Tour Femmes '25, Stage 8: The Mountains Are Waiting

Well, technically, more mountains are waiting for the peloton since they have already been over a category one climb already today.  Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) in her French National Champion's kit is coming back up to her teammates ladened with water bottles from her team car.  Today's stage still includes a climb over the category two climb of the Cote de Saint Georges d'Hurtieres and then the mountain top finish on the haute catagorie climb of the Col de la Madeleine.  With that much still facing these women, it is imperative that they be fueled up for what lays ahead.  

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.

"The Mountains Are Waiting TdFF25-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 6: Not too Far Back

This is the first time I've seen Julie Bego (Cofidis) in her Maillot Blanc that she has held since the very first day of this Tour Femmes.  As this group dropped off of the peloton on the Col du Chansert which might have been a bad sign, but Neinke Vinke (Picnic-PostNL) is her only real competition to keep the title of best young rider.  Beside Le Net is her countrywoman and French National Champion, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez).  The trio is followed by Nadia Gontova (Winspace Orange Seal).  It wasn't long after I painted this that Gontova jumped free from this group and rode back up to the group of the yellow jersey.

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. 

"Not too Far Back TdFF25-32" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '24, Stage 3: Getting Something Started

With 77 kilometers left of the Women's Tour Down Under, Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) decided it was time to enliven the final stage.  Her move was quickly covered by a rider from Canyon/SRAM, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) and someone from UAE Team ADQ.  A few others tacked onto their wheels as they escaped the clutches of the peloton.  Like other escape attempts, this one was chased down.  It was to risky to led Fisher-Black go given that she sits in ninth place at the start 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Getting Something Started TDU25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Who Do We Have Here?

With another 77 kilometers to race, 10 women escape the clutches of the peloton.  As they built up a 21 second advantage, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) dropped back along the line checking out who had managed to join in the effort.  She found Rachel Barbieri (Picnic-PostNL) at the rear.  The Italian was led in turn by Greta Marturano (UAE Team ADQ), Babette van der Wolf (EF Education-Oatley), Kristyna Burlova (Ceratizit) and Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) amongst some others.  The group was hoping to get a head start for the two trips up Willunga Hill that awaits them in the last twenty kilometers of the stage.  Footnote, it didn't work.

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 Do We Have Here? TDU24-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes, Stage 6: Using the Final Climb

Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) had missed the attempt to get away on the rpevious descent so she went on the final climb of the day, the Cote de Boersch.  Her moved was covered again by Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma), but Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) didn't have the legs for this move.  It probably didn't matter much, the peloton had closed to almost twenty seconds.  With ten kilometers left to race, it was looking like even these few remaining members of the break away's day had come to an end.  Just behind Lowden you should be able to make out the blue motorcycle (wait, isn't that a cocktail?) of Shimano Neutral Sevice ready to lend a wheel should it be necessary.

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

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Tour Femmes '22, Stage 6: Making Her Escape

Today was marked by a very large break away containing 14 women.  That size can mean there are som passengers not willing to do the work to help everyone to stay off the front of the stage.  As this leading group neared the top of the hardest climb thus far in the Tour de France Femmes, the Cote de Grednlbuch, Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) went on the attack.  While she was also in search of the Queen of the Mountain points, her move was designed to get rid of the "dead weight" in the break.  Her move was initially marked by Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope), like Kathrin Hammes (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) she dropped away from the attack as they neared the top of the climb.  With this effort and those of the day, she moved herself into second place in the race for the Maillot a Pois.  The next two days will be the chances to rack up big points in that competition.  However, this effort only rid the group of one rider.

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-2022/3896218-175-294403/Painting/making-her-escape-tdff22-34.html