (Uno X-Mobility) just barely holding off Brent Van Moer (Lotto).  However, the group of four only had about a half of a minute on the chasing peloton, so it seems unlikely either will be able to collect any more points towards the Maillot a Pois today.

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.

"Over a Small Climb TdF25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 2: Not Ideal

Today started in under less than ideal conditions.  The riders face a cold, windy, and rainy start of the day as they rode towards the English Channel.  The rain made for slick roads.  In fact, as Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) started the break away, he almost went down on the first hard right turn.  He was quickly joined by the Norwegian Champion Andreas Leknessund (Uno X-Mobility), the Qazaqstan Champion Yevigeniy Fedorov (XDS-Astana) and Brent Van Moer (Lotto).  The quartet build up just over three minutes before the peloton decided that was all they were going to get.  

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.

"Not Ideal TdF25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Volta ao Algrave '25, Stage 2: The Remaining Four

By the time the early break had hit just 38 kilometers to race, they had dwindled from eleven men to these four.  Hugo Nunes (Credibom/LA Aluminios/Marcos Car) along with Brent Van Moer (Lotto), German Tivani (Aviludo-Louletaqno-Loule), and Tobias Bayer (Alpecin-Deceuninck) still had roughly two and a half minutes on the chasing peloton.  At this point, Tivani had regained the lead in the King of the Mountians competition that had been stripped from him with the odd decision over the finale yesterday.  However, there are still a category two and category one climb yet to come.  Since the final climb is the finish, it will be unlikely he will be wearing the jersey at the start of stage 3.  Had he not lost his points from stage one, he would be.

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 Remaining Four VA25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: You Gonna' Help?

Japser Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) seemed to be getting a bit frustrated with Brent Van Moer (Lotto-Dstny).  Stuyven had come close to winning stage 9 on the gravel roads but was caught within sight of the flame rounge.  Today he was trying to get the jump on the sprinters' teams with just fourteen kilometers left in the stage.  Lidl-Trek has lost their sprinter due to a crash in a mass sprint, so it is left to one of the team members to go in a break away for them to get the coveted stage win in the Tour.  Conversely, Van Moer is trying to be a dead weight to Stuyven's attack to ensure that his sprinter, Arnaud De Lie, will be able to contest for stage honors today.  As he would say to Stuyven, "It is just race tactics, sorry."

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.

"You Gonna' Help? TdF24-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 10: Are We Doing This?

It looked like this trio were joking about pretending that they were going to attack the slow-moving peloton.  The day started without a breakaway on a clear flat sprint stage and no one seemed eager to take on the sprinters' teams in a vain effort to ride off the front.  There was a relaxed and playful mood most of the day that generated this feint attack.  However, when Kobe Goossens (Intermache-Wanty) along with the teammates Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Brent Van Moer realized they had a gap, they decided they might as well see just how much rope the peloton would give them.  You might notice that one of the Lidl-Trek men is on his radio asking the team car what they should do about this move.  With 140 kilometers to go, this was most likely the joke that it started out to be.

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. 

"Are We Doing This? TdF24-52" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 14: Fighting Elimination

The early aggressions in hopes of putting the Maillot Jaune of Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) made for a very fast start of Stage 14.  With that and an early climb, the already suffering Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) was dropped off the back.  Facing the possiblity of being eliminated for not finishing within the time limit, the team sent back Brent Van Moer, the South African champion Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg, and Frederik Frison.  The foursome worked hard to stay in touch finishing the day finishing the day almost forty minutes behind the winner of the stage.  It was a long time back, but it was enough for the Australian sprinter and his teammates for that matter to stay in the Tour.  Tomorrow is a possible sprint stage, the last until Paris, will Caleb have legs to fight for a stage victory?

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, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893996-85-294403/Painting/fighting-elimination-tdf22-86.html

TDF, Stage 21: Leading the Way Up the Champs Elysees

The trio of escapees still had twenty seconds on the peloton.  I can't imagine that Deceuninck-Quick Step, the team of Mark Cavendish, was going to let anyone stay away thus spoiling Mark's chances of breaking the record of stage wins in the Tour.  Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) has been holding off the peloton for longer than expected earlier in the Tour, and when he teams up with Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe)and a strong time trialist like Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-Nippo) they weren't going to make it easy to pull them back.  It is a long drap up to the l'Arc Triomphe on Champs Elysees partiuclarly after 20 days of racing, and just another 12 kilometers left in this final stage.  Still, they seem up to the challenge at hand (or under wheel).

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/3824857-142-291436/Painting/leading-them-up-the-champs-elysees-tdf21-141.html

TDF, Stage 19: Attacking the Break

It was a large group of 20 that had left the peloton far behind.  The problem for the break away is that is too many to have everyone keep working together all the way to the finish.  Just after Phil Liggett and Bob Roll had been discussing who would be the one to go off the front, it was in fact Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) that went off the front as predicted.  His attack was chased down by Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Fenix) with Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) and Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) joining in the chase.  This attack was neutralized, but now everyone would be trying to get away until it eventually works.  With the peloton almost eleven minutes behind, the stage winner was going to be one of these guys in the break.  That meant all the more reason to try and get off the front.

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/3824342-126-291436/Painting/attacking-the-break-tdf21-125.html

TDF, Stage 7: Did You See Anyone?

With such a large break it was only a matter of time before some went on the offensive.  Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) had already gotten some King of the Mountain points earlier, so he kept up the effort to collect more.  He was joined by Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) who was still hoping to get that elusive stage victory in the Tour de France.  The two had just peeked behind to see if anyone was coming across to help them escape the remains of the early large break away.

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

TDF, Stage 4: Going Alone

Sensing the peloton closing in and the fading power of his break away companion, Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) decided to go off on his own, perhaps hoping that lightening could indeed strike twice.  With just eight kilometers left to race, he still has about a minute on the wide awake peloton.  The normal formula for the time it takes to catch the break has him pulling this surprise off.  I doubt it will succeed, but this is a bit of an odd Tour already.

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/3820904-24-291436/Painting/going-alone-tdf21-24.html

TDF, Stage 4: And Now We Race

With the peloton having made its point, it was time to race.  As expected it was both Cofidis and Lotto Soudal who sent someone up the road.  This being a sprint stage, it was vey unlikely that the break would succeed, but all things are possible until they aren't.  With Lotto Soudal having lost their sprinter, Caleb Ewan in a sprint crash yesterday, the team's hope for stage victories lay in the break aways.  The first to enact the plan was Brent Van Moer who had succeed in just such an effort in the opening stage of this year's Dauphine.  Joining in the most likely doomed effort is Pierre-Luc Perichon (Cofidis).  At this moment they are being shown with an old fashion chalkboard that they have roughly a minute a half on the following peloton.

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/3820878-22-291436/Painting/and-now-we-race-tdf21-22.html

Dauphine, Stage 2: A Day in Yellow

 Yesterday, Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) surprised the peloton and soloed to a stage win.  I had titled the painting of his victory salute, "The Stage and Two Jerseys", alas, I was wrong.  He had actually won all four leaders' jerseys of the Dauphine.  He became the overall leader, the best young rider, the sprint points leader, and the King of the Mountain.  Sadly, it looks like he will be surrendering all of those jersey today.  It is the Cote de la foret de Porcheresse that seems to be his undoing.  His teammate (and team leader) Tim Wellens is doing his best to encourage his young charge.  Jeremy Bellicaud (Intermache-Wanty Gobert Materiaux) was happy to have a wheel to hold on the penultimate climb of the day.

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/3814447-92-185083/Painting/a-day-in-yellow-cd21-8.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: The Stage and Two Jerseys

Brent Van Horn (Lotto Soudal) had gone in the early break looking to claim the first King of the Mountains Jersey of this year's Criterium du Dauphine.  Instead, he came away with considerably more.  It is a rare thing for the break away to stay off the front all of the way to win the stage, but that is what Van Horn managed to do (those with him were absorbed by the peloton within the final 15 kilometers of the stage.)  Van Horn not only took is first victory in a pro tour race, but because he did so he is now the first to wear the yellow jersey of race leader.  Ironically, his success on the stage means he will not be wearing the polka dot jersey of the king of the mountains, because the yellow jersey of race leader takes precedence.  Not a bad day out on the bike.

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/3814172-88-185083/Painting/the-stage-and-two-jerseys-cd21-4.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: In With a Chance

 At the base of the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote du Chateau de Buron, Brent Van Moer attacked his now former break away companions.  He may have been just hoping to add to his king of the mountain points having crested every previous climb of the day first.  Or perhaps he felt that his former companions just didn't have the legs to hold off the chasing peloton.  Nevertheless, he was off on his own at 13 kilometers to go.  With some luck, he may just have enough of a gap on those behind to take it all of the way to the finish in Issoire.

It is good to see cycling fans lining the roads of France again.  And good to see that many are still wearing masks, although not this family with their cell phones in hand.

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/3814167-87-185083/Painting/in-with-a-chance-cd21-3.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: You're Doing Great

Just like many of the Tour de France hopefuls, I like to use the Criterium du Dauphine to test my form as I prepare for the Tour.  Many of the marquee riders will come to this race to see how their preparations are going ahead of the most popular of the three grand tours.  Today it was a four man break that soon became this trio of riders.  Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) drops back from is companions, Cyril Gautier (B&B Hotels) and Patrick Gamper (Bora-Hansgrohe), for a few words of encouragement from his sports director.  Since I paint these works in real time, I had little idea just how prophetic this title might be (but more on that later).

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/3814155-85-185083/Painting/youre-doing-great-cd21-1.html