Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 3: The Road Ahead

It is rare that so strong of a breakaway is allowed to get over a minute on the peloton, but perhaps those behind had underestimated who was up the road.  The thirteen-man break had eight men that were under eleven seconds off of the time of the Maillot Jaune.  And he was currently over a minute behind the peloton! As they ride across the dead straight roads of the valley, Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech) reaches out to the support moto to grab a bottle of water.  The former Latvian champion is seen moments later pouring the cold water all over himself in an attempt to stay cool.  He took a big swig, too. 

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. 

"The Road Ahead CdD25-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Getting No Closer

This quintet was doing their best to chase down the three up the road, but as the kilometers rolled by under their wheels they weren't able to close the gap.  Despite the efforts of Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) who had switched from riding for his teammate, and started riding for himself.  He was aided by Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech), Tom Skujins (Lidl-Trek), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hangrohe), and Oier Lazkano (Movistar).  But with a mere eight kilometers to race, the group was still forty-five seconds behind the leaders.  The large chasing group they had left behind was still about fifteen seconds back.  However, just like these guys, they weren't able to close the gap either.

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.

"Getting No Closer TdF24-114" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 21: Escaping on the Champs Elysees

If one is not a great sprinter, the only way to beat the great ones is to get off the front in a break away.  Frederki Frison (Lotto-Dstny) picked up where his teammates had left off in previous stages.  He was joined by two others that have been in breaks this Tour, too.  Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) bridged up despite no more mountain points were on offer, and Krists Nielands (Israel-Premier Tech) was eager to try another break away himself.  The trio had opened up about ten seconds on the peloton but with another 52 kilometers of up and down the Champs Elysees, it was unlikely to be the move to foil the sprinters.

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-2023/3967235-145-297438/Painting/escaping-on-the-champs-elysees-tdf23-140.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 15: Follow the Leader

It may have been more accurate to title this painting, "Catch the Leader."  Marc Soler (UAE-Team Emirates) had jumped away from the group of leaders as they went over the top of the Col des Aravis.  He got a good advantage but didn't quite have the same level of descending skills as Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).  Van Aert made up the deficit going back down the other side of the climb.  While both Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech) and Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) struggled to stay with Van Aert they did keep the Belgium in sight.  With 42 kilometers to go, they looked to be the group that would decide the stage.  The only possible variant is the both Soler and Van Aert have the top two guys in the general classification and they could get called to wait to help their leaders on the final climb of the day.

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-2023/3965817-97-297438/Painting/follow-the-leader-tdf23-97.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 10: Checking His Advantage

Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech) had used the descent of the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote de Saint Victor la Riviere, to slip away from is erstwhile break away companions.  With 54 kilometers to go, he was able to build an advantage, so much so that he couldn't see them when he peeked under his arm.  He seemed to have this effort well in hand, perhaps taking heart in the success of his teammate, Michael Woods, atop the Puy de Dome the day before the rest day.

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-2023/3964976-58-297438/Painting/checking-his-advantage-tdf23-58.html

Tour, Stage 4: A Slim Margin

After Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) had crashed, Krists Neilands (Israel Start Up Nation) was the last of the break away still off the front of the race.  As he hit the base of the Orcieres Merlette climb, the last of the day, he had the slimest of margins over the peloton.  It was a margin that had no chance of suceeding with the general classification riders looking for their chance to take over the Maillot Jaune.  As he looked back he could see one fan.  The fan was inexplicably holding one of the directional arrow signs of the Tour.  On his wheel was the Mavic neutral service moto, just in case.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3689219-27-282744/Painting/a-slim-margin-tdf20-21.html

Tour of California, Stage 7: Lovely Roads

The Tour of California seeks out some beautiful roads to take through the peaks and valleys of the state.  Today the high light was riding back along the coast on the Pacific Coastal Highway, but even before the break turned onto the coastal road, they passed along side this beautiful lake.  Today's break took awhile to form and the final composition was a rather strong group including George Bennett (LottoNL Jumbo) who was only a minute and a quarter off of the lead.  Two of the other strong riders in the group where Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).  Rounding out the break were yet another representative form Axeon Hagens Berman, Krists Neilands, as well as Robbie Squire Holoweska/Citadel) and Javier Megias (Novo Nordisk)

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was painting using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company (www.richesonart.com).  This painting along with all of my cycling art, 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 at the website, be sure to check out my two cycling art books, "Book du Tour: Art of the 101st Tour de France" and, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships".

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2794946-40-223355/Painting.html#.V0JLPvkrLIU

Tour of California, Stage 3: Checking the Time

With the Polka Dot jersey of King of the Mountains on his shoulders, Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling) went in the early break hoping to add to his point tally.  Not to be outdone, Oscar Clarke (Holoweska/Citadel) joined in the assault of the multiple climbs on the day.  .The duo swapped summit victories, leaving the jersey on the shoulders of Huffman until the final climb of the day, assuming he would be in amongst it at the finish.  Tucked onto the tail of the seven man break away group was Krists Nielands (Axeon Hagens Berman).  However with the big climb at the end of the stage, it was unlikely that the peloton would make the same mistake as they did on Stage 2.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792216-10-223355/Painting.html#.VzvBO_mDGko