Tour '24, Stage 20: Mutual Respect

Sometimes it isn't the victory salute that is often staged for the gaggle of press photographers at the line, but the interaction after the effort.  Having dropped Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final 500 meters of the stage, the first person Tadej Vingegaard (UAE Team Emirates) wanted to see was Vingegaard.  This is the fifth year the two have battled it out in the Tour de France.  The first two went to Pogacar, the next two to Vingegaard.  Now the pendulum has swung back to Pogacar.  He will win the Tour tomorrow barring any serious catastrophy.  While I said some cross things about Pogacar yesterday, today he has rekindled my respect, mainly for the respect he showed his main rivals today.  And the incredibly fast attack he launched in the closing meters of the final road stage of the Tour.  Please, don't let us find out anything was untoward with his race!

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.  

"Mutual Respect TdF24-133" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: The Next Victim

I try not to be negative in my titles, but facts are facts.  Despite being in the early move of the day, Kevin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ) found the breakaway's pace up the Col de la Couillole just a bit too much.  This is the final climb of four in the final road stage of this Tour de France.  Geniets is the national champion of Luxembourg.  That is why he has a different jersey than the rest of his team.  I do prefer this over Groupama-FDJ's current racing kit.  He did manage to finish the stage nineteenth of the day.  So, while he dropped off the pace, he did finish way up over the majority of those still 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"The Next Victim TdF24-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice 23, Stage 7: Repeat Performance

The only other mountain top finish in this year’s Paris Nice saw Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) able to out sprint David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) for the stage victory.  Then it was enough to put Pogacar into the Maillot Jaune and Gaudu in to second place.  Today it just underscored that those are their rightful positions in this race.  Pogacar increase his lead by a few seconds over Gaudu, while the Frenchman increased his lead over the man in third place, Jonas Vingegaard by at least 10 seconds.  With just one more day of racing out of Nice and back in, it seems that these two will be the top two steps of the podium unless disaster strikes.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3939757-107-272742/Painting/repeat-performance.-pn23-25.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 7: “There Goes Tadej”

Despite all of the effort by both the team of Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) still had the legs to launch an attack on the closing kilometers of the climb up the Col de la Couiollole.  The pair would get back up to the Maillot Jaune, perhaps even go on an attack themselves, only to be dropped yet again.  It does seem appropriate that the top three positions on the general classification were fighting it out on the highest point of this year’s Paris Nice.  It didn’t seem like Vingegaard was going to be pulling back 45 seconds on either of the other two.  The only question was, “Is Gaudu going to be able to pull back six seconds of Pogacar?”

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3939752-106-272742/Painting/there-goes-tadej.-pn23-24.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 7: The Last Survivors

The early break of the day total nineteen at the onset of their escape from the clutches of the peloton.  However, by the time they reached the 11 kilometers to go it was just Kobe Gossens (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) and Javier Romo (Astana-Qazaqstan) were the only two still ahead of the peloton.  As they scaled the final climb of the day, the Col de la Couiollole, they had to know that their chances of making it to the finish ahead of the fast closing heads of state were extremely limited.  Still by now they simply had to see it through.  Just behind them, the Shimano neutral service car was trying to get pass them, a sure fire sign that those behind were almost upon them.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3939751-105-272742/Painting/the-last-survivors.-pn23-23.html

Paris Nice, Stage 7: Something to Prove

The defending champion of Paris Nice had something to prove on the way to the highest summit ever in the Race to the Sun.  Richie Porte (BMC) had lost big chunks of time in the early stages of the race, so he had some honor to regain against those he left behind near the top of the Col de la Couillole.  He looks back over his shoulder and can see that Alberto Contado (Trek-Segafredo), Sergio Henao (Sky), Dan Martin (Quickstep) and Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) had all fanned out across the road.  None of them were willing to do the chase and drag the others back up to the front of the race.  For the record, Porte did prove that he had the legs to climb, and took the Queen's stage of the 75th Paris Nice.  But behind was the race for the Maillot Jaune.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2932589-371-195767/PaintingSomething%20to%20Prove%20PN17-35.html

Paris Nice, Stage 7: Trading in the Maillot Jaune

Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep) was unable to go with the big accelerations from the domestiques of Sergio Henao (Sky) and Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo).  He quickly lost contact with the main peloton and had his faithful assistant, David de la Cruz to help him limited his losses.  Alaphilippe could take some comfort from knowing that his teammate Dan Martin was still hanging tough with the heads of the climbing state.  He can find further comfort in realizing that while he may not keep the Maillot Jaune, he will be holding the Maillot Blanc since the next closes in that classification has already been dropped.  Joining the Quickstep duo, but not offering any assistance, were Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and Diego Ulissi (UAE Abu Dhabi).  Ulissi had been on the front of the race at the bottom of the climb, but just couldn't hold onto the peloton as it sped past.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2932585-370-195767/PaintingTrading%20in%20the%20Maillot%20Jaune%20PN17-34.html