Tour '25, Stage 9: Doctor's Visit

Georg Zimmermann (Intermarche-Wanty) had a crash that sent him sliding across the tarmac and into the rough grass at the side of the road. Since there are no time-outs in cycling, Zimmermann had to get his wounds dressed by hanging on to the medic's car as his abrasions were cleaned and bandaged.  The only time a rider is able to hold onto a race vehicle is when they are being treated by the race doctor.  I once had a similar crash in an amateur race.  I was done for the day.  I was also done with bike racing.  That was not the case with the German National Champion, he got up rode another sixty kilometers to finish the stage.  He arrived in Chateauroux looking more like a mummy than a cyclist with a large group seven minutes off of the time of the stage winner.

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.

"Doctor's Visit TdF25-54" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Sprinting Shoulder to Shoulder

As the breakaway rolled into Greenok and the intermediate sprint, both Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty) and Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) sprinted hard to the line.  It looked like Zimmermann had it, but Konrad found a final kick to take the maximum bonus seconds.  Having been allowed to get the maximum KOM points, Fergus Browning (ARA Australian Cycling) left the sprinting to his fellow escapees.  When they came back around to the second intermediate sprint, the pair flipped their finishing positions.   With their two first and second places the two moved themselves up to fourth and fifth in the overall general classification.  Whereas Browning may have locked up the KOM competition after just two stages.  Not a bad day out for the early breakaway 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Sprinting Shoulder to Shoulder TDU25-23" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Chasing More KOM Points

Fergus Browning (ARA Australian Cycling) sporting his King of the Mountians Polka Dot Jersey was out in the breakaway for the second day running.  Not only did he claim the jersey in stage one, he was also awarded the red bib number of most aggressive rider on stage one.  Kindly, the race organization awarded his breakaway companion and teammate Zacharie Marriage the same aggressive rider red bib, too.  Today Browning was joined by Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) and Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty).  Do their credit, they didn't challenge Browning for the KOM points at the top of Mengler Hill either time the trio was off the front of the peloton.

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. 

"Chasing More KOM Points TDU25-22" (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

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: No Time to Stop

After multiple break aways, and multiple attempts by Louis Barre (Arkea-B&B Hotels) finally got into a break with Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Wanty) that actually was able to open up a good side gap on the rather relaxed peloton behind.  The pair seemed to be willing to but in the effort to stay away, and to share the prizes out on the road.  It is the first time in the Tour Down Under for both men, and the very first Pro Tour race for the Frenchman, Barre.  Not a bad debut for either 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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995481-179-194179/Painting/no-time-to-stop.-tdu24-2.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 19: Do You See Who Is Coming?

Looking back over his shoulder, Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) was a bit surprise to see who was bridging across.  He seemed to gesture to Julian Alaphilippe (Lotto-Quick Step) as Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious) listened in, that a group was coming with the Green Jersey and a bunch of other sprinters about to catch their back wheels.  Right now they were just off camera behind Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) and Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma).  The sprinters' group had gotten off the front at the intermediate sprint and just continued to ride.  All of them wanted to have a chance to vie for stage honors and this break away was spoiling that party.

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-2023/3966634-127-297438/Painting/do-you-see-who-is-coming-tdf23-127.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 10: Victorious!

I swear, I couldn't resist.  Just as Phil Liggett so desperately wanted to call the Bilbao had one the opening stage in Bilbao, I just love playing off the name of the team that today's stage winner in Issoire rides for.  So yes, it was Pello Bilbao (Bahrian-Victorious) who had the legs to out sprint Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) for the victory.  To you see the title right there in his team's name?  Just out of frame is Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) unable to match the sprint of these two settling for third on the stage.  O'Connor had tried to get the jump on these guys, but they kept him close.  The guy who they had been forced to chase, Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech) held on for fourth place on the day.  Well behind the general classification remained the same despite the aggression of the early kilometers of the stage.  Bilbao did move himself up to fifth overall.  O'Connor didn't move as far up the GC but he did pull back just shy of three minutes on 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 $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-2023/3965004-61-297438/Painting/victorious-tdf23-61.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 10: Catch Him, Try to Drop Them All

Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) has come out of the rest day a new rider.  He admits that his first nine days of the Tour were awful, but today he was on fire.  He bridged up to the leaders on the road being the one who pulled back the lone escapee, Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech).  As they got inside of the final two kilometers to go in the city of Issoire, he went hard to drop Esteban Chaves (EF Education-EasyPost), Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) and Neilands.  He opened a bit of a gap, hoping that he wouldn't be forced to sprint against those he was trying to be rid of.

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-2023/3964979-60-297438/Painting/catch-him-try-to-drop-them-all-tdf23-60.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 1: Sprinting for Polka Dots

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) was just able to out sprint a frustrated Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) to claim the five KOM points on offer at the top of the Cote de Vivero.  Given the climbs Cat 2 rating, it gave the American on the American team enough points to pull on the Maillot a Pois at the end of the opening stage of this year's Tour.  Zimmermann pounded his bars in disappointment, but then reached out and congratulated Powless on this sprint.  No sense making any enemies in the peloton on the first day of the Tour.

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-2023/3962891-3-297438/Painting/sprinting-for-polka-dots-tdf23-3.html

Fleche Wallonne 23, Men’s Race: Down to Two

Soren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) attacked his erstwhile break away companions over the second climb of the Cote d’Ereffe.  Of the other seven in the original group, only Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) was able to join the Dane on the front of the race.  They had another 46 kilometers to race but they were holding off the chasers and the peloton, for 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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3946908-544-195767/Painting/down-to-two-fw23-8.html

Tour '22, Stage 10: Who's This?

Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) looked back to find someone bridging across to him.  He had spent 26 kilometers off the front until this moment.  I wonder if he was relieved or frustrated to see Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) tacking on to his wheel.  However, both were soon joined by a total of six others as the final kilometers of the climb and stage ticked by.

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-2022/3893277-57-294403/Painting/whos-this-tdf22-57.html

Flanders 2021: Leading Them Around

 

Once the previous three were caught, and then the early break of the day was reeled in too, it was time for Germany to hit the front and force the pace.  While Georg Zimmerman was on the front, the Belgium team was not missing any moves.  After Remeco Evenepoel was back in the field, it was Victor Campenaerts (Belgium) that was on Zimmermann’s wheel representing the host country.  The next rider following the leaders was another German, Nikias Arndt.  With 120 kilometers yet to race, it was wild just how aggressive the racing had been since the start in Antwerp.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838931-29-292177/Painting/leading-them-round-uci21-29.html

TDF, Stage 19: Attacking the Break

It was a large group of 20 that had left the peloton far behind.  The problem for the break away is that is too many to have everyone keep working together all the way to the finish.  Just after Phil Liggett and Bob Roll had been discussing who would be the one to go off the front, it was in fact Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) that went off the front as predicted.  His attack was chased down by Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Fenix) with Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) and Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) joining in the chase.  This attack was neutralized, but now everyone would be trying to get away until it eventually works.  With the peloton almost eleven minutes behind, the stage winner was going to be one of these guys in the break.  That meant all the more reason to try and get off the front.

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 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/2021-Tour-de-France/3824342-126-291436/Painting/attacking-the-break-tdf21-125.html

TDF, Stage 6: This Is a Strong One!

As soon as the flag was dropped to start the stage the break away attempts started.  It was eight guys that got away, but since some were part of sprinter's teams, it was not a cohesive whole.  That prompted Greg Van Avermaet (Ag2r-Citroen) to try to drop the others.  His move was quickly covered by Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).  The duo was later joined by Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) and Nils Politt.  Admittedly, Politt too was a member of one of the sprinters hoping for victory when the peloton reached Chateauroux.  

A side note, the last time I did a painting that included Thomas De Gendt, it was the same day I had had surgery to donate one of my kidneys.  It was done as a paired exchange to help my wife get a much needed kidney transplant much quicker.  We are now both doing very well.  And De Gendt is still trying to escape the clutches of the peloton in the Tour de France.  Unlike our surgeries, De Gendt wasn't successful then, nor was he today.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/2021-Tour-de-France/3821492-33-291436/Painting/this-is-a-strong-one-tdf21-32.html