Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8 Finale!: Mountain Queen

I realize now I could have titled this "Joy and Pain."  Demi Vollering (SD Worx) had chased Annemiek Van Vleutin up mountains for the last two days, never quite able to catch the Dutch woman on the Spanish team.  But she did get over some of the climbs before her, and she got over some climbs before the attacks for the stage got started.  So while she wasn't able to win the stage nor the Maillot Jaune, she is on the podium in second and takes the Queen of the Mountains title in the first Tour de France Femmes, or the return of the women's Tour de France.  Judging by the crowds on the side of the roads along the 1,033 kilometers over the past eight days, and millions watching all around the world, this won't be a one off.  Despite her exhaustion at the summit, Vollering did try to make a heart over her chest as she crossed the line, thanking her team, the fans, and her family who awaited her.  

Well done to everyone who started the race in Paris, and to all of those who finished atop the La Super Planches des Belle Filles.  Chapeau!  

This is the last of my paintings of the first Tour de France Femmes (and the return to a women's Tour de France).  I am clearly also finished painting the men's race as well.  I don't plan to be painting any more cycling until the UCI World Road Championships in late September, althougth that is just seven weeks from now.

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-2022/3896752-195-294403/Painting/mountain-queen-tdff22-54.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: The Girl in the Middle

Demi Vollering (SD Worx) was stuck unable to catch up to Annemieke Van Vleutin (Movistar) but then those behind weren't able to catch her either.  As she went over the top of the Grand Ballon, she was just over two minutes behind the stage winner, but she can take some comfort in being the next Queen of the Mountains and moving up into second place over all.  She is three and a quarter minutes behind the new Maillot Jaune, but tomorrow will be an even harder day, the ends both the stage and the Tour on the top of Super Planches des Belles Filles. Conversely, she only has a minute and three quarters on the woman sitting in third. When she reached the top and hugged her parents it was looking like she was totally spent.  It all comes down how well she and Van Vleutin can recover 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-2022/3896671-187-294403/Painting/the-girl-in-the-middle-tdff22-46.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