Tour '24, Stage 15: Neutral Service

When a rider doesn't have access to his team car, he can get help from neutral service.  Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty) had the misfortune to have a flat tire while helping to get the early breakaway started.  His team car had not yet got through the peloton, so it was the Shimano neutral service mechanic who gave him a rear wheel and installed it too.  Despite it being a good fast change, it meant that the South African's time in the break was over.  He dropped back to the peloton.  He then looked for his team car and got a wheel that fit his specks.  For some reason, he later had another bike change which spelled the end of his day.  He finished the day 28th a just over twenty-two minutes behind the stage winner.  Had he not had these misfortunes he might have had a chance at the stage win.  He is a good climber.

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.

"Neutral Service TdF24-85" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: Strong Climbers

In the valley between the Col du Tourmalet and the Hourquette d'Ancizan this five-man group came together off the front of the remnants of the breakaway.  As they started up the climb it was Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) leading them through the switch backs.  Healy had an incredible group of strong climbers on his wheel.  Right behind him is Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers), followed in turn by Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ).  This may well be the break that stays to the finale on the top of the Pla d'Adet.  That is IF the top of the general classification men don't decide to attack each other.  All of the top three would very much like to have the ten bonus seconds that come with winning 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.

"Strong Climbers TdF24-80" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 18: Climbing Virtually & Literally

The title is a bit of a play on the difference of literally and figuratively, something that bugs me when people say literally when they are actually using a metaphor, or a figure of speech.  I digress.  Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) while climbing the Col de Spandelles was climbing the virtual standings of the general classification during the stage.  Meaning if the race were to be stopped now, he would have moved up to third overall.  It has happened in the Tour, two years ago and it pulled the Maillot Jaune off of Julian Alaphilippe.  Meintjes was joined in the effort by Chris Hamilton (DSM) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain-Victorious).  I'm not sure if Sanchez was going forward with them, or he was dropping back from the lead group and was trying to get on Hamilton's wheel.  This is the first time the Tour has used the climb of the Col de Spandelles and it would have its say on the Tour (more later).

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-2022/3895192-114-294403/Painting/climbing-virtually-literally-tdf22-115.html

Tour '22, Stage 12: Not Gone, Yet

With just under ten kilometers left to climb of the fabled Alpe d'Huez Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) was pushing his advantage over the remnants of the break.  He looked back to see his erstwhile fellow attacker, Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) was dropping off the Brit's pace.  With the group of the Maillot Jaune marking each other it look like this may well be the move that would win the day.  Remember he flew down the Galibier like a ski racer to get into this move.  Apparently, he can go up just as well as he goes down.

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. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893851-73-294403/Painting/not-gone-yet-tdf22-73.html

Tour '22, Stage 7: Just That Hard!

Normally, I don't paint after the stage winner as crossed the line, but when I saw Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux) running with his bike towards the finish I just had to paint it.  It reminded my of Chris Froome running on Alp d'Huez without his bike several Tours ago.  I don't know why he was off his bike, but this whole image sums up just how hard the final kilometer of La Super Planches des Belles Filles was.  Ahead of Meintjes the exhaustion of everyone was plain to see.  Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) looked spent with his jersey wide open as he finished 13th on the stage.  Behind him wearing the Maillot Blanc on loan from the race leader was Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) just barely moving with his head hung low.  Equally sagging his body over the handlebars was Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) looking not as sharp as he had up until the final meters of the stage.  The Colombian still sits in 11th on GC but only just over two minutes back.  While gaps opened today, the top 15 riders are still within three minutes of each other.

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. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892728-40-294403/Painting/just-how-hard-tdf22-40.html

Tour, Stage 8: All After One

Chris Froome (Sky) as oft been accused of being too predictable, his team of being to robotic, today however he surprised them all.  His ploy of attacking the summit on the penultimate climb seems now to have set the stage for his attack at the summit of the Col de Peyresourde.  As before he jumped out to claim the maximum points, but this time continue a blistering attack over the top and on down the other side.  It took a few moments for the others to realize what Froome had done.  Now the chase was on!  Riding on the back of the chasing group was the White Jersey of best young rider, Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  Yates was the rider who had the final kilometer inflatable fall on him, leaving him needing stitches on his chin.  He at least had the consolation price of the Maillot Blanc.  Just ahead was one of his rivals for his jersey, Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida).  Others on the back of this group trying to catch the fleeing Brit, were Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2821651-55-224974/PaintingAll%20After%20One%20TdF55-Greig-Leach.html#.V4HxlLgrLIU

Tour de France, Final Stage: Opening Up the Race

Either the toughness of the Tour up to today, or the rain soaked cobbles of the Champs Elysees had kept the race together and rather sedate.  Finally, it was Andriy Grivko (Astana) who opened up the first attack.  He was quickly joined by the youngest man still in the race, Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka).  The pair got the peloton to start racing, unfortunately, that meant that the rest of the race were quickly on to the back wheels of the pair.

This is an original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Be aware, since this is an original work of art, once it has sold, it is gone.  I would recommend not delaying.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2586323-146-210122/Painting.html#.VbW9PPlViko

Tour de France Stage 3: Wide Open Roads

The Tour left the roads of the Netherlands crossing onto the flat wide open roads of Belgium.  The early breakaway seems to have found the only stretch of the entire stage that wasn't chocked full of cycling crazed Belgians.  Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) who had managed to get into the break yesterday, was joined by Bryan Naulleau (Europcar), Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka) and Martin Elimger (IAM Cycling).  Elimger is no stranger to the heart break of a Tour de France break away.  He and a fellow escapee where caught just 50 meters from the line as the peloton swooped into Nimes in the 2014 Tour de France.  The open roads can often lead to strong cross roads so you can be sure that the peloton behind was keeping a watchful eye on wind speed and direction.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, a family run art supply company with incredible products for all sorts of artistic endeavors.  Their website is www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But don't delay, since it is an original there is only one of these paintings available and you wouldn't want to miss your opportunity to have a piece of art from the 102nd Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2577150---210122/Painting.html#.VZtsrPlViko