Tour '26, Stage 20: Hurting Everyone

With three more kilometers to the summit of the Col de Croix de Fer Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) jumps free of the breakaway in hopes of cementing his hold on the Maillot a Pois.  Behind you can make out the erstwhile wearer, and something virtual holder. of the jersey, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) tries to chase him down.  Those behind figured they would just keep riding their pace confident that these two will end up back in the fold after the summit of the climb.  They did, and Carapaz got the maximum points over the top.

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.

Purchase this painting here: "Hurting Everyone TdF26-143" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

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Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 7: Flying Off the Croix de Fer

The early breakaway of about eight guys went over the top of the Croix de Fer with just about ten seconds over the greatly reduced peloton containing all of the top men in the general classification.  After sprinting to fourth over the top of the second climb of the day, he went on the offensive.  He is a very skilled descender and used that skill to his advantage.  By the time he reached the valley below, he had over a minute on the chasers that were a combination of the break and the peloton.  Clearly, he saw his opportunity to try once again for a stage victory.

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.

"Flying Off the Croix de Fer CdD25-36" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 12: In the Front Group

It was great to see Chris Froome (Israel-Premier Tech) on the offensive today.  To have come back from a spectacular crash two years ago, one that left him questioning whether he would ever walk again, is amazing, even more so to be competitive in the Tour.  He was able to latch onto the fast descent of Pidcock and join the other six riders up the road.  On the tail with Froome is Guilio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) who had come across on the climb.  Ahead of these two were Albert Torres (Movistar), Sebastian Schonberger (B&B Hotels-KTM) and Kobe Goosens (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) amongst others.  Now that he was here, it remains to be seen how he will do climbing up the difficult Haute Catagorie Col de la Croix de Fer.

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-2022/3893848-72-294403/Painting/in-the-front-group-tdf22-72.html

Tour, Stage 12: Good Legs

In interviews the racers talk about their legs as if they were something independent of themselves.  Riders will say, "if the legs are good" or "I just didn't have the legs today."  It always strikes me as a little odd.  That being said, Steven Kruijswijk (Lotto NL Jumbo) must have been having great legs at the base of the Col de la Croix Fer.  He had been out in the early break all day, and when he left the others he was riding into the virtual yellow jersey.  Kruijswijk started the day in sixth place just over three minutes off of the lead of Geraint Thomas (Sky).  He hoped that the peloton would be more concerned with each other to bother trying to chase him down.  I am sure his primary goal was the stage, but a Maillot Jaune would be a very welcome extra benefit.  Spoiler Alert!  He was chased down with just a few kilometers to the end atop Alpe d'Huez.

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-2018/3190062-65-251072/PaintingGood-Legs--T18-64.html

Tour de France, Stage 20: Employing the Old One Two

Team Movistar threw caution to the wind and went hard on the first climb of the day.  They first sent their man sitting in third overall, Alejandro Valverde up the road on the Col de la Croix de Fer.  Once it was obvious that Team Sky was going to let the Spaniard go, it was Nairo Quintana's turned to join his teammate on the attack.  The Colombian in the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider in the Tour, quickly put time into the race lead of Chris Froome (Team Sky),  Additionally, Froome's teammates weren't able to go with the attack, isolating the man in the Maillot Jaune.  It was still a long way to go over this mountain, then across the valley and up to the top of the Alp d'Huez and the end of the mountains of the 102nd Tour de France.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a wonderful small family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As it is a one of a kind original work of art, you may not want to delay your purchase, because when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2585676-135-210122/Painting.html#.VbP7tflViko

Tour de France, Stage 20: Here Come the Attacks

With just two mountains left to climb in the 102nd Tour de France, if any time was to be gained on the General Classification, the attacks would have to go early.  Movistar had the luxury of having two cards to play.  Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was sitting third overall and could attack the peloton without Team Sky and the Maillot Jaune paying him much mind.  As a strategy, he could then function as a carrot for the team leader, Nairo Quintana, to bridge across to.  They also sent another team member along with Valverde, the other Colombian on the team, Winner Anacona.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a wonderful small family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As it is a one of a kind original work of art, you may not want to delay your purchase, because when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2585673-134-210122/Painting.html#.VbP5lvlViko

Tour de France, Stage 20: Up the Road

Stage 20 had to be re-routed due to problems with a highway tunnel and a small land side on the approach to the top of the Col du Galibier.  So the break got off up the road going back over the Col de la Croix de Fer but in the opposite direction from the previous stage.  The course still includes the mountain top finish on the fabled Alp d'Huez.  The break away consisting of Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale Garmin), Alexandre Geniez (FDJ), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and Lars Bak (Lotto Soudal).  None of these guys are known as climbers so I think their primary goal was to get a head start on the two HC mountain climbs of the day.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a wonderful small family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As it is a one of a kind original work of art, you may not want to delay your purchase, because when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2585671-133-210122/Painting.html#.VbP3EvlViko