Tour '26, Stage 2: A Costal Break

The first road stage of the Tour also meant it was time for the first breakaway of the 113th Tour de France.  This trio of Frank Van Den Broek (Picnic-PostNL), Felix Englehardt (Jayco-Alula) and Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros) got away after about six kilometers as they left Tarragone.  I thought I'd try and make a joke about the breakaway riding along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea with the title.  I'm not sure I succeed.  It was a great day out for Molenaar.  By being in the break, he won the intermediate sprint and claimed the next Maillot a Pois of best climber in the Tour.  Poor Ban Den Broek cramped as he tried to sprint for those mountain points and quickly found himself back in the peloton after seventy kilometers off the front.  The other two weren't caught by the peloton for an additional sixty kilometers.  I don't know which of the two will be awarded the most combative rider prize for the stage.  Look for one of them to have a red bib number tomorrow.

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.

Purchase this painting here: "A Costal Break TdF26-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

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Tour '24, Final Stage: A Beautiful Ride

I'm a big fan of titles that have more than one meaning.  This is just such a title.  The roads up above Nice just strike me as a beautiful place to ride a bike.  I imagine they are usually choked with holiday traffic most of the year, but then I've never been all that bothered by traffic.  (to my own down fall on ten different occasions)  And of course, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has had a beautiful ride around France and parts of Italy.  And finally, he is on one beautiful individual time trial, setting new best times all along the route into Nice. 

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.  

"A Beautiful Ride TdF24-139" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Milano Sanremo: A Beautiful Ride

Watching today's running of Milano-Sanremo, all I could think was just how much I wanted to ride these roads - preferably on closed roads as being "enjoyed" by the break away.  I image that during the summer these roads are packed with tourists, day trippers, and giant tour buses taking in the views just as I would love to.  This break was still holding a good lead with 90 kilometers to race.  The break was comprised of Yevgeniy Gidich, Artyom Zakharov (Astana Qazaqstan), Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizane), Filippo Tagliani, Ricardo Alejandro Zurita (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli), Sameule Rivi, Digo Pablo Sevilla (EOLO-Kometa) and Flippo Conca (Lotto Soudal).  I doubt they had much time to enjoy the scenery despite spending over seven hours racing up the Mediterranean coast on their way towards the French border.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3873548-465-195767/Painting/a-beautiful-ride-ms22-2.html

Milano-San Remo: Up the Final Copa

The early break was still off the front of the peloton, although their numbers had dropped somewhat.  As Marco Coledan (Trek-Segafredo) led Mirco Maestri (Bardiani CSF), Maarten Tjallingii (Lotto Jumbo NL) and Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) up the final of the three Copas that mark the final phase of the race to San Remo, the Copa Berta.  The course along the Mediterranean Sea offer beauty vistas as the road wound around the steep hills that plunged into the beautiful azure sea.

This is a small original watercolor that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, the painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting is available for sale and can be found by following the direct link at the end of this post.

Be sure to check out my newest cycling book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is available through your favorite book seller worldwide or at my publishers website, www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2747779-292-195767/Painting.html#.Vu9x4PkrLIU

Milano Sanremo: Getting Serious

Daniel Oss (BMC) put in the first serious attack on the peloton.  He was quickly joined by the hot Geraint Thomas (Team Sky).  Thomas has been having a brilliant early season, so the peloton behind had to take this attack seriously.  Milano Sanremo must be one of the most scenic races as it bobs in and out along the Mediterranean coast offering brilliant vistas.  Vistas that the men in spandex don't have the time to take in.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  The painting is only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about bike racing this way with the accompanying artwork please check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually every online bookseller.  So google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2531056---195767/Painting.html#.VRDTLfnF-xU

Tour Stage Four: Flying Along the Coast

Alberto Contrador and Saxo Tinkoff really tore up the roads of Nice in search of the stage victory, coming up about 5 seconds short.  However, I have got to wonder if like Team Sky, they did not want to have the Malliot Jaune just yet, there is still a lot of racing to come.  Nice showed just how beautiful the Mediterranean Coast and the south of France can be, even if the riders had no time to take a look.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2175207---186227/Painting.html#.Udt998_D_IU