Tour '25, Stage 21: Leading on the Champs Elysees

I have painted Magnus Cort (Uno X-Mobility) in previous Tours de France; in fact he owns one of my paintings of him.  All Tour I have been looking for him, and here on the final stage he pops up attacking the peloton on the drop back down from the l'Arc de Triomphe.  Given what is going to happen with the new course for the finale of the Tour, this attempted breakaway will most likely not bear fruit.  At least not the fruit Cort is hoping for.  It did finally enable me to paint this Dane racing in the 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Leading on the Champs Elysees TdF25-141" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

This painting has sold.

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: Coming Across

It was a large group of ten guys that got away from the peloton and went of in search of the six-man breakaway.  As they crested the short steep climb of Witikon, they were a minute behind the break and two minutes ahead of the peloton.  Most were there to help their team leaders later like Jan Tratnik (Slovenia), Laurens De Plus (Belgium), Florian Lipowitz (Germany), and Kevin Vermaerke (USA).  However, it can be argued that Magnus Cort (Demark), Johannes Stamne-Mittlet (Norway), Mattia Cattaneo (Italy), Pavel Sivakov (France), and Jay Vine (Australia) were here for themselves.  If these men managed to join with the leading group, it is highly likely that they will be in with a chance to win a medal today.  They do still have another 117 kilometers to race and some very big names (and teams) are in the peloton 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Coming Across Z24-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: Who's Coming?

Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) looks back over the shoulders of his breakaway companions to see that there is a large group coming after them.  Cort is sporting his new blue mustache that he dyed after reaching 200,000 followers on social media.  A bit unusual for a rest day activity, but one must keep themselves entertained.  Cort had been joined in the break by Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ), Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Bob Jungels (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  They had built up about two minutes before this second group started chasing them.  The group of thirty-some riders had left the now sedate peloton that had all of the top ten of the general classification in its 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Who's Coming? TdF24-104" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: Breaking the Break

Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) looks back to see just who came with him from the larger breakaway group.  He was joined in the breakaway from the breakaway by the two Frenchmen Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) and Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek).  Sandwiched between the French duo is the Dane Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility).  The foursome was frustrated with the size and pace of the group they had just left.  Plus, the peloton was closing in, so if they wanted to stay off the front, this was the only option they had.

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.

"Breaking the Break TdF24-71" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice 23, Stage 4: Saying Goodbye

As the pace heated up on the final climb of the day, La Loge does Gardes, Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) gestured with a little wave as he pulled out of the line.  His wave alerted both Bob Jungels (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Lucas Hamilton (Jayco-Alula) that he was about to swerve towards the other side of the road.  But it does seem he is also waving good-bye to the Maillot Jaune as well.  Cort had sprinted to the line in the team time trial to take the leader’s jersey, but in the pre-race interview, he had little confidence he would be able to hold it on the final climb to the finish of the stage.  With his departure from the peloton, it does mean there will be a new leader of Paris Nice in another five kilometers.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938782-95-272742/Painting/saying-goodbye.-pn23-13.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 2: Wicked Fast

I’ve got to thank Bob Roll for the title of this painting.  He was so impressed with the sprint of Mads Petersen (Trek-Segafredo) that he referred to the Dane as being ‘wicked fast.’  It is normally a Boston area colloquialism, so it was a bit odd coming from the former racer from Colorado.  Pedersen’s stage win and its bonus seconds puts the former world champion into the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  Just out of the frame is Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) finished second, with Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) finishing out the podium and Daniel McLay (Arkea-Samsic) claiming fourth in Fountainbleu.  Tomorrow it will be a team time trial, so it is highly possible that Trek-Segafredo will keep their guy in yellow.  

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938346-87-272742/Painting/wicked-fast.-pn23-5.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: Early Kilometers

Magnus Cort (Denmark) gained international fame with his exploits while the Tour de France was in his home country coming away with the Maillot a Pois as the race went to France.  He then held on to the jersey for eight more days making him a Danish hero.  Every painting I did of him in the Tour sold, one actually going to Magnus himself.  I was so honored.  Naturally, I wanted to paint him again before the season is out, so this was it.  As he said on social media after the race, it wasn't the day he had hoped for.  But it was nice to see him out on the road again.  Hopefully, he will have a better day in the road race on the weekend.

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/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906188-9-295031/Painting/early-kilometers-uci22-9.html

Tour '22, Stage 10: I'm Still Here

With a very well timed bike throw, Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) reminded us all that he is still in the Tour (and still climbing rather well).  It really looked like Nick Schultz (BikeExchange-Jayco) had done enough to out sprint everyone to win Stage 10, but he didn't have the sprinter's bike throw down as well as the former wearer of the Maillot a Pois.  Cort has been riding in obscurity since his brilliant opening stages in his home country of Denmark.  He held onto the King of the Mountains title until the end of stage 8, a stage or two longer than he thought possible.  He did add a point in his total today, but it wasn't enough to unseat the two ahead of him in mountain points.  It is a rare thing to see a photo finish on a mountain top finish, yet here one is.

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-2022/3893279-58-294403/Painting/im-still-here-tdf22-59.html

Tour '22, Stage 5: Working Together

I'm not really sure why Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) went into the break away today, after all there weren't any King of the Mountain points on offer.  It may have just been force of habit.  He has been in the break for every road stage of the Tour thus far.  Today he had five others off the front with him, including his teammate, the American, Neilson Powless.  Having been back to the car for a water bottle, he passed another over to Powless, one of the advantages having a teammate up the road with you.  Just ahead of the EF duo was Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM) and then Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies).  Leading the group but not really visible is Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux).  The sextet build up just shy of seven minutes on the following peloton.  I suppose those behind thought the cobbles would slow them down enough so they could be caught.

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-2022/3892381-22-294403/Painting/working-together-tdf22-22.html

Tour '22, Stage 4: Record Breaking

Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) strengthened his hold on the Maillot a Pois by taking the first five category 4 climbs in the first stage on French soil.  In doing so he set a new record winning the first 11 climbs of a Tour de France.  Neither I nor the TV cycling pundits can conceive of that record ever being broken.  After attempting to take the first climb of the day, Anthony Perez (Cofidis) decided to let Cort have his day.  The pay back was letting Perez take the intermediate sprint, and to go on solo in hopes of winning the Most Combative award for the stage.  With the peloton closing quickly in hopes of setting up a bunch sprint, it was unlikely that either will still be away to take the final climb of the day.

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-2022/3892129-18-294403/Painting/record-breaking-tdf22-18.html

Tour '22, Stage 4: "No You Don't"

Anthony Perez (Cofidis) launched the first attack but he was almost immediately marked by Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost).  As they approached the summit of the first climb of the day, the Cote de Cassel, Perez attack.  Cort got around the Frenchman and then looked back as if to say, "Oh no you don't!"  Cort wasn't letting anyone take his Maillot a Pois if his legs had anything to say about it.  When he went over the climb first he tied a record set back in 1958 of winning the first five climbs of any 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892121-16-294403/Painting/no-you-dont-tdf22-16.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Every Climb in Denmark

No, this is not a victory celebration on a mountain top finish.  Instead it is Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) celebrating being the first over every categorized climb through the Tour's visit to Denmark.  In a pre-race interview he said that he and his father had been planning to do this since 2013.  That is almost as long as I have been painting the Tour (I have been watching much longer than that).  Being the first over the final climb of the day means that he will carry the jersey to French soil.  And more importantly he will almost definitely start the fifth and sixth stages in the Maillot a Pois, as well.

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-2022/3891867-13-294403/Painting/every-climb-in-denmark-tdf22-13.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Looking for More

Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) went out on a solo break today to add points to his tally in the King of the Mountains Competition.  While he may have wanted some company in the effort, at least this way he didn't have to sprint it out for the single point atop the Category 4 climbs out on course today.  He had already clinched the first Maillot a Pois and was looking to add more points as he approached the second climb of the day.  Should he claim the final climb he will most likely hold the jersey through at least the first two stages on French roads.  Not bad for the countryman of most of the fans along the roadside today.

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-2022/3891857-11-294403/Painting/looking-for-more-tdf22-11.html

Tour '22, Stage 2: A Jersey at the Top

Today was the first road stage of the Tour, and the first day where King of the Mountain points were available out on course.  Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) and Sven Erik Bystrom (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux) had dropped their two break away companions on the first climb.  Cort had taken the first sprint at the top of Cote d'Ashnaes Indelukke.  If he out sprints Bystrom at the top of this climb of the Cote d'Hove Straede, he will take the lead in the KOM competition.  Spoiler, he make it to the top first (and on the final climb of the day as well), making him the first wearer of the Maillot a Pois.  And the first Dane to wear a leader's jersey as the Tour races through Denmark.  Bystrom did come away with the most combative award for his efforts.

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-2022/3891717-6-294403/Painting/a-jersey-at-the-top-tdf22-6.html

Flanders 2021: Is this a Move?

It may have been very early for it but this sure looked like a move to take the win, regardless that there were another 175 kilometers to race.  It was Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) riding off the front of the peloton on the cobbled climb of the Moskesstraat.  The fan holding up the sign with his name on it must have felt as though he was the one to inspire the move.  Benoit Cosnefroy (France) and Magnus Cort (Denmark) quickly jumped on to the wheel of the local rider.  The three build up a nice lead that it took the peloton 40 kilometers to pull back in. 

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838924-28-292177/Painting/is-this-a-move-uci21-28.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: One Long, Cold Wet Line

As I have said already, it was not a pleasent day to be out on the roads of Harrogate today.  The peloton looked rather sodden as they rode through the finish line on the first of nine laps through the city.  They had pulled back the earlier break away, there were just too many guys who could take the race to allowed them their lead.  As they splashed past the crowds, it was the French team being lead by Remy Cavagna and Anthony Roux, with Magnus Cort and Kasper Asgreen (Denmark) helping to set a tough pace on the front of the strung out peloton.

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3400607-45-266225/One%20Long,%20Cold,%20Wet%20Line%20%20UCI19-45.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 4: A Touch of Wheels

Bike racing is frequently a constant management of unexpected dangers.  Any second you could find yourself on the ground with seemingly no reason.  As one rider pulled off the side of the road, Magnus Cort (Astana) found himself on the ground from an apparent touch of wheels.  Rob Britton (Rally UHC Cycling) got his bike tangled up in the insuing crash.  The bike closes to him is his, yet yet he is graciously holding Cort's bike as the Dane gets himself sorted.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3332776-73-223355/A%20Touch%20of%20Wheels%20%20ToC19-18.html