Tour, Stage 2: Holding Form

Team Deceuninck-Quick Step looked the most uniform, smooth and fastest as they closed in on the final kilometers of the stage.  At the two previous time checks, they were running just a second or two off of the current stage leaders, Team Ineos.  Their experience as multiple World Champions in this discipline gave hope to their ability to close the gap in the last two kilometers.  They got close, just under a second behind the time of the stage leaders.  Once it was all done and dusted, they took third on the stage.  At this point, they had dropped down to six men, including Elia Viviani, Kasper Asgreen, Yves Lampaert and Enric Mas.  Sorry to the two on the front of the pace line, I didn't quite catch who they were (and I can't see their race numbers).

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%202019/3356850-9-263530/Holding%20Form%20%20TDF19-9.html

Tour, Stage 2: To the Line

It was a surprise to me that Ineos was the first team off the line in Bruxelles this morning.  It however was no surprise that they posted the best time at the finish line (after all, at that point they were the only ones to get there).  However, their time held as best time up until the very last team finished the 27 kilometer Team Time Trial.  Had their time held, the defending champion, Geraint Thomas, would have pulled on the Maillot Jaune on the second day of the Tour.  Not exactly an ideal situation for the team.  Thomas came to the line in Brussels with four of his seven teammates including, Michal Kwiatkowski, Egan Bernal, Jon Castroviego, Gianni Moscon and Dylan Van Baarle.

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%202019/3356809-7-263530/To%20the%20Line%20%20TDF19-7.html

Tour, Stage 1: This Is for Yellow

It was Mike Teunissen (Jumbo Visma) who surprised everyone, even himself, by taking the opening stage of the 2019 Tour de France.  His team's designated sprinter, Dylan Groenewegen, had crashed with just a kilometer and a half to the line, so Teunissen was left to try and take the wind instead.  He Dutchman just bearly got past Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) for the victory, the Maillot Jaune, and the Maillot Verte (although the two are equal on points).  Coming in third is Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal).  While I am sure he would have prefered the stage and Yellow, he did claim the first Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  The final leader's jersey, the Maillot a Pois, did go to Greg Van Avermaet (CCC). 

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%202019/3356444-6-263530/This%20Is%20for%20Yellow%20%20TDF19-6.html

Tour, Stage 1: Visiting the Doctor

The Tour de France, or any other bike race, is a high risk endeavour.  Today, it was the team leader of Astana, Jakob Fulgsang, who went down hard.  His teammates dropped back to pace him back to the peloton, and back into the race for the eventual final Maillot Jaune in Paris.  As they neared the back of  peloton, he stopped off at the race doctor to get a little cleaning and medical evaluation.  A final decision will be made about his injuries after the stage, but it looks more bloody than it is serious.  Crashing in races is what led me to stop racing many years ago.  Now, I just ride for the pleasure of the pedaling.

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%202019/3356438-5-263530/Visiting%20the%20Doctor%20%20TDF19-5.html

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Ramping Up the Pace

Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quickstep) hit the front of the peloton and raise the pace just that much more. Today Boonen shifted from protected rider to "super" domestique.  It may well have been in order to pay back the team for his rather disappointing finish yesterday in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.  Joining Boonen at the pointy end of the pack were Maarten Tjallingii (Lotto NL Jumbo), Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) and Phillippe Gilbert (BMC).  With the early break back in the fold, it was time to ramp up the pace to discourage any one else from having a go at the favorites in the peloton.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting 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.  If you enjoy reading about cycling with this accompanying artwork, be sure to discover my recently publish book on the Tour de France, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"  It is available worldwide through most online book retailers.  Just google the title to discover where you can get your copy, often without international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2519508---195767/Painting.html#.VPSHE_nF-xU