Tour de France 23, Stage : Dropping Some, Chasing Others

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) used the climb up the Col de Marie Blanque, his teammate Sepp Kuss, and his own abilities to drop most of the contenders in this Tour.  Most importantly, by the summit of the final climb of the day, he had put a minute into his main rival, Tadej Pogacar.  Now he had three or four guys yet to chase down in hopes of taking the stage.  In addition to stage honors, should he catch those ahead, he will pull on the Maillot Jaune of Tour leader.  There are other ways he can claim the Yellow Jersey without winning the stage, but that all depends on how the guy at the front of the race, Jai Hindley, finishes out the stage.

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-2023/3963884-27-297438/Painting/dropping-some-chasing-others-tdf23-27.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: Further Down the Mountain

Behind the actions playing out from the early break away and further down the Col de Marie Blanque, the two favorites for victory in Paris had rid themselves of most of the other contenders.  Along with shucking the contenders, Sepp Kuss's (Jumbo-Visma) efforts on the climb on behalf of his team leader (and defending Tour champion) Jonas Vingegaard also dropped all of Tadej Pogacar's (UAE Team Emirates) teammates.  Once the Maillot Blanc was isolated, it was time for the two Jumbo-Visma men to ratchet up the pace in hopes of gainning time on Vingegaard's main rival.  They all had another problem up the road in the form of Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe).

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-2023/3963883-26-297438/Painting/further-down-the-mountain-tdf23-26.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: Looking to See

It wasn't until I edit the photograph of this painting that I discovered that I never finished the title.  I think perhaps I couldn't decide just what Felix Gall (Ag2r-Citroen) was looking back to see.  He may have been trying to see who was going on the attack with him on the Col de Marie Blanque.  Or he could be trying to see if he and Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) had gotten a gap on the remnants of the large break away from the middle of the stage.  

Gall was hoping to add to his tally in what will be his new Maillot a Pois of best climber in this Tour.  He will have a strong ally in Hindley who is hoping to ride away from the favorites and into the Maillot Jaune.

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-2023/3963879-25-297438/Painting/looking-to-see-tdf23-25.html

 

Tour, Stage 9: My Bad

As Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) went over the top of the Col de Marie Blanque and grabbed the bonus seconds that were still on offer.  Marc Hirschi (Sunweb) had gone over about a half minute earlier.  As they sprinted for the top, Pogacar seem to run into Roglic's rear wheel.  Feeling the bump and the ensuing near crash of Pogacar, Roglic reached back to apologize for crossing in front of his countryman.  Although as I watched it happen, it was Pogacar who looked hard to his right looking to make sure that Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) wasn't going to grab the final bonus.  As you probably know, you tend to swerve the opposite direction that you look, so that is how he almost crashed.  It was good of Roglic to apologize, it is always better to do so when you don't need to than not apologize when you need to.

With the bonus, Roglic was now the Maillot Jaune Virtuale unless Adam Yates beats him by two seconds in Laruns.  That is an unlikely since Yates is currently a minute behind this trio.

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-de-France-2020/3693494-59-282744/Painting/my-bad-tdf20-54.html

Tour, Stage 9: Looking into Their Eyes

For long time American fans of the Tour, we all treasure the moment when Lance Armstrong looked back into the eyes of Jan Ullrich on a stage in the Pyrenees and then road away from the race and into the Maillot Jaune.  I don't know if Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) is aware of that piece of Tour history, but it sure looked like he wanted to repeat it on the Col de Marie Blanque.  With a time bonus (and one rider) up the road the Colombian in the Maillot Blanc was hoping he would leave his GC rivals.  However, the trio of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Mikel Landa (Bahrain-McLaren) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) didn't seem to have any interest in following the script.  In fact it was they who later put Bernal into difficulties. 

I should say that the fans were a bit better at staying out of the riders way, and at wearing their masks, most even had them in the right place on their faces.

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-de-France-2020/3693459-58-282744/Painting/looking-into-their-eyes-tdf20-53.html

Tour, Stage 9: Still Racing

With tons of guys dropping off of the pace on the final climb it was a true heart warming moment ot see Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) still on the back of the main peloton.  He was with quite a few other team leaders (just look for the bib numbers that end in 1) including Rigoberto Uran (EF Pro Cycling), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis).  I was convinced that Thibaut would not come out to race today, so seeing him still with the leaders on the Col de Marie Blanque was truly impressive.  He did drop off a bit at the top, but nothing like yesterday.  His will is still very strong even if is back has let him down in this year's Tour.

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-de-France-2020/3693443-57-282744/Painting/still-racing-tdf20-52.html

Tour, Stage 9: Commiserating

As the group of GC contenders hit the final climb, the Col de Marie Blanque, the pace became brutal. Riders began losing the wheels from the bottom of the slope.  As they slide away, Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) and the Spanish Champion, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) had time to commiserate about the toughness of the effort.  Just ahead, bedecked in the red of the National Champion of Switzerland, Sebastien Riechenbach (Groupama-FDJ) was starting to yo-yo off the back just ahead of the Director's car and the Mavic neutral service car.  Both Sanchez's and Reichenbach's National Champion jerseys are examples of teams honoring the national flags and not adding them as a side note to the team kit.  Primoz Roglic's jersey is an example of how not to do it.  You can't even find the Slovenian flag on his kit.

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-de-France-2020/3693434-56-282744/Painting/commiserating-tdf20-51.html