Tour '25, Stage 21: It Takes a Team

Yes, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won his fourth Tour de France, but it takes a team, even the one guy who didn't make it to Paris, Joao Almeida who called it quits during Stage 9 succumbing to his injuries from an earlier crash.  The rest of UAE posed together in the traditional linked arms before having to dodge more road furniture.  Along with Pogacar, it was Adam Yates, Marc Soler, Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Tim Wellens, and Jhonathan Narvaez worked together to make the dream become a reality.  The team celebrated the win by rolling out splashes of yellow on their jerseys, yellow bar tape, and yellow socks.  The two wearing national champion's jerseys added a yellow band to their sleaves instead. Admittedly, you can't see those here.  I didn't see any champagne toast at the start today.  Everyone was unsure how the stage would play out, so best stick with the program until the last guy rolls across the line on the Champs Elysees.

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.  

"It Takes a Team TdF25-140" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Tour '25, Stage 19: On to the Final Mountain

This is the last mountain stage of this Tour and the peloton of the elite are just now hitting the final climb in the Alps.  Well, actually, the final HC climb of this years' Tour de France.  Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) looks back to make sure his team leader, Tadej Pogacar is still on his wheel.  He is.  Right on the wheel of the Maillot Jaune is Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan from Pogacar.  Vingegaard has little hope of pulling back over four minutes to move into first, conversely, he has little worry that anyone will pull back over four minutes on him either.  The final step of the podium is a different matter altogether.  Massing behind are Aurelien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) riding for his team leader, Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost).  The stage ends at the top of this climb up La Plagne, so the final podium will be much clearer at the top in about eighteen kilometers.

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. 

"On to the Final Mountain TdF25-129" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has now sold!

Tour '25, Stage 18, Setting the Stage

I didn't even realize the double ententre that I had created when titling this painting.  Visma-Lease a Bike went out with a mission today.  They need to pull back four minutes and fifteen seconds on the main in the Maillot Jaune, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  They have Matteo Jorgenson up the road and are putting pressure on both Pogacar and the Maillot Blanc of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  They still have Tiesj Benoot, Simon Yates, and Sepp Kuss, shepherding Jonas Vingegaard in his efforts to get some of his lost time back.  Pogacar still has two teammates with him.  He has Simon Yates' twin brother Adam on his wheel along with Jhonatan Narvaez ready to set the pace for him whenever it becomes 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.  

"Setting the Stage TdF25-118" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 15: Looking for Opportunities

As the peloton tried to re-sort itself as it went under the 92 kilometers to go, it was Tobias Foss (Ineos-Grenadiers), Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Danny Van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jonathan Navarez (UAE Team Emirates) pushing their way off the front.  The image of Navarez is what happens when you paint from live images without knowing what happens next.  Because this was a shot from a helicopter flying high above, I thought Navarez's kit was that of Alpecin-Deceuninck so I painted it that way.  Once I restarted the stream of the race, I figured out it was the UAE Team Emirates' Ecuadorian National Champion's jersey.  I tried my best to adjust the painting, but there isn't much one can do with watercolors.  Nothing came of this move, they were seen back in the peloton not long after I painted this.  This particular banner is sponsored by the Department Hauts en Siene the 92nd department (think of it as the 92nd state of 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.

"Looking for Opportunities TdF25-96" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 12: Setting Him Up

In the opening kilometers of the Hautacam Tadej Pogacar's last teammate Jhonathan Navarez (UAE Team Emirates) dug as deep as he could before swinging off the front.  Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was right there when it was playing out, but Tadej was off like a shot.  Like I have learned Quinn Simmons' tell, I have also learned that when Vingegaard looks back over his shoulder, he is on his limit.  Pogacar doesn't look back and see it, he is just that confident in his own abilities.  The last time these two raced this climb in 2022, Vingegaard took three minutes out of Tadej, but that was in the final link of the race.  Today, Pogacar is hoping to reverse that result.  The Dane didn't take the bidon his soigneur was trying to pass over as the trio rode over a spray-painted Dutch flag.

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.

"Setting Him Up TdF25-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 4: Stirring Things Up

With just twelve kilometers to go Visma-Lease a Bike went to the front of the reduced peloton and put the hammer down.  Victor Campenaerts led them off with Jonas Vingegaard on his wheel.  In the wings were Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert ready to keep the pace high after Comapenaerts had done all he could.  Behind Wout Van Aert Jhonathan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) struggled to hold their wheels in hopes of keeping his leader Tadej Pogacar in contact with his main rival.

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. 

"Stirring Things Up TdF25-21" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: Sprinting with Three

The USA Champion in the time trial discipline, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) was working hard in the final kilometers of the Team Time Trial.  He was hoping to move himself and his teammates Jhonatan Narvaez and Joao Almeida up in the general classification.  They had a disappointing finish dropping forty-two seconds to the team that won the stage.  Not exactly the results we have come to expect from this team.

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 with Three PN25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 5: Four Climbers

With roughly five hundred meters left to race, it has come down to four strong climbers off the front on Willunga Hill.  Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula) was the one who chased down Javier Romo (Movistar) taking Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) and the Ecuadorian champion, Jhonathan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) along with him.  The three dropped the Ochre Jersey in the closing meters with Narvaez having the legs to take the stage ahead of Onley.  In so doing he also took the leader's jersey off of the shoulders of Narvaez.  Sorry, the TV camera didn't give me a good image of the new Ochre Jersey winning the stage.  So it goes.

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.

"Four Climbers TDU25-41" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 4: A Sprinter's Line

It is a treat to watch a seasoned sprinter get it right.  Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) looked to be too far back as both Ineos-Grenadiers and Groupama-FDJ led the peloton to have a chance at victory.  As the lead outs started with 500 meters to go, the French sprinter pop out of the slipstream and charged to the line.  Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) chased hard to take second despite Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) complaining he had his sprint interfered with.  He hadn't, he had just sprinted too close to the barriers.  Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) sprinted to a respectable fourth in Victor Harbor.

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.

"A Sprinter's Line TDU25-36" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Sprinting for One Second

With the breakaway having sucked up the first two places in the intermediate sprint in Birdwood, the peloton was sprinting for third place and a single bonus second.  It looked like the French champion, Paul Lapiera (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) was going to get the bonus, but it was Jhonathan Manuel Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) who won the bunch sprint beautifully led out by his teammate Rui Oliveira.  Lukas Lerurkar (EF Education-EasyPost) who vied for sprint honors, but just didn't quite have the legs.

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 for One Second TDU25-19" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: Leaving No Doubt

Much was made about how the final climb up Mount Lofty and the end of the stage might play out.  Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) had started the day tied with Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenish-PostNL) and just a five second lead on Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers).  But as they sprinted for the line, Williams was able to get around Narvaez (and the rest of those looking to take either the stage or the jersey) to claim the stage, a ten second time bonus, and the 2024 Tour Down Under.  While Narvaez claimed second and a six second bonus it left him in second place overall.  Finishing the stage in third thus moving himself in third was a former wearer of the Ochre Jersey, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates).  Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished in fourth on the day, and fifth in the Tour.  Just peeping in behind this group was the man who started the finale attacks, Laurence Pithie (Groupaman-FDJ).

This is the finale of the Tour Down Under.  I will be back painting some of the Spring Classics and Monuments over the coming months.  But now it is on to finishing a cycling art commission and then preparing for an exhibition of my large scale figurative works at the end of March in Richmond, VA.

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/3996273-205-194179/Painting/leaving-no-doubt.-tdu23-28.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: The Fight for Ochre

Inside of the final three kilometers of the climb of Mount Lofty, it was time to make a play for the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  Having covered the first attack the erstwhile leader of the Tour Down Under, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) found himself on the front being covered by the former Spanish Champion, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers).  The Spaniard was just five seconds behind the lead of Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech), so Williams was staying glued to his wheel in hopes of keeping his leader’s jersey.   Now tacked onto the back was the guy who started the attacks, Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) who still had hopes of winning the final stage of the 2024 Tour Down Under.

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/3996272-204-194179/Painting/the-fight-for-ochre.-tdu24-27.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Anonymous No More!

I should explain the title.  The race director for DSM-Firmenich-PostNL had been frustrated with out absent his team had been in the first four stages, but with the stage win by Oscar Onley took care of that.  He is now on equal time with the new Ochre Jersey, and the new owner of the White Jersey of best young rider.  He is just barely behind the guy who was just behind him on the stage, Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech). Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers) takes second on the stage moving himself into third overall in this Tour Down Under.  It was then Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) who faded after putting a sprint in to get over the King of the Mountains line first.  I’m convinced he thought that was the finish line and not the line 400 meters up the road.  He did move himself into fifth overall, so not a bad day out for the two time world champion.  Shadowing the Frenchman was Bart Lemmen on the newly renamed Visma-Lease a Bike.  Who now sits just behind Alaphilippe on the general classification.

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/3996157-200-194179/Painting/anonymous-no-more-tdu24-23.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Time to Climb

The sprinters have had four days to show off their skill sets, now it is time for the climbers to shine.  With the last member of the early break away caught at the base of Willunga Hill, it was time for the climbers and general classification riders to stake their claims for the final Ochre Jersey come tomorrow.  The first to truly go on the offensive was no surprise.  At the steepest part of the climb it was Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) who dug deep to get away from the peloton.  He was joined in the effort first by Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers), followed by Bart Lemmon (Visma-Lease a Bike) rides side by side with Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  I (and many other cycling fans) was thrilled to see Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) matching the acceleration pedal stroke for pedal stroke.

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/3996143-199-194179/Painting/time-to-climb.-tdu24-22.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: Ramping It Up

Using the final ascent of the Fox Creek climb the trio of Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonathan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers) jumped off the front of the peloton all in hopes of stealing the sprinters thunder in just another eight and a half kilometers.  Moments after I painted this, Alaphilippe swung off unable to hold the pace of the Australian Champion.

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/3995731-185-194179/Painting/ramping-it-up.-tdu24-8.html