Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: Over the Top Alone

Anna Van Der Breggan (SD Worx-Protime) has been off the front since the early kilometers of the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  As she went over the summit of the Col de Joux Plane she still had forty-three seconds over a very motivated group of chasers.  They chased hard down the otherside trying to drop some of those ahead of them in the general classification.  While they weren't chasing her per se, they did catch her on the final climb twenty-three kilometers later.  

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 the Top Alone TdFF25-56" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: Applying Some Pressure

With another five kilometers of the Col de Joux Plane Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) went to the front and upped the pace.  With her lack of descending skill, she was hoping to shed as many of her rivals as possible while the road was still going up.  To her dismay, she wasn't able to get rid of the Maillot Jaune, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike), nor any of the others like Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), Katarzyna Niweiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-xondacrypto), and yesterday's most aggressive rider Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek).  It turned out that her fears were well founded, she was dropped on the way down the other side of the climb.  She never caught back up to the group.  She started the day in second place, but will finish the Tour in sixth once everyone finished in Chatel.

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.

"Applying Some Pressure TdFF25-55" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 14: Keeping Him in Sight

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) did his patented attack with just under two kilometers left to climb on the Col de Joux Plane.  He quickly got away and built a lead of six seconds on the fan packed climb.  To his credit, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) didn't panic, nor go deep to match the Slovenian's acceleration.  Instead, he should some maturity and stayed within his own rhythm and slowly bridge back up to the Maillot Blanc.  After they rode together for a couple of hundred meters, Pogacar tried again but was block by a pair of motorcyles trying to get still and TV images of the move.  Whether their presence ruined Pogacar's chances or not, the pair stayed together to just shy of the summit.  Then it was Vingegaard jumping Pogacar and grabbing the maximum bonus seconds on offer, a feat everyone expected his adversary to accomplish.  Now it was time to fly to the finish and contest the sprint for those bonus seconds.

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-2023/3965639-91-297438/Painting/keeping-him-in-sight-tdf23-91.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 14: The Elite of the Tour

With just about five kilometers left to climb of the Col de Joux Plane it was looking like the plan of Jumbo-Visma turned out to be a draw.  But as Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) led his teammate up the climb, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had just Adam Yates to do the same job as Kuss for him.  Unassisted were the two guys riding third and fourth in the general classification, Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grendiers).  At this moment they are riding in the opposite order of where they stand in the GC.  Just dropping of the back is the one guy who didn't really belong with this group, Felix Gall (Ag2r-Citroen).  He is the only other guy to wear the Maillot a Pois in this Tour.

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-2023/3965625-90-297438/Painting/the-elite-of-the-tour-tdf23-90.html

 

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 14, Watching & Waiting

Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) went to the front of the drastically reduced peloton up the final climb, the Col de Joux Plane.  Majka set the pace, ahead of Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma).  Each was riding for their team leaders, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard respectively.  Despite all of Jumbo-Visma's efforts to isolate Pogacar, it was UAE who had the extra man, Adam Yates.  Yates started the day in fifth place over all, so he was not only riding for Pogacar, it had to be acknowledged that he was also helping himself as well.  Kuss was not quite as well placed at the start, but he was just in the top ten in the Tour.

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-2023/3965624-89-297438/Painting/watching-waiting-tdf23-89.html

 

Dauphine, Final Stage: Trying It Again

This edition of the Criterium du Dauphine seems to have been all about the break away with a solo attack out of the break at the end of the stage. Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious) had been in the break yesterday and attacked the small group on the final climb of the day.  The only difference today was that the break was the largest of the race.  But off he went again, riding away from everyone else on the Haute Catagorie climb of the Col de Joux Plane.  If he was over the top of this climb first, he would take the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.  While a worthwhile prize, I think his larger goal was a second stage victory.

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/3816652-127-185083/Painting/trying-it-again-cd21-43.html

Tour, Stage 20: Flying to Victory

 Surprising everyone who had already attacked on the Col de Joux Plane, Ion Izaguirre (Movistar) gave everyone a lesson on how to go down a mountain in the rain.  Izaquirre went on to take the victory in Morine Avoriaz over four minutes ahead of the yellow jersey group and nineteen seconds ahead of the Colombian, Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling).  Izaguirre makes it a win for Spain and claims the stage that his team leader, Nairo Quintana, has been unable to deliver.  Now he can take home a stage victory in the Tour for the family, his brother, Gorka, crashed out of the Tour in stage 17.  Pantano now has one stage win and two second places in this Tour giving the scores of Colombian fans something to cheer about.

Today was the final day of real racing in the 103rd Tour de France.  Tomorrow the peloton will coast into Paris, provide a celebratory lab to the Yellow Jersey and his team, and then the sprinters and opportunists will vie for stage victory in the shadow of the l'Arc du Triomphe.

Early in the day the women's professional peloton will race on the Champs Elysees in the fourth edition of La Course.  I will be painting that race as well.  Look for both the last stage of the Tour and La Course here sometime in the next 36 hours.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828178-153-224974/PaintingFlying%20to%20Victory%20TdF154-Greig-Leach.html#.V5RA0LgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Over His Last One

It has been reported that Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) his hanging up his cleats at the end of this season.  If that is the case, than this is him cresting his last alpine pass in the Tour de France.  Not wanting to go out with a whimper, Purito jumped from the Yellow Jersey group and went on the offensive along with his teammate, Ilnur Zakarin.  It was a long shot thinking that they could catch those up the road, the leaders were two and a half minutes and there is only eleven kilometer (downhill) to the finish.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Perhaps he could go down the wet roads faster than anyone ahead or behind.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828173-152-224974/PaintingOver%20His%20Last%20One%20TdF153-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Q6LbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Catch and Release

Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) and Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) had pressed on their advantage from the descent of the Col de la Ramez.  The duo reached the base of the final climb of the Tour first, but they were not the only ones to see the Col de Joux Plane as the place to launch and attack.  Earlier Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) had gone on the offensive, to no avail.  However the winner of this year's Giro d'Italia, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), saw this as a great opportunity as well.  His team leader, Fabio Aru, had already cracked and was dropping of the Yellow Jersey group.  That left the man nicknamed the "Shark" free to fly.  The former Italian Champion bridged across to the pair of Alaphilippe and Pantano, but quickly left them behind after making the catch.  Now to you get the title?

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828172-151-224974/PaintingCatch%20and%20Release%20TdF152-Greig-Leach.html#.V5Q0trgrLIU

Tour, Stage 20: Reversing His Luck

Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) had a rather rough second day in the Alps losing his hard won second place overall.  Mollema missed a turn on the final descent of the day, and then when trying to make up the lost time, he went down on a corner.  With the lost time from the incidents and the pain from the fall, he lost minutes on the others who had been behind him at the start of the day.  Feeling better although still trying to make up lost time, he attacked on the soggy roads of the Col de Joux Plane.  While the reflections on the water logged roads where rather pretty, I am sure Mollema and everyone else would have preferred boring dry roads instead.  The rain did nothing to reduce the enthusiasm of the fans along the side of the road.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828169-150-224974/PaintingReversing%20His%20Luck%20TdF151-Greig-Leach.html#.V5QvDLgrLIU