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 '22, Stage 8: Not Much Chance

Well, yes, a break away has made it all of the way to the end of a stage to sprint for stage honors, but it is rare.  The peloton hasn't let these three build up much of a lead.  So it is unlikely that Mattia Cattaneo (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) nor Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal) would manage to outwit the peloton.  Still they have no chance of winning the day if they don't try to go in the break, the peloton is just too strong and too deep with talent for them to have a chance in sprinting up the final climb.

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-2022/3892801-42-294403/Painting/not-much-chance-tdf22-42.html

TDF, Stage 14: Chasing One Man

This trio (well actually it is a quartet, but you can't see Patrick Konrad - Bora-Hansgrohe) was climbing in hopes of catching the one guy up the road.  Mattia Cattaneo (Deceuninck-Quick Step) was leading Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) and Michael Woods (Israel Start Up Nation), but I am sure Woods will be the one to go over the top first of this group.  He was.  He only got one point for the effort, but in the competiton for the Maillot a Pois,every points count.  Behind them the Basque flag flies as they near the Spanish and Andoran borders.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.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/2021-Tour-de-France/3823012-87-291436/Painting/chasing-one-man-tdf21-86.html

Giro, Stage 18: Sneak Peak

This duo from the original break of twelve proved to be the strongest on the ascent of the Prato Nevoso.  Maximilian Schachman (Quick Step) is looking back to see where the other two had gone, while Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli) was looking at Schachmann.  It looks to me like Cattaneo is about to take advantage of Schachmann's blind side to go on an attack.  Ultimately, it was Schachmann who took stage honors on the summit adding to Quicksteps impressive total of stage wins in the Giro (5) and this season (36).  Cattaneo did finish second.  All of the break ended the day well ahead of the GC contenders who finished their day eleven minutes after Schachmann.  More about that in the next post.

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/101st-Giro-dItalia/3167752-75-249297/PaintingSneak-Peak--G18-80.html

Giro, Stage 18: Skirmishes

So the question is... "When will they develop a pen that has spell check and will check your grammar as well?"  The word I was going for was "skrimishes" not "scrimmages".   The two are totally different kinds of confrontations.  For the strong men of the formally large break away, the ascent of the Prato Nevoso was a war of attrition.  Each of this four man group put in an attack on the others.  And several found themselves dangling off the back of the quartet as well.  Reuben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy) is just checking the eyes of Christoph Pfingsten (Bora-Hansgrohe) before having another dig.  Behind them Maximilian Schachmann (Quick Step) and Mattia Cataneo (Androni Giocattoli) wait to see what they will be able to do in response.

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/101st-Giro-dItalia/3167749-74-249297/PaintingScrimmages--G18-79.html

Giro, Stage 16: "Vie, Vie, Vie!"

While most riders have a radio earpiece that connects them directly with their Director Sportif in the following vechiles, sometimes it is just too much fun to yell out the window.  Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli) had his mouth wide open trying to draw in enough air as his director yelled encouragement (or comdemnation) from the car behind.  Cattaneo finished the day in 16th place on the stage, but he was much higher on the stage when he was urged across the line by his teamcar.

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/101st-Giro-dItalia/3166938-61-249297/Painting