Wollongong 2022, Women's Road Race: The First Up Mount Kiera

Many expected the one climb up Mount Kiera to be where the women's race was going to kick off.  Yet as Gladys Verhulst (France) looked over her shoulder, there was no one chasing.  In fact, it seemed the whole peloton was going to wait until they hit the city circuit in Wollongong before they started (to quote Phil Liggett) to turn a pedal in anger.  Verhulst had about forty seconds on those behind, but with 127 kilometers to race, it didn't mean much.  While the climb wasn't late enough in the race to be decisive, it was enough to but an end to the day of many riders who weren't in the elite peloton ranks.

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.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

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Tour Femmes '22, Stage 6: Slipping Away

With the break away basically back together the next obstacle facing the group of now 13 riders was the intermediate sprint.  They had managed to keep the peloton at bay, so it was their opportunity to gain some sprint points, not that any of them had a chance of catching up to Lorena Weibes in her Maillot Vert, or Marianne Vos, who is in the Maillot Jaune and in second in the competition for the title of best sprinter.  Nevertheless, Tamara Dronova-Balabolina (Roladn Cogeas Edelwiess Squad) slipped away from the others to get the sprint price (yes there is some cash on offer).  Behind her Christine Majerus (SD Worx) in her Luxembourg Champion's jersey, Jesse Vandenbulcke (Le Col-Wahoo), Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) and Silke Smulders (Liv Racing Xstra) just kept rolling along.  They knew what she was after and didn't want to spend the energy to contest the sprint.  With 45 kilometers left to race and only a minute and a half on the peloton, they had quite a lot of work to do if they wanted to contest for stage honors.

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.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896221-176-294403/Painting/slipping-away-tdff22-35.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 5: Winning a Power Sprint

The gradual rise up to the line in Saint Die des Vosges it was clear it was going to take a strong power sprinter to win on the day.  Just before the sprint was a sweeping right turn, for some reason Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) went left through the gap to let all of the race vehicles divert from the finishing straight.  As I am writing this, I don't know if that mistake cost her time (and positions) in the general classification, or if the three kilometer rule was followed and she was given the same time as the lead group.  So she was out of the sprint so it was her teammate (and World Champion) Elisa Balsamo mixing it up with Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Lorenas Wiebes (DSM) for stage honors.  The victory went to the pure sprinter, Wiebes, with Balsamo claiming second.  The third step of the podium went to Marianne Vos in her Maillot Jaune.  The erstwhile Maillot Blance, Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo) was in the mix in fifth place.  This may be my favorite painting of the Tour de France Femmes thus far.  And definitely my favor sprint finish painting of either 2022 Tour de 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 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.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896130-174-294403/Painting/winning-a-power-sprint-tdff22-33.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 2: Increasing Their Advantage

With just two kilometers left to race this rather power sextet was continuing to increase their lead over the erstwhile Maillot Jaune.  The group was being pulled (and urged) along by the Rainbow Jersey of Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) while her teammate Elisa Longo Borghini shelter at the back.  Between the Trek-Segafredo women was a former world champion, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), the young woman who started it all Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo).  On the Maillot Blanc's wheel is Katarzyn Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) and the birthday girl herself, Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel & Service).  With forty one seconds on the chasers, the stage winner and probably the new Maillot Jaune was in this group.

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.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895796-153-294403/Painting/increasing-their-advantage-tdff22-12.html

 

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 2: Opening Up a Gap

After bridging up to the lone escapeof Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo) the world champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) turns round to see who had come with her.  The answer was Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and others.  More on that later.  The group quickly built up and advantage on the peloton that contained the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot Vert, and the Maillot a Pois.  The Maillot Blanc was looking over at the Rainbow Jersey.  I suspect that Van Der Duin was a bit awed to be joined by both Balsamo and Vos.  The rider back there from BikeExchange-Jayco never did make it across the divide.

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.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895793-151-294403/Painting/opening-a-up-a-gap-tdff22-10.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 1: Still She Persists

This painting is sold.

Yes, I am back to fun with titles. You all must know what Senator Mitch McConnell said of Senator Elizabeth Warren, "and still she persisted."  I did admire her then, and I admire Galdys Verhulst (Le Col-Wahoo) for continuing to persist with her solo attack while the peloton chased her down in the closing kilometers.  At this point she had a ten second lead with just under three kilometers to race.  Alas, whe was caught in just another 600 meters after I painted this moment.  I hope this does earn her the most combative rider award.

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.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895585-140-294403/Painting/still-she-persists-tdff22-6.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Sneaking a Peek

Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo) kept riding away from her break away companions.  As she left them yet again, she looked across the newly plowed field to see if she could see the peloton behind.  She had to know that the various national champions, along with the European and World Champions weren't going to let her stay away if they could catch her.  Clearly she wasn't riding in fear of their combined reputations.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877196-43-207546/Painting/sneaking-a-peek-rvv22-10.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: From the Beginning

This quartet had gotten off the front of the peloton from nearly kilometer zero.  With 160 K to race, staying off the front was going to be a challenge.  However, with the race almost half way done, Maria Martins (Le Col-Wahoo), Sofie Van Rooijen (Parkhotel-Valkenburg), Olivia Baril (Valcar-Travel & Service), and Clara Honsinger (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) they still had over two minutes behind.  At this point they were climbing the Wolvenberg which may mean the peloton will close on them quickly.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877188-41-207546/Painting/from-the-beginning-rvv22-8.html