Tour, Stage 9: Watching the Tour with Dad

The crowds along nearly every kilometer of the Tour have been both huge and orderly.  I just loved this father holding his son so that he could get a good look at the peloton as it climbed by.  Today is Bastille Day (celebrating French Independence) and I am sure Dad wanted to show his son a Frenchman wearing the Maillot Jaune (the last time that happened was in 2011).  Michael Morkov, Enric Mas and Dries Devenyns were escorting their leader (and race leader) Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) along the race course on a relative day off.  A large break was up the road that didn't threaten his lead even slightly.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3359805-45-263530/Watching%20the%20Tour%20with%20Dad%20%20TDF19-45.html

Tour, Stage 8: Everything to Ride For

Having taken second over the top of the Cote de la Jailere (and its 5 bonus seconds), Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) was just one second from taking back the Maillot Jaune.  He was joined by his countryman, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) who was hoping to move up on the general classification.  Both men were hoping for a stage win, but that would require catching the last man from the early break, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).  For Alaphilippe, any of the time bonuses for the top three stage finishers would be enough for the Yellow Jersey.  For Pinot, any time on the chasers and the time bonus would move him up the classification.

Both men achieve the GC goals, Alaphilippe is back in yellow and Pinot now sits third overall.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3359456-42-263530/Everything%20to%20Ride%20For%20%20TDF19-42.html

Tour, Stage 6: Leaving Them in the Dust

All of the race pundits were sure that the final brutal climb up to La Planche des Belles Filles would be too much for the Maillot Jaune of Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step).  Instead, he jumped free on the dirt road section of the last meters of the road.  He literally left them in the dust!  However, he wasn't quite able to hold them all off.  Nor was he able to close on the remenants of the early break.  He missed keeping the Maillot Jaune by six seconds.  The new Yellow Jersey will slide over to the shoulders of Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo).  With a flat stage tomorrow, don't rule out the jersey changing back to the Frenchman.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3358805-32-263530/Leaving%20Them%20in%20the%20Dust%20%20TDF19-32.html

Tour, Stage 6: Taking Stalk

That moment when you realize that you used the wrong word in the title...  That should be "Taking Stock" not "Taking Stalk" although, it does feel like Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is stalking the peloton, trying to decide who is the weakest.  Behind the Rainbow Jersey ride the strongest three of Team Ineos, Michal Kwiatkowski, Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas.  Although no one expected him to still be in the lead group, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) matches them all pedal stroke for pedal stroke.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3358799-31-263530/Taking%20Stalk%20%20TDF19-31.html

Tour, Stage 4: Full Out Gallop

As anticipated, it was a mass sprint for the line in Nancy. By a very narrow margin, it was Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-Quick Step) getting the best of all of this Tour's fast men.  That makes two stages for his team, and two for Jumbo-Visma.  Sagan managed fourth on the stage, but was out of picture frame.  I am excited to say that Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) proved he isn't done sprinting with the new generation of sprinters taking second on the stage.  Others in this painting include; Michael Matthews (Sunweb) -9th, Giacomo Nizzolo (Dimension Data) - 7th, and Maximiliano Richeze (Deceuninck-Quick Step) - 19th (he was riding for the stage winner.  I'm looking forward to the next couple of sprint stages.  It will be equally interesting to see who is left to contest the last sprint on the Champs Elysees.

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%20de%20France%202019/3357934-20-263530/Full%20Out%20Gallop%20%20TDF19-20.html

Tour, Stage 3: According to Plan

Every athlete, everyone plans on how they will achieve a goal.  Few rarely execute that plan as brilliantly as Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) did today.  The Frenchman took the first stage that ended the day in France, and did so in a solo run into Epernay.  With the amount of time he took out of the rest of the peloton, he will also be the first Frenchman to wear the Maillot Juane in the 2019 Tour de France.  He is also the only Frenchman to win a stage thus far.  Alaphilippe was considered the odds on favorite for the stage, but as we have already learn in the first two stages of this Tour, that doesn't mean much.  Today, it did!

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%20de%20France%202019/3357662-16-263530/According%20to%20Plan%20%20TDF19-16.html

Tour, Stage 3: Alone with 4K

According to Jens Voigt (former racer now commenting on the Tour for NBC/Universal) Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) had been riding this finale in training for months.  He lives in the area and according to local cycling fans, he could regularly be seen testing the climb and just how fast he could descend down the other side of the final climbs.  On the way up the Cote de Mutigny he left the peloton in search of a solo run to victory in Epernay.  Should he pull it off, all of France will be cheering the Frenchman's name.

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%20de%20France%202019/3357655-15-263530/Alone%20with%204K%20%20TDF19-15.html

Tour, Stage 2: Holding Form

Team Deceuninck-Quick Step looked the most uniform, smooth and fastest as they closed in on the final kilometers of the stage.  At the two previous time checks, they were running just a second or two off of the current stage leaders, Team Ineos.  Their experience as multiple World Champions in this discipline gave hope to their ability to close the gap in the last two kilometers.  They got close, just under a second behind the time of the stage leaders.  Once it was all done and dusted, they took third on the stage.  At this point, they had dropped down to six men, including Elia Viviani, Kasper Asgreen, Yves Lampaert and Enric Mas.  Sorry to the two on the front of the pace line, I didn't quite catch who they were (and I can't see their race numbers).

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%20de%20France%202019/3356850-9-263530/Holding%20Form%20%20TDF19-9.html

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Bonus Points and Seconds

First, it was stunning to watch Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep) drop back to the chasing peloton, pick out his teammate, Kasper Asgreen, and bring him back to the front of the race.  We didn't get to see Asgreen come away from the chasers, but I can't understand why no one covered their move.  Asgreen sat third overall, but with these 3 bonus seconds, he moved within a second of second place.  He also added to his sprint points, setting up what would be a securing of the Green Jersey.  Even if Peter Sagan won the stage, with these points, the jersey was Asgreen's.  Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was vying for a maximum of bonus seconds to move up as well, but had to settle for second place and two seconds.  Behind, Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep), Davide Ballerini (Astana) and Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo-Visma), just got out of the way and let these two fight it out.  Ballerini had already done enough to claim the final Polka Dot Jersey of best mountain climber.

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%20of%20California/3334027-91-223355/Bonus%20Points%20and%20Seconds%20%20ToC19-36.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Final Stage: Down to the Finale

Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was desparate to move up, or possible even win, the general classification.  He worked well with his break away companions, Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo-Visma) and Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep), on the way down into Pasadena.  At this point, they only had a fifteen second buffer on the chasing peloton, but odder things have happened.  By now, the best any of these guys could hope for would be a stage win, they were all too far down to take over the Yellow Jersey at the end of the day.  It was a relief to watch Cavagna descend today, he was a considerable better on the wide gradual turns than he was the day he won a stage.

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%20of%20California/3334024-90-223355/Down%20to%20the%20Finale%20%20ToC19-35.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: His First Ever

His team must have know something was about to happen for Ivan Garcia (Bahrain-Merida), they had been on the front most of the day driving to pace to pull back the break away.  And they were right! Garcia had the legs to hold off Maximilliano Richeze (Deceuninck-Quickstep) and Serio Higuita (EF Education First) to take his first win in a Pro Tour race.  The final climb had dispatched the marquee sprinters, but it was still a hard fast sprint to the line for the young Spaniard.  Deceuninck-Quickstep finally had its winning streak broken, but only by about a bike length.  They still had two men in the top four on the stage!

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%20of%20California/3333249-81-223355/His%20First%20Ever%20%20ToC19-26.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: Riding for Himself

Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quickstep) found himself in an unusual situation today.  Normally, he can be found on the front of the peloton chasing down break aways, but today he was the one in the front group.  With just 18 kilometers left to race, with a nasty hill at five kilometers to go, Declercq thought he would use his power to ride for himself.  This was the last moment that the break saw the powerful Belgium until they were all passed on the climb to the final intermediate sprint.

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%20of%20California/3333237-80-223355/Riding%20for%20Himself%20%20ToC19-25.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Getting Around to Get Another

Dispite all of the drama and crashing going on behind, there was still a sprint for the stage victory in Morro Bay to be contested.  It was looking like Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) was perfectly position to get his second stage of this year's Tour.  However, Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) was able to get around Sagan and Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) to take the third straight win for his team.  Sagan's third place was enough for him to take over the Green Jersey of points leader.  Coming in fourth was the French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).  Due to the commissare decisions the drama behind had no effect on the overall standings on the general classification.

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%20of%20California/3332848-77-223355/Getting%20Around%20to%20Get%20Another%20%20ToC19-22.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: Coming Home Alone

It was indeed possible for Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep) to take his solo effort all of the way to the line.  And to do it with over seven minutes to spare!  See, sometimes the break away does succeed.  Speaking of success, the makes two in a row for Deceuninck-Quickstep, picking up the winning ways of last season.  And sharing the wins throughout the entire team.  While the peloton was over eight minutes behind Cavagna, the top ten on GC stayed just as they were at the start of the day.

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%20of%20California/3332346-72-223355/Coming%20Home%20Alone%20%20ToC19-17.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: Flying Solo

Having left his break away companion on the way up Mount Hamilton, Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep) took off on a very long solo effort to win the stage.  He has set himself the task of staying off the front, alone, for over 70 kilometers.  He did start the effort with a ten minute head start on the main peloton, so it wasn't completely impossible.  He wasn't the most gifted descender, scaring the commentating trio of Phil Liggett, Bob Roll and Christian Vandevelden.  I wasn't enjoying watching him mishandle practiacally every corner either.  His erstwhile companion, Alex Hoehn (Team USA) pulled back about two minutes on the descent, but it wasn't enough to come back together.

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%20of%20California/3332332-69-223355/Flying%20Solo%20%20ToC19-14.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: Hunting in the Mountains

After a large breakaway had been caught before getting in to the mountains of today's stage, these two got off the front by themselves.  With 100 kilometers yet to go, Alex Hoehn (USA Cycling) and Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quickstep) built up over a ten minute lead on the following peloton.  It may be too strong of a word to say that the peloton was chasing the break down.  Hoehn, had gone over the first two climbs of the day getting the maximum King of the Mountain points.  Should the pair be able to stay off the front over the rest of the days climbs, he stands a good chance of pulling on the next KOM polka dot jersey.

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%20of%20California/3332324-66-223355/Hunting%20in%20the%20Mountains%20%20ToC19-11.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 2: Arms Spread Wide

Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) had spent the entire stage attacking the break away, yet refuse to give up each time he was caught by the break nor the peloton.  With a final response to Tejay van Garderen's (EF Education First) attack, he went off the front for the final time.  With that he was the one to spread his arms, and beat his chest in victory.  While Tejay wasn't able to get back around the Dane, he had done enough to take over the leader's Yellow Jersey.  Claiming the final step of the podium was the clearly exhausted, Gianni Moscon (Ineso).  Just coming into frame was the young Slovenian, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  While he may have missed the podium, he did pull on the White Jersey of Best Young Rider.  Asgreen will also pull on the Green Jersey of points leader, making it two trips to the stage ceremonies.

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%20of%20California/3331465-65-223355/Arms%20Spread%20Wide%20%20ToC19-10.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 1: Checking on the Team

With the peloton all together on the streets of downtown Sacramento, it was time to get the sprint trains organized.  Perhaps fearing the power of the Deceuninck-Quickstep, it was Team Sunweb stringing out the race for their man Maximilian Walscheid.  The splash of white and green is the colors of Dimension Data riding for the former world champion, Mark Cavendish.  With five kilometers to race, it may have been a touch early to put there noses in the wind, but risks must be taken.

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%20of%20California/3331143-58-223355/Checking%20on%20the%20Team%20%20ToC19-3.html

This painting has sold!

LBL: Cycling Strip Tease

One of the many challenges facing the peloton in today's Liege Bastogne Liege was exactly what to wear during the phase of the race.  As the riders left Liege it was just barely above freezing with a hard rain.  As the kilometers mounted, the day warmed the sun popped in and out, and the effort of racing warmed the racers' core (if not their fingers and toes).  So it was that Enric Mas (Decenunick Quick Step) stripped of his arm warmers even as he set the pace on the front of the peloton.  It must have been even more demoralizing for Michael Albasini (Mitchelton-Scott) to be caught by someone who was undressing rather than struggling with the effort of catching him.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/3325632-446-195767/Cycling%20Strip%20Tease%20%20LBL19-4.html

Fleche Wallonne: Two in a Row

While it was Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) who launched the attacks on the final climb of Mur de Huy, it was Julian Alaphilippe (Decenunick-Quick Step) who landed the victory.  Alaphilippe was able to repeat his victory from last year despite being forced to spend energy chasing back on early in the race. Fulgsang almost got back on the Frenchman, but in the end he had to settle for second place.  You can just see the heads of the peloton cresting the hill behind, giving you an idea about just how good the pair climbed the Mur de Huy.

I plan to be back painting Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.  I will then take on the Tour of California where I pray there will be access to both the men's and women's racing.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/3322913-442-195767/Two%20in%20a%20Row%20%20FW19-6.html