Tour '24, Stage 12: Stepping Off

Every time the camera found the sprinter Fabio Jakobsen (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) he was on his own off the back of the peloton.  Yesterday, that wasn't much of a surprise for a sprinter on a mountain stage but today was designated a 'sprint stage.'  It was clear that something was up.  Not long after, I watched him slow to a gentle coast and figured something was up.  He must have known where one of the soigneurs were parked with the team car.  Although as I look at this, it seems he was being greeted by his director sportif as he stepped off of his bike.  It has been reported that both a stomach bug, and at least one case of Covid have been hitting the Tour.  After carrying more riders into the first rest day than the last two decades, it seems now that guys are dropping out whether due to illness or crashes, the peloton is starting to shrink.

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.

"Stepping Off TdF24-65" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 11: Hiding in the Peloton

I had been talking about how there was one team that I have yet to paint in this year's Tour.  I was explaining that they haven't really factored in a stage yet.  I also pointed out that I haven't seen them on the tail of the peloton, nor driving the pace at the front.  They have remained hidden thus far.  Shortly afterward the helicopter camera caught Sam Welsford (DSM Firmenich) and his teammate the American Kevin Vermaerke hiding in the middle of the peloton.  Welsford is the sprinter on the team, so not being anywhere near the front with 76 kilometers to race is wise. To his left is the sprinter for Arkea-Samsic, Luca Mozzato, and ahead on his right is the European Champion Fabio Jakobsen, the sprinter for Soudal-Quick Step.  Others tucked in with him and his team are Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and the leader of Groupama-FDJ, Romain Bardet.  I doubt Bardet will be sprinting it out with those around him in Moulins.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3965094-64-297438/Painting/hiding-in-the-peloton-tdf23-64.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: Each Chasing the Others

On the "climb" of hill 63 (a whooping 63 kilometers above sea level) Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step) bedecked in his European Champion's jersey could see his prey just up the road.  He was trying to bridge across to the five man group who had managed to ride away from the peloton.  They in turn were chasing the early break away who were just about to summit the climb.  Everyone has spent long miles racing in the cold, wet, breezy roads of Flanders all in search of cycling glory.  Jakobsen never did make the juncture.  And once caught by the peloton again, soon found himself off the back thanks to this effort.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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/Spring-Classics-/3942439-509-195767/Painting/each-chasing-the-others-gw23-2.html

Tour '22, Stage 13: Ambulance Chaser

Sometimes I amuse myself, even if no one else finds it funny.  When I saw Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) drafting off the race ambulance in hopes of rejoining the peloton, all I could think of personal injury lawyers.  You know, "amublance chaser" is one of their less than kind nicknames.  This driver was definitely being kind allowing Jakobsen to hide behind him even though the rest of the race caravan was quite a ways up the road.  It seems the race referees were turning a blind eye to this bending of the rules.  He did get back, eventually, only to be dropped again.

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-2022/3893925-78-294403/Painting/ambulance-chaser-tdf22-79.html

Tour '22, Stage 7: Well, That Went Well

Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) was laughing with Wout Van Aert as Van Aert added more to his sprint points in his bid to carry the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  Behind the duo Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) hung his head in his failed attempt to get around the Belgium.  He may be embarassed that he failed to follow the wheel of his lead out man Michael Morkov.  The pair are not quite in sync yet.  I have been struggling to figure out how to paint this awful Tour jersey of Jumbo-Visma.  I do think Laporte's jersey is just about spot on.  Good thing I have figured it out because I will be painting that team most every stage going forward as they fight to unseat the Maillot Jaune.

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-2022/3892714-35-294403/Painting/well-that-went-well-tdf22-35.html

Tour '22, Stage 4: Half Speed

Today's intermediate sprint may have been important in the race for the Maillot Vert, but it seem to unfold at half speed.  Two guys were still up the road, so the sprint was for third, which was taken by Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl).  He was aided by his leadout man, Michael Morkov who took 6th.  Splitting the two Quick Step guys was the man in yellow (although he leads in the green jersey competition as well), Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).  Rounding out the more major placings was Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies).  It did seem as though everyone was holding back their efforts in hopes of having the legs for the final climb and sprint finale.

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-2022/3892126-17-294403/Painting/half-speed-tdf22-17.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Every Sprint Matters

So, Bridget always picks a favorite from each stage.  Today as she was looking through my watercolors she commented that this one reminded her of the famous cycling scene from ET.  While the lone man up the road, Magnus Cort, took the maximum points, there were still plenty on offer in the quest to claim the Maillot Vert or sprinter's jersey as it is known.  While Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) has on the Maillot Jaune of race leader, he is targeting Green when he arrives in Paris.  So it was that he out sprinted Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) and Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies).  His teammate, Christophe Laporte lead him out beautifully and still had the legs to nip Sagan at the line.  Jakobsen was second losing some more points to Van Aert.  Jakobsen is currently second in the competition and is wearing green since the sprint point leader, Van Aert, is currently in yellow.

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-2022/3891865-12-294403/Painting/every-sprint-matters-tdf22-12.html

Tour '22, Stage 2: A Validation

Before the start of the Tour, there was quite a lot of anger over Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl taking Fabio Jakobsen instead of Mark Cavendish to the Tour.  It would have been Cavendish's chance to break Eddy Merckx's record of Tour stage victories, clearly that can't happen this year now.  However, the team believed they could win with Jakobsen, and as of day, they were clearly right.  He out sprinted Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), but his second place was enough to put him in Yellow (and to earn the Green Jersey as well).  Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) took third.  I'm quite sure the Danish former World Champion would have loved to win a stage in his home country, but he just didn't quite have the sprint today.  There is one more stage on Danish soil, so it still might happen.  Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) finished sixth on the day, but he is hidden from view by the celebrating Jakobsen.

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-2022/3891751-10-294403/Painting/a-validation-tdf22-10.html

Paris Nice 2022: Pure Sprinting

With the sprinters having been caught out in the opening stage of Paris Nice, the pressure was that much higher on the pure sprinters in the race.  The echelons out on course made it that much more difficult for the pure sprinters to be there to contest for stage honors today.  Yet again it was Christian Laporte (Jumbo Visma) who opened up the sprint with his teammate Wout Van Aert on his wheel.  But it was the pure sprinter Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) who came around the Jumbo Visma duo to take out the victory in Orleans. The win is just that much more special since a horrible crash in the Tour of Poland two years ago left him near death.  Along with the other two all-rounders was the former World Champion, Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) taking fifth on the day.  There is realistically just one more day for the sprinters to shine.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3870710-46-272742/Painting/pure-sprinting-pn22-9.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