Tour, Stage 4: Hoping Against Hope

It was Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) who jumped free of the peloton with just five kilometers lef to the line in Nancy.  It was a long shot at the very least to hope to surprise every sprinter and their lead out trains, but he had even less chance of winning the stage without going on th offensive.  He didn't hold them off.  Nor did he earn the Most Combative title, that went to Michael Schar (CCC), but he did excite the French fans while he was off the front.

Watch this painting come to life in a quick time lapse video here...

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%202019/3357927-19-263530/Hoping%20Against%20Hope%20%20TDF19-19.html

Tour, Stage 3: Celebrating the Attempt

The early break away was inevitably caught with about thirty kilometers left in the stage.  Yoann Offredo (Wanty-Gobert) made it a point to fist bump all of his break away companions (minus the one still up the road, Tim Wellens - Lotto Soudal).  As Stephane Rosetto (Cofidis) looked back after his fist bump Paul Ourselin reached out his fist in turn.  Behind him, Anthony Delaplace (Arkea Samsic) would just have time for the celebratory gesture before they were all caught by the fast closing peloton.

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%202019/3357407-13-263530/Celebrating%20the%20Attempt%20%20TDF19-13.html

Tour, Stage 3: Leading into France

While the race is called the Tour de France, it fequently dips into other countries, or starts somewhere other than inside the French borders.  This year the race spent two days in the adjoining Belgium, but today the race crossed the border into France.  The stage was marked by an early break away of five, three of them were, Paul Ourselin (Direct Energie), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) and Stephane Rosetto (Cofidis).  There have been two break aways in the two road stages thus far in the Tour, Rosetto has been in both of them.  He is wearing the red bib number in honor of his most aggressive rider from Stage 1.

Watch this video of the work coming to life as I talk about painting, the Tour, and whatever else pops into my head...

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%202019/3357391-11-263530/Leading%20into%20France.html

Liege-Bastogne-Liege (LBL): Huddling for Warmth

Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the final of the Spring Monuments, although this year it was more of a winter race than a glorious ride through the Belgium country side in mid Spring.  Although it was not as awful weather as previous editions when snow nearly froze the peloton.  It's a hard decision on a cold rainy day if behind in the peloton out of the wind and in the road spray is better than the alternative out in a break away facing the cold wind on your own.  This early break including Tobias Ludvigsson (Groupama-FDJ), Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie), Andrea Pasqualon (Wanty-Gobert) and Mathijs Paassochens (Wallonie Bruxelles) decided to split the difference and go as a small group.  I doubt it made much difference, but than there is some comfort in being off the front of the peloton.

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%20/3325621-443-195767/Huddling%20for%20Warmth%20%20LBL19-1.html

Tour, Stage 18: Rolling Along (2)

Ironically, I was congratulating myself this morning on not having duplicated a title for the first 95 paintings of this Tour.  And then I called this one "Rolling Along" and blew that stat.  This is a group of five that the peloton wasn't interested in letting go.  While Niki Terpstra (Quick Step) was pushing hard on the front, the peloton never gave them more than two minutes.  Joining the former Dutch national champion were two riders from Mitchelton-Scott, Matthew Heyman and Luke Durbridge, along with the French sprinter, Thomas Boudet (Direct Energie) and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).  With today and Paris the last chances for the sprinters to get a stage, neither I nor more importantly the peloton were giving any chance of this break succeeding.

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-2018/3194584-97-251072/PaintingRolling-Along-2--T18-96.html

Tour, Stage 15: Back Together

After a flurry of attacks from the front group on the road, the break is now all back together.  They had caught Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the way into Carcassone.  Majka and the local rider, Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) were going to be at a distinct strategical disadvantage for stage victory.  Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) had another teammate with him, as did riders from Trek-Segafredo and Astana.  With a pair of teammates, one can attack while the other covers the counter, thus discouraging the chase and aiding in letting one's teammate get off the front relatively unchallenged.  With just seven and a half kilometers left in the stage, it was looking like the local wasn't going to have a chance for glory in his home town.

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-2018/3192252-81-251072/PaintingBack-Together--T18-80.html

Tour, Stage 14: Sorry About That

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) had gotten into the early break and over the first catagory 4 climb, just to add to his point total at the intermediate sprint in Besseges.  It looked like no one in the break was going to challenge him at the break, why would they?  Sagan has such a commanding lead in the sprint competition aided by the original second and third place sprinters not making time cuts in previous stages, that challenging him for points is "pointless."  Never the less, the young Frenchman, Thomas Boudat (Direct Energie) couldn't resist the chance to test his legs against one of the great sprinters in the sport.  After being beat by Sagan, he put his arm on his back in an apologetic gesture.  Sagan didn't really seem to mind.  Besides, there was still the finale to fight for.  Spoiler alert... he took fourth on a stage that had a very steep climb just before the sprint.  He should beat his own point total record by the time we reach Paris.  And possibly, his own total number of stage wins by then as well.

You can watch this painting come to life here and on my YouTube channel, where I hope you will become a subscriber.  And you can see one painting from every stage being painted as I talk about watercolor painting, the Tour and whatever else pops into my head about art and bike 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3191751-74-251072/PaintingSorry-About-That--T18-73.html

Tour, Stage 11: You Wouldn't Dare!

With a big day of climbing ahead of the peloton, the small kindness was to make the intermediate sprint before any of the mountains appeared on the horizon.  Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrophe) made sure he was in the early break, so that he could add points in his goal of the Maillot Vert.  Sagan was looking back over his shoulder, daring any of those behind to try and come around.  Behind the Slovakian sprinter, Damiano Caruso (BMC), Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Samsic), Daniel Navarro (Cofidis( and Romain Sicard (Direct Energie) weren't interested in sprint points, unless they were those for the stage winner.  With the sprint out of the way, Sagan sat up and saved his energy for another day. 

Every day there is a time limit to finish the stage based on a changing percentage of the winners time.  With the short distance and big climbs facing the sprinters, it is a real possiblity that some of the big names in the flat sprint stages might get eliminated.  Spoiler alert, the beleaquered Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) didn't make the cut, and is now on his way home.

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-2018/3189375-55-251072/PaintingYou-Wouldn't-Dare!.html

Tour, Stage 10: Defying the Odds

There were just two riders up ahead of this group containing the Maillot Jaune of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).  Van Avermaet had been widely predicted to lose his yellow jersey today, passing it over to the fomidable Team Sky.  Even Van Avermaet predicted that he wouldn't be in yellow when they reached Le Grand Bornand.  Instead as he climbed the Col de Romme, he had five minutes on the Sky lead peloton.  It seemed very unlikely that the peloton would catch him with just a couple of kilometers to this summit, one more climb, and just a total of 34 kilometers the the finishing line.  Joining Van Avermaet in the effort to stay away (if not chase down the leaders) were Lilian Clamejane (Direct Energie), Jon Izaguirre (Bahrain-Merida) and Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step).  Just peaking out from the shoulders of the Maillot Jaune is Serge Pawels (Dimension Data). 

This is a powerful group that the peloton let slip their grasp.

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-2018/3188863-51-251072/PaintingDefying-the-Odds--T18-51.html

Tour, Stage 9: Getting Cheeky

With the three up the road not likely to affect the final Maillot Jaune in Paris, Chris Froome (Sky) decided to see if he could catch the other GC men napping.  For those that were still in the main peloton, it wasn't going to happen.  Behind the Brit, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) covered the move, assisted by Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie).  Once Froome saw that he wasn't shaking anyone, he backed off the pace.  Seemingly guaranteeing that the three up the road would be vying for stage honors. 

I was less than thrilled with the banners of Century 21 realtors, but sometimes you just have to go with what is actually there.

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-2018/3187730-47-251072/PaintingGetting-Cheeky--T18-47.html

Tour, Stage 9: Getting There First

This pair decided they would be better of hitting Sector 6 without the rest of the early break.  So Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie) and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) headed onto the Pont Thibault a Enevelin off the front of the scattered peloton.  You may notice that this banner is a different color scheme than the one I painted for Sector 14.  The difficulty of each pave section is color coded to let the riders have some idea what they are about to deal with.

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-2018/3187642-44-251072/PaintingGetting-There-First--T18-44.html

Tour, Stage 9: A Drink Before the Cobbles

I am somewhat at the mercey of the video broadcast of the Tour, so I wasn't able to paint the peloton hitting the first section of pave today.  Instead, this is section 14, d'Eswars a Paillencourt, (counting backwards to Roubaix).  Just before the day's break away riders hit the cobble stones they wisely grab a drink.  No one should try to take a hand off of the handle bars once on the incredible rough pave sections.  At the back of the nine man group are Chad Haga (Sunweb), Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ), Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) and Omar Fraile (Astana). Every kilometer of today's stage will be lined by fans, many of home have been waiting (and drinking) for days just to see the Tour fight it out on these iconic roads of northern France.

You can watch this painting come together as I talk about watercolor painting, the Tour, professional cycling and who knows what else.  I hope you will take the time to watch the videos, and to become a subscriber to the channel (no charge).  And you can watch the video right here.

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-2018/3187631-42-251072/PaintingA-Drink-Before-the-Cobbles--T18-42.html

Tour, Stage 8: Leading the Parade

Today is Bastille Day and the French in (and out of) the peloton all hope to win on their national holiday.  Regardless of the slim chance that a break away will succeed on a preceived sprint stage, Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie) went out to lead the race and inspire the fans to hope for the elusive French victory on their equivalent of July 4th in the USA.  Joining Grellier was the Dutchman, Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).  Both teams are continuing their record of getting into every break in every road stage thus far.

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-2018/3187345-38-251072/PaintingLeading-the-Parade--T18-38.html

Tour, Stage 6: Reclaiming His Jersey

With four catagorized climbs facing the peloton today, it seem like a good chance for Dion Smith (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) to reclaim his Maillot a Pois that he won on the first stage of the Tour.  Joining Smith on today's break away effort was Anthony Turgis (Cofidis) and two riders from Direct Energie, Damien Gaudin and Fabien Grellier.  It is quite impressive that these three teams have been off the front in every road stage thus far.

The other impressive thing to see is just how international the peloton and the fans of the Tour are.  Just over Smith's shoulder you can see the Colombian flag.  All along the route you will see the flags of near every nation in the world and every department of France.  And of course all of the flags of the teams in the Tour, as well.

This is the painting I filmed while painting.  You can see that video through my You Tube channel and right here.  I hope you will enjoy the process of creating these paintings and my explanation of what is happening in the Tour.  I hope that you will also choose to become a subscriber to the channel.

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-2018/3186849-26-251072/PaintingReclaiming-His-Jersey--T18-26.html

Tour, Stage 5: Keeping It Going

Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) jumped out of the group to take first at the bonus sprint in Plogonnec.  With just 20 kilometers left to go, it looked like he was planning on trying to solo to the finish in Quimper.  Behind, the last of the erstwhile break, Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) was about to be caught by the closing peloton.  Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) had taken second in the bonus sprint adding two seconds to his lead over his teammate Tejay van Garderen and the rest of the GC contenders. 

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-2018/3186299-23-251072/PaintingKeeping-It-Going--T18-23.html

Tour, Stage 4: Want to Keep Going?

As the break away started up the next climb, they caught and passed Chavanel.  But it was his teammate, Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) and Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) who fought it out for the points on the next climb.  Unfortunately for Chavanel, Calmejane wasn't able to take the maximum points so it leaves Skujins with a chance to equal Chavanel's total on the final climb.  Spoiler alert, he was able to claim that climb and the Maillot a Pois on the day.  The discussions continued all of the way to the line, each rider complaining that the other wasn't doing enough to futher their cause.

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-2018/3186287-22-251072/PaintingWant-to-Keep-Going?--T18-22.html

Tour, Stage 5: Polka Dots

Back out on the road again today.  In fact it will be road stages until the final week of the Tour now.  The early break was comprised of seven guys, but it was Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) who left the group to suck up some King of the Mountains points.  By going over the top of the first climb of the day, and this one, the Cote de Trimen, he pulled equal on points in the competition for the Maillot a Pois.  With two more climbs to come, he is hoping that he will be wearing a new jersey tomorrow.  It is Chavanel's 18th Tour de France.  And that is a new record for participations in the grand bucle, as far as I know, he has finished them all.  Well this one is still being contested.

This painting is the one that I videoed as I created it.  You can see it on my You Tube channel, or here.  I talk about creating the painting, how to use watercolors and how it all fits into the story of the 105th Tour de France thus far.

If you enjoy what you see here, I hope you will consider becoming a subscriber to my channel.  Please feel free to offer your comments on the videos as well.

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-2018/3186282-21-251072/PaintingPolka-Dots--T18-20.html

Tour, Stage 4: What Time Is It?

The Tour de France is full of traditions, and hold overs from days gone by.  Before the edition of race radios, the riders kept taps on the where abouts of the breaks and peloton by a moto carrying a chalkboard and showing the time gaps to each group.  With all of the information available to the team directors in the team cars, this is now basically a cute hold-over complete with an attractive woman holding up the chalkboard for the rider's momentary distraction.  In fact, it only seems to be Jerome Cousin (Direct Energie) that is even giving the moto more than a passing glance.  Guillaume Van Kiersbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) along with the Cofidis riders, Anthony Peres and Dimitri Claeys, seemed to just be getting on with the job at hand.

You can see this painting come to life at my You Tube channel, where I hope you will be come a suscriber.  Or you can see it here:

I will be sharing one of my paintings being created each and every stage throughout this 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3185643-17-251072/PaintingWhat-Time-Is-It?--T18-17.html

Tour, Stage 4: I've Got a Question

Stage 4 has the Tour back out on the road of the Britton region of northern France, and has the requiste early break up the road.  The two Frenchmen and the two Belgiums were collaborating now, but they will be cheering against each other with tonight's World Cup Semi Final between the two countries.  Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) is calling for his team car, most likely looking for a little information about where the peloton is (or where they are for that matter).  Joining him are Jerome Cousin (Direct Energie) in his second break away of this Tour and two riders from Cofidis, Anthony Perez and Dimitri Claeys.  This foursome buitlg up eight minutes on the peloton before the group decided to start chasing them down.

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-2018/3185637-16-251072/PaintingI've-Got-a-Question--T18-16.html

Tour, Stage 2: Feeling the Love

Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) racing a record 18th Tour de France was feeling the love from the French crowds along the road today.  Chavanel was the lone survivor of an early three man break away.  The one dropped of after the first and only climb of the day, with the other suffering with knee pain after hitting it on the handle bars sprinting for the KOM points.  With another 80 kilometers left to the end of the stage, it is unlikely he will stay away for the stage, but he has pulled it off before. Chavanel was awarded with the Most Combative rider prize for his continuing efforts.  Tomorrow he will be sporting a red bib number as a marker of today's effort. Some consulation for not winning 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3184871-7-251072/PaintingFeeling-the-Love--T18-7.html