Tour '25, Stage 17: Making a Well-Timed Attack

It usually is a bad sign if you have to explain a joke, but that is the case with this title. (unless you get it).  Tissot is a watch company that is also responsible for all of the race timing at the Tour de France and many other sporting events.  Once the peloton had gotten close to the break, Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) jumped free of the peloton in a quest to join up with the four-man break up the road.  Wout got withing twenty seconds, but not further.  After about five kilometers off the front he was reeled back in by the group chasing behind.  I think the sprinter's teams were confident that they could catch the break that had been out in the front all day, but a strong man like Van Aert with fresh legs may well be a very different matter.  

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.

"Making a Well-Timed Attack TdF25-114" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 17: Allez, JaJa!

Naturally fans come out to cheer on their favorite members of the ProTour and the Frenchman, Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) is very, very, very popular throughout France.  The yellow shape up the road from the Alaphilippe sign is a cut-out of France, with an enlarged photo of Julian, nicknamed "JaJa."  He is coming back through the team cars having gotten caught up in a crash just a kilometer or two back down the road.  He has just taken a bidon from his team car and is slotting it into his bottle cage before getting back into the embrace of the peloton.

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.

"Allez, JaJa! TdF25-113" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 7: I Got Close

Despite being the last member of the breakaway, Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B&B Hotels) was still about to be caught be the peloton. With 12.7 kilometers left of stage 7 he looked back to see the UAE led peloton about to swallow him up.  The catch came with exactly twelve kilometers to go.  His efforts weren't in vain.  He managed to pick up three King of the Mountains points along the way.  I fully expect he will be awarded the most aggressive rider of the stage, too.

This painting represents the third competitor in this Tour that I am painting for the very first time.

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. 

"I Got Close TdF25-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 6: A Plan Fulfilled

I think someone needs to invent a spell check pen.  This isn't the first time I've missed spelled a title, and I doubt it will be the last.  I digress. Without a GC contender, EF Education-EasyPost has decided their best option for success is to go for stage wins.  Today, Ben Healy, fulfilled that plan with aplomb!  He was the first to break free of the peloton a mere twenty kilometers into the stage, although it did take a few tries to make the move stick.  He dropped the rest of the breakaway with roughly fifty kilometers to go.  He continued to improve his advantage all of the way to Vire Normandie taking the stage alone by almost two-and-a-half minutes.  What a way to win your first Tour de France stage, and your tenth race victory!

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. 

"A Planned Fulfilled TdF25-39" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Bad Luck on the Final Day

As he turned onto the first climb up out of Monaco, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) slid out in the corner.  He had attempted to stomp on the pedals as he came out of the turn to keep his speed up on the ensuing climb.  Fortunately, he nor his bike were hurt.  He was back up and underway in less than twelve seconds.  It could well have been the end of his stage.  That or, it could give him the adrenaline rush to push him that much faster over the remaining twenty-five kilometers to Nice.  

Side note, he was a few seconds behind at the first time check, but then started setting the best times through the next two time checks and the most important time at the finale.  His ride cemented his hold on eighth in 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Bad Luck on the Final Day TdF24-137" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: One More Time

Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) rolled down the start ramp and got up to speed in his final stage of the Tour de France.  He has hopes of posting a good time as he got underway in Monaco.  I do think as he realized that he wasn't going to have much chance of winning the stage, he began to really enjoy his final race on the roads of France (well technically, he is in the Principality of Monaco right now). Thank you for the great years of entertainment, and congratulations on a day in Maillot Jaune.

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. 

"One More Time TdF24-136" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Finishing in Green

It wasn't like anyone expected Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) to light up the final stage of this Tour. But he has lit up all of the cycling communnity!  Girmay is the first Eritrea to win a stage in the Tour, and obviously the first Black African to do so.  He went on to win two more stages and in so doing won the Maillot Vert, again a first for Africa and the Tour.  He was very active in the intermediate sprints to make sure that his jersey was his today in Nice.  

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. 

"Finishing in Green TdF24-135" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: Mark's Last Trip Around

I am not afraid to admit that I thought that Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) would pull out of the Tour prior to the Pyrenees since he had already won the mythical thirty-fifth stage.  With no more sprint stages in which to ply his trade and add to his total number of Tour stage wins, I couldn't quite see the point.  I missed the all important one, Cav respects the Tour, the sacrifices of his team, and of his family.  There was no way he was going to pull out unless his body wouldn't let him continue.  He already had my respect, but this shows the caliber of the man both on and off the bike.  Chapeau!

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.  

"Mark's Last Trip Around TdF24-134" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19: With Authority

At the bottom of the final climb of Stage 19, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was roughly three minutes behind the last four guys out front from the breakaway.  By the time he crossed the line atop Isola 2000, he had twenty-one seconds on the then lone leader.  He stamped his authority on this Tour winning his fourth stage, three of which were while wearing the Maillot Jaune.  The stage he won without the jersey was the win that put him in it.  I am sure his fans loved the bravado, but I doubt he made many friends in the peloton.  It isn't like he needed to take the stage, he's won three already.  He didn't need the thirty seconds he gained over Vinegaard and Evenepoel he already had well over three minutes on one, and five on the other.  And was there any real reason to steal the stage win from a young super domestique, even if he did ride for his rival's team?

I am happy for what appears to be his third Tour de France win.  I just wish he had a touch more class.

Sorry, not sorry.

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. 

"With Authority TdF24-124" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19, Looking to Catch Back On

Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) had been dropped near the summit of the Cime de La Bonette.  He was diving down the mountain as fast as he possibly could in hopes of catching back onto the tail of the greatly reduced peloton.  He did manage to catch up, but did so at the base of the final climb of the day.  Once the road went up again, he wasn't able to hold on.  Given that he had detached on the previous mountain, and had spent huge amounts of energy to catch, it was little surprise he was dropped again.  He did finish nineteenth on the stage which was enough to keep him in thirteenth overall.  

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. 

"Looking to Catch Back On TdF24-119" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Tour '24, Stage 19: Step A

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) went off from the start of the stage with a mission.  Now that he has his stage win in a Tour de France, he wants to pull on another leader's jersey.  He wore the second Maillot Jaune for one stage until the current leader of the Tour took it off of his shoulders way back in stage 3.  Ironically, the current holder of the Maillot a Pois for the best climber in the Tour is the same guy who took the jersey off of him, Tadej Pogacar.  Perhaps he will be able to take the polka dot jersey off of him at the end of the stage.

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. 

"Step A TdF24-117" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Using the Descent

After going over the Cote des Demoiselles first, Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) used his descending skills to build a gap on the large breakaway behind.  I love using the directional arrows that the Tour organization uses to warn the riders that the turn is tighter than it may seem going in.  It seems that there should be padding behind the yellow and black zebra stripes.  Usually however, they hay bales are wrapped in white and red diagonal plastic.  I am sure they have appeared in a number of my paintings over the past twelve years.

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.

"Using the Descent TdF24-112" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Sprinting to the Summit

The American Champion, Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) led out his teammate Richard Carapaz in a sprint for the top of the Col de Manse.  Thus far today, Carapaz had gone over behind Oier Lazkano (Movistar), so it was essential that Carapaz get the better of the young Spaniard on the Spanish team.  I don't think the team in pink realized just how much Lazkano had in his legs still.  He got around their lead-out to claim the maximum points on the first three climbs of the day.  Carapaz did get another single point on the final climb, but he is still just behind Lazkano in the points total.  They are now fourth a fifth respectfully, but are way behind the guy leading and the guy wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan.  The next two days are big mountain days so perhaps things could change in the race for the King of the Mountains title.  I doubt it.  Those two days are bound to be when the final battles to win the Tour happen, and the top two points holders are also the two vying to win the Tour overall.

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 to the Summit TdF24-110" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Open Road

The fun part of painting live (or as close to it as possible) is that I can only get what is going on by what I see when the camera man catches it.  So, as I painted this, I was assuming that Jasper Philipsen (Aplecin-Deceuninck) had been tailed off of the peloton and was looking at a long hard day trying to make the time limit.  But no, he was actually chasing back to the main peloton after having a wheel change.  What is the old saying about assuming?  I love the feeling this evokes.  The thought of being out riding on a wide-open road with mountains lurking on the horizon.  Well, maybe not the impending mountains part.

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.

"Open Road TdF24-109" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: Chasing Just One Guy

Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) had tried several times to get into the early breakaway, but the heads of state weren't having it.  After the sprint point, first a small group got up the road and then a much larger one went after them.  Apparently, the top riders in the general classification were happy with who went up the road, so they kind of sat up.  This Yates managed to get into the big group.  From there he was able to jump across to the four-man earlier break, and then drop them almost as quickly.  Alas, he couldn't hold the wheel of Richard Carapaz as he went by.  As the duo neared the top of the Col du Noyer he trailed the Ecuadorian by ten seconds with just twelve more kilometers to race.  

Spoiler:  He never caught Carapaz, but then, no one caught him either.  He did move up one spot in the GC but still sits just over 28 minutes off of the Maillot Jaune.

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.

"Chasing Just One Guy TdF24-106" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '24, Stage 17: Off the Back, But Still Here

With little chance of figuring in any of the remaining stages and not showing up on the race for the Maillot Vert it is a bit of surprise to see that Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) is still in the Tour.  As the peloton started up the first of three categorized climbs, he slipped off the back with his ever-faithful teammate Cees Pol.  Jarrad Drizners (Lotto-Dstny) was another of those that found the pace too stiff on the way up the Col Bayard.  The pace had been hot all day with most teams trying to get a guy into the breakaway.  Every time a group got off the front, the teams not represented chased it down.  So, it has been a very, very hard day and they have just gotten to the climbing section of the stage.  Most of the sprinters are dropping out of the Tour, the question is, will Cav stay?  I now suspect he wants to finish what will almost definitely be his last 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Off the Back, But Still Here TdF24-103" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: The Looming Voiture Balai

The Voiture Balai (in the USA it is called the broom wagon) is the last vehicle on the road.  It's there to pick up the guys who can't finish the stage, either by their own decision or by being so far outside the time limit that he will not be able to stay in the race.  Not long after I painted this, the former Irish Champion, Sam Bennett (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) pulled of the road and climbed into his silent stalker.  Another sprinter leaves the Tour.

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 Looming Voiture Balai TdF24-101" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: Finishing with His Teammates

Sadly, Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) wasn't able to contest the last sprint stage of the Tour today.  He crashed and was helped across the finish line by his teammate Kobe Goossens.  As they headed for their support personnel, Girmay put his arm on Hugo Page's shoulder to thank him for waiting.  He needed to cross the line to remain in the Tour and in the Maillot Vert.  Fortunately, x-rays and a medical exam proved he had no broken bones or serious injuries.  He plans to start Stage 17 to defend his lead in the sprinter's competition.  He will be hoping to add points on the remaining hard climbing stages counting on his main rival to not be able to hang with the peloton before it gets to the intermediate sprints.  Even Jasper Philipsen said it would be sad for him to take the jersey "this way"

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. 

"Finishing with His Teammates TdF24-100" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: Total Fatigue

One has to feel for Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility).  He had already crashed and was just missed by a teammate in a sharp corner.  As he went to get onto his spare bike, he overshot and went back down onto the roadway.  He was narrowly missed by the passing team cars.  Then, as the car paced him back towards the peloton, it missed the turn off of the roundabout and almost hit the other Uno-X team car.  He did managed to regain the peloton not long after.  Despite have just had a rest day, fatigue was clearly setting into both the riders and the support personnel of all of the teams.  I'm wearing down doing all of these paintings and I'm not out riding hundreds of kilometers throughout Italy and 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.  

"Total Fatigue TdF24-97" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: Off on His Own

Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) took advantage of the general regrouping after the intermediate sprint.  After the lead-out trains and sprinters sit up waiting for the peloton to catch back up, there is a chance for some opportunist to slip away.  I'm sure he wanted some others to join him in the effort, but no one got across the gap.  He did have a teammate try, but the teams of the sprinters weren't about to let a pair of teammates try and steal their thunder.  So, he was stuck out there on his own.  He did build up just shy of three minutes, before the peloton set about reeling him back in once they got to twenty kilometers to go.  

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. 

"Off on His Own TdF24-96" (Original art by Greig Leach)