Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 3: A Small Advantage

This quartet of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Andreas Leknessund (Uno X-Mobility), Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana), and Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) used the final climb of the day, the Cote du Chateau Jaune, to open up a gap on their erstwhile breakaway companions.  They build up about ten seconds on those behind before they started playing around.  Once they decided to not work together, this little advantage was lost despite having only fifteen kilometers to race.  Further back the peloton was just over a minute behind.  That was the closest they were going to get to the eventual stage winner.  The Maillot Jaune was even further back, so most likely, whoever wins the stage takes over that yellow jersey.

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 Small Advantage CdD25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 2: Waiting for His Sprinter

Despite his team's sprinter, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) already having two other teammates helping him, Julien Bernard was also called back to help pull Milan back up to the peloton.  The penultimate climb had proven too much for the big sprinter to stay with the main group, but they now had a long descent and flat roads to catch back on.  They are facing one more climb before the finale in Issoire, but that one is nowhere near as hard as the Category 2 Cote du Chateau de Buron.  We will have to wait and see if the strategy paid off in Issoire.

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.

"Waiting for His Sprinter CdD25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: Breaking the Break

Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) looks back to see just who came with him from the larger breakaway group.  He was joined in the breakaway from the breakaway by the two Frenchmen Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) and Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek).  Sandwiched between the French duo is the Dane Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility).  The foursome was frustrated with the size and pace of the group they had just left.  Plus, the peloton was closing in, so if they wanted to stay off the front, this was the only option they had.

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.

"Breaking the Break TdF24-71" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 7 ITT: Somethings Are More Important

This might be a first for me in a Time Trial in the Tour de France.  When the cameras first caught sight of Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) he was whooping it up with the French fans along the climb of Stage 7.  As he neared the top, the crowd pressed in dangerously despite the gendarmes attempting to keep order.  But then, Bernard saw who he was looking for waving an "Allez Papa" sign.  He found his wife and child on the side of the racecourse. Naturally, he stopped gave them both a kiss, and then got back to the job at hand.  Surprisingly, he came in just three minutes down on the current leader of the stage, but he had the fuller heart for the moment.  So, did I.  He did finish 61st on the day, better than more than half of the field.

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.

"Somethings Are More Important TdF24-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Dauphine, Stage 6: Climbing Well

This was the front of the early break being led up the Col du Porte by Anthony Perez (Cofidis).  Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) was climbing well and looking to keep his polka dot jersey of the best climber of this Criterium du Dauphine.  On his shoulder was one of the guys who went on the offensive yesterday (to no avail), Sven Erik Bystrom (Uae Team Emirates).  Seemingly about to drop off the pace is Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo).  As it turned out, as soon as I finished painting this an restarted the video, he jumped the other three and went up the road.  It was the start of multiple attacks and counter moves as the peloton continued to close in.

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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815281-112-185083/Painting/climbing-well-cd21-28.html

Tour, Stage 15: Who's Coming?

The break took quite a long time to get established today, and it was rather large once it did.  The peloton was looking at three catagory one climbs, the final being a mountain top finish.  Given what played out on the Tourmalet yesterday, it was looking like it would be another decisive day.  On the first of the big climbs, the Port de Lers, it was Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) looking back over his shoulder to see who was following his attack.  On his left shoulder was Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) and behind him were Sebastien Reichenbach and Rudy Mollard both on Groupama-FDJ.  All for were in the break to be able to help their team leaders on the final climb of the day.  Should the leaders not bridge up to them, then they could race for stage honors for their respective teams.

Watch this painting come to life as I talk about the Tour and creating cycling art here:

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3363339-82-263530/Who's%20Coming?%20%20TDF19-82.html

This painting has sold!