Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 2: Going It Alone

With no intermediate sprints nor queen of the mountain points out on course, there wasn't much reason to be off the front in today's short road stage.  Well, there is that most combative rider award, and since Audrey de Keersmaeker (Lotto Dstny) was the only one to escape the peloton at all, it is clearly going to be hers for Stage 2.  She built up almost twenty seconds on those behind but with another thirty-three kilometers left to race they have already pulled her back to fourteen seconds advantage.  With a mass sprint on offer, she isn't going to be off the front for too much longer.

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.

"Going It Alone TdFF24-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Another First

With a brilliantly timed sprint, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) gets his first Tour de France stage win of his career.  He also gets the first win in this Tour for his team.  He is sixth guy to win his first ever Tour stage.  Plus, his team is one of a dozen teams to have won at least one stage this year. Two of those teams have never won a stage in the Tour de France before.  It was Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) getting the better of Michal Kwiatowski (Ineos-Grenadiers).  While Kwiato had done the lion share of the work to make this a three-man sprint, he may have spent too much energy to have much of a sprint in Barcelonnette.  I am sure he was disappointed for both himself and his team.  Still, there are three more stages for Ineos-Grenadiers and the other nine teams to try to get onto the record board.

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. 

"Another First TdF24-116" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Bowing to the Devil

The ever-popular Didi Stenft (the Devil) was along the side of the road to cheer on each group of the race as they rode pass.  I'm not sure why he had a small chalkboard with 31 written on it.  I can only assume it was for how many Tours he has cheered with his presence.  It seemed that Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) bowed his head as he went by.  The trio of escapees was still being led by the former World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) followed by the French Tour neophyte Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) and of course Campenaerts.  Each man was looking for the stage win, as were there teams.  Only Vercher's TotalEnergies had managed to have a team member win a 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.  

"Bowing to the Devil TdF24-115" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Three Free to Fly

Both Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) were finally able to bridge up to Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Kwiatkowski).  Kwiato was hoping he could break the stage win dry spell in this Tour for his team.  The legacy of Ineos-Grenadiers is vast and very successful with about a decade of Tour Yellow Jersey with three different men.  Here we are almost to the end of stage 18 and they have yet to win a stage.  Arguably the strongest of the three, it seems this will be the chance to break the drought.  With a mere twenty-five kilometers to race, the trio had twenty seconds on the five-man chasing group, another minute and twenty seconds to the main chasers, and a whopping thirteen minutes back to the peloton containing all of the leaders' jerseys.

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.

"Three Free to Fly TdF24-113" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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 16: All About Points

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) finally got the better of all of the sprinters, too bad it was for the intermediate sprint and not the finale.  However, he and the guys that finished second and fifth, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) are virtually tied behind the two leaders in the competiton for the Maillot Vert of best sprinter in this Tour.  Finishing second in this sprint in Les Matellettes was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who closed in on the lead of Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) who took fourth.  I doubt they went full gas since the real points are awarded at the finish line in another 96 kilometers 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"All About Points TdF24-95" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: Into the Barriers

One of the lead-out men for Lotto-Dstny leaned heavily into Amaury Capriot (Arkea-B&B Hotels) as he went by.  When he came off of his shoulder Capriot over compensated and lost his balance.  As he lost control, he took out Cees Pol (Astana-Qazaqstan) who went head over heels and blocked the way for the Lotto-Dstny sprinter, Arnaud De Lie.  A bit ironic since the crash was caused trying to move him towards the front for the sprint.  I don't normally paint crashes, I don't want to glorify the gory of the sport, but this being the thirteenth stage, it seemed appropriate.  Many, including, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) were able to avoid the flying bikes and bodies, but any that were behind the pile-up saw any chance of winning the stage go up the road.  The five-kilometer rule will mean that these guys will all get the same time as the stage winner should they be able to get up and walk or ride across the finish line.  Oddly, if they walk to the line, they must have their bike with them.

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.

"Into the Barriers TdF24-75" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: You Gonna' Help?

Japser Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) seemed to be getting a bit frustrated with Brent Van Moer (Lotto-Dstny).  Stuyven had come close to winning stage 9 on the gravel roads but was caught within sight of the flame rounge.  Today he was trying to get the jump on the sprinters' teams with just fourteen kilometers left in the stage.  Lidl-Trek has lost their sprinter due to a crash in a mass sprint, so it is left to one of the team members to go in a break away for them to get the coveted stage win in the Tour.  Conversely, Van Moer is trying to be a dead weight to Stuyven's attack to ensure that his sprinter, Arnaud De Lie, will be able to contest for stage honors today.  As he would say to Stuyven, "It is just race tactics, 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.

"You Gonna' Help? TdF24-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 10: Are We Doing This?

It looked like this trio were joking about pretending that they were going to attack the slow-moving peloton.  The day started without a breakaway on a clear flat sprint stage and no one seemed eager to take on the sprinters' teams in a vain effort to ride off the front.  There was a relaxed and playful mood most of the day that generated this feint attack.  However, when Kobe Goossens (Intermache-Wanty) along with the teammates Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Brent Van Moer realized they had a gap, they decided they might as well see just how much rope the peloton would give them.  You might notice that one of the Lidl-Trek men is on his radio asking the team car what they should do about this move.  With 140 kilometers to go, this was most likely the joke that it started out to be.

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. 

"Are We Doing This? TdF24-52" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 8: Taking Another Stage

It looked like the sprint was going to go to Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was finally going to get his first stage win, but he rubbed shoulders with Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) as they neared the line.  The two held off a fast-closing Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny), but he tried to go between the two when there just wasn't enough room.  So it was that Girmay got his second stage win in this Tour, and in his Tour career.  Philipsen is becoming the forever second best (if he isn't relegated).  De Lie had the legs to win but didn't get himself into the right position to bring the win home.  Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) held onto his position in the previous painting coming in fourth on the stage.  As of this posting, I don't think anyone saw any problems with the sprint between the top three 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.

"Taking Another Stage TdF24-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 3: The First Mass Sprint

The first stage win for Biniam Girmay!  The first stage win for Intermache-Wanty! And the first stage win by a rider from Eritrea!  Oh, and it was the first mass sprint of the 111th Tour de France, too.  Girmay came up the barriers at an incredible speed to get around the fading Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Neither Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) nor Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) could match the speed of the Eritrean but they did take second and third on the stage respectively.  Sadly, we didn't get to see Mark Cavendish factor in the first sprint stage of the Tour, nor Jasper Philipsen for that matter either.  Still, there are another five chances for the magical number 35.

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 First Mass Sprint TdF24-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche 24: Looking for Help

Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) was the only rider in the peloton who was able to jump clear when Pogacar went on the Monte Santa Maria.  However, he wasn’t able to go with the Slovenian Champion.  With thirty kilometers to race he was almost three and a half minutes behind the leader and a half of a minute ahead of the peloton.  He soon started looking back in hopes that another rider or three would bridge up to him.  It was both his and their only hope in reeling the lone escapee back.  But realistically, the race was now for the remaining two steps of the peloton.  The winner of the 2024 edition of Strade Bianche was already three minutes up the road, and his lead is still growing!

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/Spring-Classics-/4002736-557-195767/Painting/looking-for-help-sb24-10.html

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Still Working Together

The late break of the day was a dream come true for Visma-Lease a Bike.  They had managed to get three of there guys into the break.  While Christophe Laporte was one the front driving the pace of the group of escapees, Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert were able to conserve their energy at the back.  It was a nightmare for the other three in the group.  Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) and Arnuad De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) were going to be forced to chase each of the moves one of the Visma guys made or conversely, should any one of them try an attack one of the Visma guys can chase while the others continue to save themselves for the finale.  All the while, these six were continuing to build a gap on the peloton that was now over a minute behind.

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/Spring-Classics-/4001329-549-195767/Painting/still-working-together.-ohn23-6.html

Tour de Fance 23, Stage 21: Back Up to the l'Arc Triomphe

With the Maillot Blanc back in the peloton where he belongs, it was a great time for a counter move.  And Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), joined by Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) and Frederik Fison (Lotto-Dstny) did just that with just two laps left to race.  They quickly opened up a gap since they were not at threat to anyone except those that wanted to sprint for victory on the Champs Elysees.  This was the second time Fison had tried to flee the peloton.  Most likely, this attempt will not be anymore successful than the previous.  Still if you don't try you definitely won't succeed.

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-2023/3967240-148-297438/Painting/back-up-to-the-larc-triomphe-tdf23-143.html

 

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 19: Escaping Again

Yesterday and again on two occasions today, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) has successfully attacked the peloton.  This time he was able to simple ride away from everyone.  Only Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) could dig deep enough to get onto the Belgium's wheel.  Shortly after I painted this, Clarke just sat up, apparently cramping, and went straight out the back of the chasers.  A few minutes later, it was Campenaerts turn to completely implode.  With riders strewn all across the course, it was hard for team cars to get up and be able to provide food and drink to their men.  I'm not saying that is why their escape didn't work to the line, but it may have played a part in their being caught and dropped.

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-2023/3966637-128-297438/Painting/escaping-again-tdf23-128.html 

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 19: Still More to Say

Much was made of the words had between Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny) both on air and on line yesterday.  I had thought that Philipsen was unhappy with some perceived dangerous passing by Eenkhoorn, but in post race interviews Philipsen said he was trying to limit the number of guys in the break away.  So in other words he was trying to bully Eenkhoorn into doing what HE wanted.  And perhaps the dangerous pass was caused by his Alpecin-Deceuninck trying to prevent Eenkhoorn from trying to bridge up to the break away.  He got there anyway and was a major factor in the Green Jersey not being able to get his fifth stage win in this Tour.

So was this conversation had while behind Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) more of the same, or a mending of the rift between themselves and their teams.  After I painted this, Eenkhoorn looked back, laughed and slid out of camera.

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-2023/3966632-126-297438/Painting/still-more-to-say-tdf23-126.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 18: From Start to Finish!

Against all odds, and literally everyone's predictions, three of the four from the early break (two who went from start to finish) actually vied for stage honors.  With the fast closing sprinter led peloton almost on their wheels, Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) gave that much looked for stage win to his team.  Bounding his bars in frustration was he crossed the line in second was Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny).  He was the one who Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was cross with some time ago.  With Philipsen missing the catch and finishing fourth, I guess Eenkhoorn was able to thumb his nose at the Green Jersey.  It was the other guy who had gone from the beginning of the stage, Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) who claimed the last step of the podium.  Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) finished out the top five with many of the other expected contenders for stage honors quite a bit further back.

I guess tomorrow the sprinters will have to be even more vigilant if they want a stage win before the Champs Elysees on the final day of the Men's Tour de France.

It is always a treat to see the break away succeed.  But then I am a big fan of the underdog.

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-2023/3966497-124-297438/Painting/from-start-to-finish-tdf23-124.html

This painting has sold, but there are digital prints available.

Tour de France 23, Stage 18: In the Shadows

Despite the admonishment from the Maillot Vert and with the help of his teammate Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) Pascal Eenkhoorn was able to join the front trio who got away from the very start of the stage.  Along with Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) the quartet never got more than a minute on the peloton behind.  With just twelve kilometers to race to the line in Bourg en Bresse and a mere thirty eight second lead, they must have felt that they could see if not feel the shadow of the peloton.  Yet they were all willing to keep working together.  And the others didn't seem to worried about there being two guys on the same team.  It was highly unlikely that any of them would hold off the hungry sprinters, but at least they were all willing to keep working in hope the peloton would get it wrong.

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-2023/3966490-123-297438/Painting/in-the-shadows-tdf23-123.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 18: Dressing Down

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) wasn't real happy with Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny).  Eenkhoorn had just made a rather dangerous pass going off the road and just missing a van parked right at the edge of the road.  When he came back onto the road surface he just about took out one of Philipsen's teammates.  Given that they were on the front of the peloton, he could have taken out half of the Tour de France.  I suspect that the Maillot Vert felt that he needed to teach the Tour neophyte a little Tour de France etiquette.  It wasn't like this was the only place the pass could have been made, nor did Eenkhoorn continue to make a move off of the front of the group.  However, after a bit of sulking, he did jump clear to join his teammate up the road.  Another move that left me and the commentators mystified.

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-2023/3966486-122-297438/Painting/dressing-down-tdf23-122.html