Tour '22, Stage 15: Coming Up with the Goods

No embarassment for Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) today!  To explain, back in stage 5, Phlipsen came across the line celebrating his winning the bunch sprint not knowing that Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had already won the stage two minutes earlier.  Today he had to concentrate on the bike throw to hold off the man who beat him that day, so there was no victory salute at the line.  Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) found the legs to get third.  It was Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) who just hasn't refound his spark yet taking fourth on the day.  Still he beat quite a few riders, roughly 150, in today's stage.  Now everyone can get a bit of rest during the last rest day of the Tour before the Pyrennes haunt the dreams of even the best climbers.

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-2022/3894276-95-294403/Painting/coming-up-with-the-goods-tdf22-96.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