Tour de France, Stage 15: Meanwhile, Victory!

Just like yesterday, the TV broadcast was more interested in the race for the Yellow Jersey behind the stage leaders they almost missed the winner of the stage's victory salute.  Today that went to Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) who one his first Tour stage today while competing in his eleventh Tour.  Chapeau!  He was over two minutes ahead of Wout Van Aert who claimed second and over six minutes ahead of the Maillot Jaune and Maillot Blanc.  

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3965820-100-297438/Painting/meanwhile-victory-tdf23-100.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 15: On the Final Climb

Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) may not have been the strongest descender in the break away, but he was definitely shinning when the road went up for the final ascend of the day.  He had dropped those that he had been with in the previous post and went off in hopes of getting that long sought for stage victory in the Tour de France.  Just ahead of him was one of the many motorcycles that carry the press  still photographers.  Unlike the infamous moment yesterday (I didn't paint the motorcycles impeding Pogacar's attack of Vingegaard), this moto stayed out of the way, nor did they provide a draft for Poels on his ascent up to Saint Gervais les Bains on Mont Blanc.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3965818-98-297438/Painting/on-the-final-climb-tdf23-98.html

Tour, Stage 19: Celebrating the News

The winner of every stage faces a scrum of soigneurs, race personnel, press, interviewers and TV camera.  The scrum goes ballistic when the winner is a Frenchman taking a stage for his country with only three stages left to race.  Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) knew he had delivered the stage for France, but he along with his team personnel and the French press were waiting to see just how far up the General Classification he had managed to get.  Bardet pumped his fist as they all learned that with his bonus seconds for the win, he is now in second place! Although he is over four minutes behind the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome (Sky).  And yes he is pumping his fist in the air, not punching the personnel who is holding his arms wide.  He is keeping a very close eye on Bardet, who he will shortly take to the doping control tent.  Every stage winner is tested to make sure his win was clean.  With one stage where the race will be full on, it is doubtful that Bardet will be able to take over the lead.  But, Froome did crash, it will remain to be seen if there are any linger affects on his form in the final day in the French Alps.  The last day it is considered bad form to attack the jerseys.  It is a day for a promenade, until the sprinters take over racing for a stage victory on the Champs Elysees in the shadow of the l'Arc du Triomphe.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827784-144-224974/PaintingCelebrating%20the%20News%20TdF145-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LSDbgrLIU

Tour, Stage 19: Suffering

This title sums up the nineteenth stage of this Tour.  Many had crashed once the rains came down.  Amongst those to leave some lycra and skin on the alpine roads was the Maillot Jaune of Chris Froome (Sky).  Due to Team Sky's planning for every scenario, Froome was surrounded by his teammates.  One of whom, Geraint Thomas, happens to have a bike that fits Froome rather well.  Certainly much better than the one he got from neutral service on the climb of Mont Ventoux.  With Bardet up the road, everyone was racing hard leaving Froome no chance to trade back to his own steed.  Like sharks, the rest of the peloton was sensing blood in the water, almost literally given how wet the roads were.  For the first time since he pulled on the Maillot Jaune, Froome was losing time to his rivals.  But never one to panic, he reeled his biggest fear, Richie Porte (BMC) back in, but most of the others were able to pull back some time.  Froome was tended to by his faithful teammate, Wouter Poels the whole way up the climb.  As the pair crossed the line, Froome first act was to reach out, pat Poels on the back in thanks for all of his work.  Riding away from the Yellow Jersey are Fabio Aru (Astana), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and several others.  One the day, the big loser was Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), and losing time to his rival for the Maillot Blanc was Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).  Although neither Froome nor Yates lost their jersey in the end.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827782-143-224974/PaintingSuffering%20TdF144-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LNHrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 19: "I'm Not Happy to See You"

Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) had taken most of the descent off of the Montee de Bisanne, gone across the valley and started up Mont Blanc all on his own.  He must have been feeling like the stage would be his.  At least until Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) showed up on his wheel.  Costa looked back over his shoulder seemingly saying, "I am not happy to see you."  Bardet had started the day sitting fifth overall, but he wanted more.  Plus, the French had yet to take a stage in their home Tour and there aren't to many more days to make that happen.  Bardet got a little help due to the carnage of crashes from the wet high speed descents.  Just like Bardet, most of the men in the Tour were looking to improve their overall positions, and were willing to take risks to make it happen.  Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) had gone off the road into the woods on the Col de Domancy, then taking even more risks to get back on, he crashed again.  The twin crashes meant that his second place was now up for grabs and Bardet was hoping to make it his.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827777-141-224974/Painting#.V5LEKrgrLIU