Tour, Stage 20: All He Has

The bronze medalist from the UCI Road World Championships in the Elite Men's Time Trial did not have the ride he hoped today.  Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL Junbo) went out hard in the opening kilometers of the individual time trial, but faded as he climbed towards the second time check of the day.  The man just behind him in the GC was the man who took silver in the Championships almost a year ago, Chris Froome (Sky).  Roglic had climbed into third overall with a brilliant descent yesterday, but he must have left too much of himself on the road then, to come out fighting today.  He slipped back into fourth for the ride into Paris.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3195943-111-251072/PaintingAll-He-Has--T18-110.html

Tour, Stage 19: Having His Day

Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL Jumbo) was able to carry his speed all of the way to the line.  And his speed was a bit faster than those he started down the Col d'Aubisque with.  Roglic came to the line in Laruns eight seconds ahead of the chasers.  With his ten second time bonus he moves onto the third step of the podium ahead of the crucial time trial tomorrow.  Roglic is very strong in the race of truth, have beaten Chris Froome (Sky) and finished second to Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) in the World Championships in Bregen just last fall.  While Geraint Thomas (Sky) is also strong in the individual time trial discipline, it will be exciting to watch the top three in the world (who hold second through fourth on GC) battle it out for stage honors (and GC placement) on the penultimate stage of the Tour.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3195579-107-251072/PaintingHaving-His-Day--T18-106.html

Tour, Stage 19: Off the Final Mountain

The very last chance to gain time on one's rivals was on the final descent of the Tour, the Col d'Aubisque.  Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL Jumbo) used the fearlessness that he developed when he was an alpine ski jumper to fly down the back side of the mountain.  Roglic knew that Chris Froome ahd been dropped on the final kilometer of the climb, so if he could just keep the Brit from catching back on, he could take over third in the general classification.  Behind the Slovenian, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) was using the same circumstances to improve his position ahead of the time trial tomorrow.  Unfortunately for Dumoulin, the Maillot Jaune of Geraint Thomas (Sky) was right on his wheel.  It certainly look like Thomas was going to give up any time, let alone two minutes to the Dutchman.  Bringing up the visual tail of the group (there are more just out of sight) is the aggressor of the stage, Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale).

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3195568-106-251072/PaintingOff-the-Final-Mountain--T18-105.html

Tour, Stage 17: Is There Time to Be Had?

With Chris Froome (Sky) cracking on the final meters of the climb, it was Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) who went on the attack.  His move was quickly covered by the Maillot Jaune of Geraint Thomas (Sky) and then joined by the Lotto NL Jumbo duo of Steven Kruijswijk and Primoz Roglic.  All were hoping to move up with the collapse of Froome.  All that is except Thomas.  He was just making sure he kept his race lead, and apparently now the leadership of Team Sky.  Over the shoulders of this group is nothing but mist and clouds as they top the Col du Portet.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3193972-94-251072/PaintingIs-They-Time-to-Be-Had?--T18-93.html

Tour, Stage 16: Leaving Them Behind

On the final climb of the day, the Col du Portillon, Robert Gesnik (Lotto NL Jumbo) jumped free of the dwindling break away.  With a sharp drop down to the finish town of Bagneres de Luchon it was a strong probablility that whomever went over the top first would take the stage win.  Gesnik's attack was covered by Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) as the pair charged up the final five kilometers to the summit.  Behind, you can just catch sight of Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott) trying to bridge across to the leaders.  Spoiler alert, he did.  And was in the lead on the descent until he slid out in a wet corner.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3193211-86-251072/PaintingLeaving-Them-Behind--T18-85.html

Tour, Stage 12: What Sky Does

Team Sky is a very effective team.  They have the budget and the riders to simply grind everyone else into dust.  At the base of the Alpe d'Huez they still had four guys on the front.  Michal Kwiatkowski was just about done doing what he could do, but that left Egan Bernal to take up the pace making.  Still sitting in the wings were Geraint Thomas, in the Maillot Jaune, and Chris Froome the defending Tour champion.  On their wheel was Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL Jumbo) happy that he has a man up the road, thus taking the pressure off of him to attack the Sky train.  It does leave the other teams and riders trying to figure out just what they can do to take the stage and/or the Tour.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190084-66-251072/PaintingWhat-Sky-Does--T18-65.html

Tour, Stage 12: Good Legs

In interviews the racers talk about their legs as if they were something independent of themselves.  Riders will say, "if the legs are good" or "I just didn't have the legs today."  It always strikes me as a little odd.  That being said, Steven Kruijswijk (Lotto NL Jumbo) must have been having great legs at the base of the Col de la Croix Fer.  He had been out in the early break all day, and when he left the others he was riding into the virtual yellow jersey.  Kruijswijk started the day in sixth place just over three minutes off of the lead of Geraint Thomas (Sky).  He hoped that the peloton would be more concerned with each other to bother trying to chase him down.  I am sure his primary goal was the stage, but a Maillot Jaune would be a very welcome extra benefit.  Spoiler Alert!  He was chased down with just a few kilometers to the end atop Alpe d'Huez.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190062-65-251072/PaintingGood-Legs--T18-64.html

Tour, Stage 8: Adding Up

Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL Jumbo) has had to stage wins in as many stages.  The Dutchman has had two amusing victory salutes as well.  The first win he came across the line with his index finger to his lips, in affect quieting all of those who had said he didn't have the legs to win at the Tour.  Today he held on finger aloft on one hand and then counted to two on the other, saying I just went two for two.  Behind Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) got swamped by Groenewegen to take second.  After literally butting heads with Greipel, Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) bounds his bars as he takes third on the day.  It will remain to be seen if the referees take any action against either sprinter.  The actions were the same as the events that lead to Sagan being thrown out of the 2017 Tour with the important exception that no one crashed in the sprint today.  Ever consistent Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) tooked fourth on the day.  He may a rare mistake of opening up his sprint just a bit too early to hold of the other three sprinters.  The Frenchman hoping to wave the flag of victory on Bastille day, Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) finished sixth on the day.

I did just learn that Gaviria was relegated on the stage for his agression in trying to move Greipel out of his way, as was Greipel for squeezing the Colombian against the barrier.  The resulting placing moved Sagan up to second on the stage and Kristoff into third.  With Gaviria and Greipel earning no sprinter's points on the day, Sagan's lead may already be unsurmountable in the race for the Maillot Vert (assuming he finishes the Tour).

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187350-40-251072/PaintingAdding-Up.html

Tour, Stage 8: Rolling Along

Another flat stage and another rather relaxed peloton.  Again the group was falling behind the slowest predicted finishing time.  Perhaps all were saving themselves for the mini "Hell of the North" tomorrow.  Each of the sprinter's teams put a rider on the front to keep the two man break in check.  While they had no real intention of catching them too soon, neither did they want to let them get too far up the road.

This is the painting from this stage that you can watch come into existance on my YouTube channel.  Please check out the channel and give it a subscripition (no cost).  I will be talking about the art of the process and what is happening in the Tour up until this moment of the painting.  You can also see the video right 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187339-37-251072/PaintingRolling-Along--T18-37.html

Tour, Stage 7: Someone New

Yes, I realize that yesterday's stage was one by someone other than Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), but that was a steep uphill finish.  Today, it was a pure sprinter's stage with a clean approach to the line.  Today, it was Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL Jumbo) who got the better of the Colombian sprinter.  However, Graviria took second on the stage.  Don't worry, Sagan was glued to the Quick Step rider's wheel for third.  Taking fourth was the Frenchman, Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ).  Perhaps tomorrow, it will be Demare that claims a stage on Bastille Day for France.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187224-36-251072/PaintingSomeone-New--T18-36.html

Tour, Stage 7: A Pilgrimage of Speed

I'm still waiting for someone to invent a pen with spell check.  Although I guess it would be totally confused with all of the lines that make up the pen and ink part of this painting.  The title comes from those who make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Chartres to walk the labyrinth and view the amazing stained glass and sculpture throughout this ancient spiritual mecca.  Today it was a desire for speed that was on the minds of the various lead out men for the sprinters' of the Tour.  It is the work horses of Cofidis, Lotto NL Jumbo, Trek-Segafredo and Groupama-FDJ that are being cheered on by the fans at the sides of the roads in this beautiful town.  I need to get back here myself.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187220-35-251072/PaintingA-Pilgrimage-of-Speed--T18-35.html

Tour, Stage 4: A Second Kick

It was Fernando Gaviria's (Quick Step) second kick that got him his second stage victory.  However, it was Peter Sagan's second kick that kept him in the Maillot Vert, by virtue of his second place finish.  Sagan just managed to get round Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) who finished the day in third.  Greipel seemed to have the sprint in hand until the two marquee sprinters kicked into turbo.  Still managing to be up amongst it was Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL Jumbo).  Today's stage was the first time the Maillot Jaune stayed put, remaining on the shoulders of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).  In fact all of the leader's jerseys stayed on the shoulders of those who started in them back in La Baule.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3185700-20-251072/PaintingA-Second-Kick--T18-20.html