Tour de France 23, Stage 12: Waving to Crowd

Cofidis had gone fifteen years without a stage victory at the Tour de France, and now, thanks to Ion Izagirre (and earlier Victor Lafay) they now have won two in this edition of the Tour alone.  Izagirre had managed to drop the rest of the break on the way up the final climb.  He pressed that advantage all of the way into Belleville en Beaujolais, coming in around a minute or more ahead of the six trying to chase him down.  What else will Cofidis be able to do this year?

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-2023/3965369-75-297438/Painting/waving-to-the-crowd-tdf23-75.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 12: Three Chasing Three

After innumerable attempts, riders were finally able to get off the front of the peloton over the summit of Col des Ecorbans.  With three up the road, Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) and Andrey Amador (EF Education-EasyPost) started collaborating on the descent to try and catch back up to the leaders.  They only needed to bridge eleven seconds, but it seemed to be just as hard to catch the other three as it had been to get away from the peloton.  It wasn't helping them that one of the guys up the road was an extremely skilled descender.

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-2023/3965322-68-297438/Painting/three-chasing-three-tdf23-68.html

Tour '22, Stage 18: Not the Day He Wanted

Simon Geschke (Cofidis) hadn't expected he could hold onto the Miallot a Pois through the Alps but now that he was riding the final mountain stage of the Tour he had dared to believe he could gain enough points to hold it the rest of the way to Paris.  Alas, having tried mulitple times to get into the break, he was beat by the time he finally across to the leaders only to lose the pace on the way up the Col d'Aubisque.  He had a chance to hold onto the lead, but he would need others to not score points as well.  His teammates Ion Izaguirre and Anthony Perez had come back to help him in hopes he would come right for the next to climbs.  It was unlikely since they would factor into the GC battle that was sure to kick off on the Col de Spandelles.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895181-112-294403/Painting/not-the-day-he-wanted-tdf22-113.html

TDF, Stage 8: It Was Enough for Yellow

 As this trio rounded the corner within site of the finish in Le Grand Bornand, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) knew he had done enough to be swapping his Maillot Blance for a Maillot Jaune.  Technically he will have both jersey, but will be wearing the Maillot Jaune at the start line tomorrow.  As he lined up for the sprint against Ion Izagirre (Astana-Premier Tech) and Michael Woods (Israel Start Up Nation) he also new there were some time bonuses for second and third place.  I don't know if he decided he didn't need the bonus, or he had blown his legs in the amazing effort to sieze the jersey, but he finished third out of these three and fourth on the stage.  Regardless, he now has a large lead in this Tour and I am wondering if we saw him win the Tour today.  Can anyone rival his attack today? Or is anyone remotely close to the level of this 22 year old?  I am sure he was heartened to see all of the Slovenian flags that are appearing all along the routes of this year's Tour.  

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/3821779-51-291436/Painting/it-was-enough-for-yellow-tdf21-50.html

TDF, Stage 8: Dressing Up

On the Cote de Mont Saxonnex, the first Catagory 1 climb of this Tour, Ion Izagirre (Astana-Permier Tech) drops back to get a rain cape for the coming descent.  It has been a very wet day, and the high speed descents in wet clothes can make for a very chilly ride down the mountain.  There are a lot of factors that go into just finishing the Tour, let alone winning it.  Catching a cold can quickly ruin a rider's chance of making it all of the way to the Champs Elysees.  Just ahead, Nans Peters (Ag2r-Citroen) is struggling to hold the wheels of this chasing group.  They are all facing a second big climb and another 47 kilometers before the end of today's effort.

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/3821670-45-291436/Painting/dressing-up-tdf21-44.html

2014 UCI Worlds: Leading Them Home

Just as in the professional teams, the national teams have both domestiques and designated team leaders, leaders who ride as protected riders.  Ion Izagirre (Spain) riding for the "home team", went to the front to chase down the breakaway for his teammates, Alejandro Valverde (who rides with him on the Movistar squad) and Joaquim Rodriquez.  Benefiting from his efforts, tucked in behind the strong man from the Basque countryside, were this year's winner of the Tour de France, Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) and the climbing sprinter, John Degenkolb (Germany).  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the art that is on offer?  Remember, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championships/2443426---202544/Painting.html#.VCivAM_D_IU