Tour '25, Stage 1: At What Cost?

With the next climb looming, Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) jumped free of the peloton.  He was chased by Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) who hoped to gain just one more point in his quest to claim the Maillot a Pois of best climber (to date) of the Tour.  The two had been in the early break, but managed to get away the peloton for a second time - a rarity in the modern era of the Tour.  The two traded attacks on the way up the Sainte Marie Cappel.  It looked like it would go to Vercher, but with a final turn of the crank, Thomas got to the line first.  However, as I suspected when I paused the video to paint this, his effort made his rear wheel slide out on the cobblestones and over he went taking Vercher with him.  Depending on how he feels for the rest of the Tour, I guess the cost was worth the prize.  Vercher didn't go unrewarded.  He was named the most aggressive rider of the first stage of the 2025 Tour de France.

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.

"At What Cost? TdF25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Clearly Ahead

Over the previous three climbs of the day, Jonas Abrahamsen (UnoX-Mobility) had been fighting it out with others to claim the maximum points in his quest to claim the first King of the Mountains jersey.  One of those giving him a hard time was Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ).  Clearly, he went over the Cote de Barbotto first despite Madouas attempt to claim the maximum points.  He is now the virtual leader in the competition.  As long has he continues to claim more points than the Frenchman he will wear the Polka Dots at the start of stage 2.  Spoiler, he did.

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.

"Clearly Ahead TdF24-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: First Pro Tour, First Jersey

As I have already mentioned, this is Louis Barre’s (Arkea-B&B Hotels) first Pro Tour race.  Today, he honored his debut by getting into the break away that stuck for most of the final kilometers of the opening stage of the Tour Down Under.  With his effort, he has now done enough to claim the first King of the Mountains Jersey in the 2024 TDU.  After getting over Mengler Hill first for the second time, he is congratulated by his break away companion, Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Wanty).  Both are debutantes to the opening Tour of the season, and both made a mark on their first day in South Australia.

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-Down-Under/3995482-180-194179/Painting/first-pro-tour-first-jersey.-tdu24-3.html