Wollongong, Women's ITT: Riding at Home

The UCI Road World Championships got underway Sunday in Wollongong, Australia (that is Saturday night for us here in the USA), but I didn't start painting the racing until Monday.  Grace Brown (Australia) went out hard and fast setting the best time at every time check, including that all important one at the end of the course.  She then spent hours waiting in the hot seat to see if anyone was going to beat her time.  She had some scares, but in the end, it was the very last woman to finish the course who finally edged her out by twelve seconds.  It does mean that Australia claim the first silver medal of the 2022 Women's UCI Time Trial Championship.  

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3905959-1-295031/Painting/riding-at-home-uci22-1.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Attacking the Final Climb

As the lead group hit the turn onto the final climb up to La Super Planches des Belle Filles Pauliena Rooijakkers (Canyon/SRAM) went hard off the front.  Yara Kastelijn (Plantur-Para) and LIane Lippert (DSM) were the first to respond.  It seems that Grace Brown was swinging out of line to be ready to help her three teammates that were in the chasing group of the Maillot Jaune.  That group was just over a minute back.  I suspect that the team wanted her to have something left in the legs to help her companions out.  FDJ had started the day with two riders in the top ten and I am sure they wanted to hold those positions or more likely to improve them by the end of the day.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896690-191-294403/Painting/attacking-the-final-climb-tdff22-50.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Thanks

Antri Christoforou (Human Powered Health) reaches out in her Cyprus Champion's jersey to tap her thanks to her teammate, Nina Buijsman, for helping her chase back onto the group with the Maillot Jaune at the bottom of the Ballon d'Alsace.  She joins Alena Amialiusik (Canyon/SRAM), Evita Muzic and Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) and of course the woman in yellow herself, Annemiek Van Vleutin.  They all had just one more obstacle today, getting up to the top of the La Super Blanches des Belle Filles.  That was going to be no easy task on the eighth day of racing.  Who will still be with the Maillot Jaune at 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 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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896684-190-294403/Painting/thanks-tdff22-49.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Hoping to Fly Away

Katarzyn Niewiadoma (Canyon'SRAM) seems to have been riding the entire Tour de France Femmes with her jersey unzipped.  Today it was flapping in the wind behind her, now I know why she was about to use her tails as wings for the final climb.  When she went Juliette Labous (DSM) and Cecilie Uttrop Ludwig (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) were the only two in the group that had the legs to follow.  I admit that I have been a bit embarassed when the camera swings around to film Niewiadoma from the front, I feel a bit like I have been caught looking down her blouse.  But then her legs remind us all of why she started the day in second place on the general classification.  Her flying move wasn't enough to catch Demi Vollering (SD Worx) so she slips to third after today.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896664-185-294403/Painting/hoping-to-fly-away-tdff22-44.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: On to the Final Climb

This group has been hanging out in the middle of the leader's and the group of the Maillot Jaune for kilometers.  It was nice to see Urska Zigart (BikeExchange-Jayco) dangling off of a leading group rather than the back of the peloton.  Her riding position implys she isn't comfortable around her fellow riders.  It seems she should just go on a solo raid since she is spending the entire Tour de France Femmes riding in the wind anyway.  She was keeping close to Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel & Service), Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) as they sextet swung onto the road that will take them up the Grand Ballon.  Zigart moved up 43 places due to her efforts on the day, she still sits 46th on the general classification.  Persico is riding to hold onto her third place over all.  If she can't catch the two up the road, she will slide down a bit.  She did slide to sixth. I was still trying to figure out if Muzic was riding for her team leader, or the other way round.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896657-184-294403/Painting/on-to-the-final-climb-tdff22-43.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Thirsty?

FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope had managed to get three women into the elite group that had six minutes on the group with the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot a Pois, and the Maillot Blance.  By this point, Grace Brown had dropped off of the sextet.  Their team leader, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, had dropped back to the team car for a conversation and a couple of waterbottles.  She then got herself back into the rotation and passed a bottle to Evita Muzic as she dropped back through the group.  While they had six minutes on the leader of the race, they were just over six minutes behind the leader on the road.  I doubt they can hope for stage honors, but they will move up on the general classification and still may vie for the podium of 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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

My website's host "upgraded" this week and there have been big problems.  Of course! So right nowyou can't buy the painting you want so email me through the website and we can work out an off site sale.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896394-182-294403/Painting/thirsty-tdff22-41.html

Tour Femmes, Stage 6: Using the Final Climb

Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) had missed the attempt to get away on the rpevious descent so she went on the final climb of the day, the Cote de Boersch.  Her moved was covered again by Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma), but Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) didn't have the legs for this move.  It probably didn't matter much, the peloton had closed to almost twenty seconds.  With ten kilometers left to race, it was looking like even these few remaining members of the break away's day had come to an end.  Just behind Lowden you should be able to make out the blue motorcycle (wait, isn't that a cocktail?) of Shimano Neutral Sevice ready to lend a wheel should it be necessary.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896238-178-294403/Painting/using-the-last-climb-tdff22-37.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 6: Making Her Escape

Today was marked by a very large break away containing 14 women.  That size can mean there are som passengers not willing to do the work to help everyone to stay off the front of the stage.  As this leading group neared the top of the hardest climb thus far in the Tour de France Femmes, the Cote de Grednlbuch, Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) went on the attack.  While she was also in search of the Queen of the Mountain points, her move was designed to get rid of the "dead weight" in the break.  Her move was initially marked by Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope), like Kathrin Hammes (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) she dropped away from the attack as they neared the top of the climb.  With this effort and those of the day, she moved herself into second place in the race for the Maillot a Pois.  The next two days will be the chances to rack up big points in that competition.  However, this effort only rid the group of one rider.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896218-175-294403/Painting/making-her-escape-tdff22-34.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 4: Solving It Together

I learned today that the women only have one team car (instead of two like the men) following the race.  This means their race mechanics can be a long, long way back.  Yesterday's stage winner Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) was fortunate to have her teammate, Vittoria Guazzini, with her when she got a f;rat rear tire. The FDJ duo quickly swapped wheels and Ludwing got back into the race.  Apparently, the mechanics had the foresight to supply each rider with the necessary allen wrench to pull the through axle to allow the wheel change to happen.  Guazzine was helped shortly after getting her team leader back in the race by the Shimano neutral service moto.  It was a bit frustrating for the duo to watch the Shimano car go past them.  It has been a very chaotic stage with so much going on, the driver can be excused for not seeing Guazzini trying to wave them down.  Ludwig just kept working on her bike.  Time was of the essence.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896032-164-294403/Painting/solving-it-together-tdff22-23.html

Tour Femmes, Stage 3: Leaving Them All Behind

This painting is sold.

The Danish riders have been having a wonderful time in France, after the Tour de France left Denmark.  And they have now carried that over to the Tour de France Femmes.  Today it was Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope) winning stage 3 in Epernay in her Danish Champion's jersey.  She had a two second gap over the Maillot Jaune of Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) who's desire to stay in yellow helped Ludwig bridge back up to the leaders.  After yesterday's troubles for her team and her losing a good bit of time this had to make the whole French team feel a lot better.  I am quessing there will be some very good champagne for the toast at dinner, and on the podium tonight.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895929-160-294403/Painting/leaving-them-all-behind-tdff22-19.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 3: Chasing Them Down

This painting is sold.

This painting was a bit of a struggle.  Using helicopter shots provides a strange angle that is sometimes a bid difficult to get right.  You can see by the wheels that it took a few tries to get there, but I think I got there in the end.  Much can the same can be said of Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope).  The pair struggled to chase down the power group of escapees up the road that included the two women sitting second and third on the general classification.  But just like this painting, they got there in the end.  Vos was able to hold onto her Maillot Jaune, if fact, she increased her lead.  And I will let the next post show you just how well Cecilie did at the end in her new Danish Champion's Jersey.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895924-159-294403/Painting/chasing-them-down-tdff22-18.html