Tour '25, Stage 7: Another Stage, Another Jersey

When I titled this, I was referring to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was reclaiming the Maillot Jaune with this stage victory atop the Mur de Bretagne.  I later discovered that he also took back the ownership of the Maillot Vert with the stage win.  So, as I always enjoy with my titles, there is more than one interpretation to what I called this watercolor.  Glued to Pogacar's wheel was his shadow Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  He wasn't about to cede any more seconds to his main Tour rival than he could prevent.  With the time bonuses, Pogacar increased his advantage by four seconds over Vingegaard.  They did put some time into the rest of the peloton.  The only one to lose some real time was guy who started the day in the Maillot Jaune, Mathieu Van Der Poel.  He is now in fifth about the same time disadvantage that he had behind Pogacar that he had after the time trial.  For those keeping track... Stage 4 he was in Yellow equal on equal time, after stage 5 he was out by a minute and a half.  After stage 6 he had a one second advantage, and now he is behind about a minute and a half.

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. 

"Another Stage, Another Jersey TdF25-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 7: Everyone Here?

Inside the final two kilometers it was the cream of the peloton rising to the top of the Mur de Bretagne.  With Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) on the front, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) looked back into the eyes of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Now the question is, "Who will outsprint the other?"  Despite who takes the stage, it will be Pogacar that will pull back on the coveted Maillot Jaune.  Equally true is that no matter who wins of these three Evenepoel will remain in the Maillot Blanc.  Behind them the guys sitting in fourth and fifth are trying desperately to close the gap as the climb levels off in the final kilometer.

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. 

"Everyone Here? TdF25-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

TDF, Stage 2: This Is for You!

While he had hoped to win while wearing the special kit that honored his grandfather, Raymond Poulidor, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fennix) pointed skyward as he took the stage, and the Maillot Jaune atop the Mur de Bretagne.  As you can see the Dutchman had dropped the entire peloton on his second trip of the "Mont Ventoux of Brittany" which along with the 10 second time bonus for the win and the eight seconds for being first over the top earlier, he now has the lead by eight seconds over the now former Maillot Jaune, Julian Alaphilippe.

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 ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/3820471-12-291436/Painting/this-is-for-you-tdf21-12.html

TDF, Stage 2: A Cheeky Move

I have been listening to Phil Liggett anounce the Tour de France on my TV since Lance Armstrong first road the Tour de France.  For me, he is the voice of the Tour (or at least the English speaking one).  One of his constant expressions is "cheeky."  This time he was refering to Mathieu Van Der Poel's attack on the first trip up the Mur de Bretagne.  At the top of the climb were eight bonus seconds on offer for the man who summited first.  The Dutch rider was only 18 seconds off the Maillot Jaune, so with this attack, a win at the line on the next trip up and any gap on the current leader he will pull on yellow.  For Van Der Poel and the French it would be a fulfillment of the desparate dream of his grandfather, Raymond Poulidor who twice came in second in the Tour but never wore the coveted Maillot Jaune.

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 ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/3820470-11-291436/Painting/a-cheeky-move-tdf21-11.html

Tour, Stage 6: The Strength of the Irish

Clearly I am paraphrasing here.  The old saying is "the luck of the Irish," but luck had very little to do with Dan Martin's (UAE Team Emirates) stage victory atop the Mur de Bretagne.  The last time the Tour came here, he was just beaten out by a rider from Ag2r La Mondiale.  Today he wasn't going to let anyone come around him, even as another Ag2r rider, Pierre Latour, was trying to catch the Irishman's wheel.  Behind, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) took third on the day and a one second time bonus over the other main contenders finishing in the group behind.  The day had little effect on the GC with the small exception of Dumoulin dropping a few places out of the top ten.  There is still fifteen stages of racing to get to Paris.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3186872-31-251072/PaintingThe-Strength-of-the-Irish--T18-31.html

Tour, Stage 6: Desperate to Get Back

Unlike Fulgsang, who had a flat tire with 40 kilometers to go, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) had his mishap within the final five kilometers.  He was outside of the magical three k mark, so any time lost would count against him.  He started his desperate chase back through the caravan of team cars shepherded by the American Chad Haga.  He soon dropped Haga and was picked up by other teammates in turn.  He ended the day losing over a minute and a half to the stage winner, but more importantly is now 30 seconds behind most of his GC rivals (he had started the day about 30 seconds ahead of them).  Daniel Martinez (EF Education First) was thankful for some truly fast wheels to jump on to at the end of a very long stage.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3186868-30-251072/PaintingDesperate-to-Get-Back--T18-30.html

Tour, Stage 6: I Got What I Wanted

As they went over the top of the Mur de Bretagne for the first time, Jack Bauer (Mitchelton-Scott) and Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) opened up a gap on the peloton.  With just 34 kilometers to the finish, Bauer was eager to push on their advantage.  Skujins shook his head no.  He had gone after the 2 points in the King of the Mountains competition and that was his sole objective in the move.  While Dion Smith had pulled on the virtual Maillot a Pois early in the day, it is now almost certain that it will stay on Skujins' shoulders tonight.  There will be more points at the summit of the climb that finishes the stage, but that will be more of a GC battle, and none of the hopefuls have any KOM points thus far.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3186856-29-251072/PaintingI-Got-What-I-Wanted--T18-29.html

Tour de France Stage 8: For the Home Fans

The French now have their first victory in their home Tour.  Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R) riding for a French team got the jump on the rest of the hopefuls to spread his arms in pure joy has he claimed the stage atop Mur de Bretagne.  Dan Martin (Cannondale Garmin) left it a little too late to reward the team for all of their work.  He did claim second a couple of seconds ahead of the group, but it wasn't what he or the team hoped for.  I do remember Tours where the French barely made an appearance on the podiums, but with their success last year, the country's cyclists looked poised to reclaim the Tour de France.  Although probably not this year.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, in fact all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, since this is a one of a kind original, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579348---210122/Painting.html#.VaGHp_lViko

Tour de France Stage 8: Inside the Final Kilometer

As the peloton scaled the wall of Bretagne (Mur de Bretagne) it was time for the puncheurs to try and get away from the overall contenders and the last remaining sprinter, Peter Sagan(Tinkoff Saxo).  Simon Geschke (Giant Alpecin) looks behind to see what kind of gab he has, and how has latched onto his wheel.  Beside the German was one of the Yates twins, Simon Yates (Orica GreenEdge) and one their wheel was Christophe Riblon (AG2R).  At this point they had a little bit of daylight between themselves and the closing Maillot Jaune, Chris Froome (Team Sky).  Tucked onto the Sky leader was the Slovak National Champion (and wearer of the Maillot Blanc) Peter Sagan.  Sagan has yet to claim a stage victory and he seems to be in position to rectify that statistic.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting, in fact all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, since this is a one of a kind original, once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579338---210122/Painting.html#.VaGFuflViko