Tour "22, Stage 17: The Cream of the Tour

I had thought I would entitle this painting, "The Cream Always Rises to the Top"  But thought better of it.  So, as the peloton hit the Col de Val Louron-Azet only the truly strong men were able to stick with the brutal pace being set by the American, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates).  At this point he was followed by his team captain, Tadej Pogacar in the Maillot Blanc.  Closely watching the Slovenian was the Maillot Juane of Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) with his American teammate Sepp Kuss.  Vingegaard spent the whole climb waiting for Pogacar to attack, he never did.  On his wheel was the man sitting third overall, Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) and then came the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic).  Quintana had started the day in fourth.  So the top four, two with teammates were all there.  They had dropped Simon Geschke (Cofidis) who had already done what he needed to do to hold onto the Maillot a Pois for at least one more day.  He tried to hold onto the wheels, but just didn't have the legs to join this freight train.

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-2022/3894901-105-294403/Painting/the-cream-of-the-tour-tdf22-106.html

Tour '22, Stage 16: Coming Back Together

 For the longest time I had to self imposed rules that on retrospect didn't really make any sense.  The first was not to use helicopter shots which went back to when I hoped to paint from a motorcycle in the Giro d'Italia a few years back.  The second was to only use a horizontal formate.  That at least was necessary when I was creating one of my two cycling books and needed some page design uniformity.  Clearly, I have now broken both rules in the 2022 Tour de France.  Tadej Pogacar's (UAE Team Emirates) attacks had split the peloton of contenders.  Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) -and his teammate Sepp Kuss along with Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) were able to go with the attacks right away, but it took the Ineos-Grenadiers duo of Simon Yates and Geraint Thomas a bit longer to tag back on.  David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) was a bit stronger than the Brits coming back into contention.  Quintana and Gaudu were able to move up into the top five with their efforts today.  Thomas stayed were he was in third.  And, of course, first and second stayed the same with no change in the time gaps either.

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-2022/3894716-100-294403/Painting/coming-back-together-tdf22-101.html

Tour '22, Stage 11: Devilishly Hard

Always a treat to see the Devil along the course of the Tour, and this year he doesn't have a mask.  Didi Stenft (the Devil) was at the base of the final climb cheering on each and everyone in the race.  He ran along side of Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) as the Colombian attack off of the front of the small peloton.  He did have a teammate up the road, but as long as he didn't help anyone bridge up to Barguil he can't be fault for going for the stage himself.  Plus, he is the designated leader of the Arkea-Samsic team.  Nevertheless, it was great to see Nairo going for it on a mountain stage again.

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-2022/3893539-65-294403/Painting/devilishly-hard-tdf22-65.html

Tour '22, Stage 7: Just That Hard!

Normally, I don't paint after the stage winner as crossed the line, but when I saw Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux) running with his bike towards the finish I just had to paint it.  It reminded my of Chris Froome running on Alp d'Huez without his bike several Tours ago.  I don't know why he was off his bike, but this whole image sums up just how hard the final kilometer of La Super Planches des Belles Filles was.  Ahead of Meintjes the exhaustion of everyone was plain to see.  Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) looked spent with his jersey wide open as he finished 13th on the stage.  Behind him wearing the Maillot Blanc on loan from the race leader was Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) just barely moving with his head hung low.  Equally sagging his body over the handlebars was Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) looking not as sharp as he had up until the final meters of the stage.  The Colombian still sits in 11th on GC but only just over two minutes back.  While gaps opened today, the top 15 riders are still within three minutes of each other.

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-2022/3892728-40-294403/Painting/just-how-hard-tdf22-40.html

Paris Nice 2022: It's Up to You

At the steepest section of the final climb of Paris Nice, the Col d'Exe, it was Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) who was the first to attack.  It was just the Jumbo-Visma duo of Primoz Roglic and Wout Van Aert along with the Brit Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco) left with the Colombian climber.  It seems that the Jumbo-Visma riders were looking at Simon Yates to see if he would chase down this attack.  It was looking like they might be on their limit.  But then Roglic has almost two minutes on Quintana, so he didn't really have to chase, but Yates was not as far ahead of the Arkea-Samsic leader.  I honestly think that Yates was sizing up Roglic to see if he could drop the Slovenian in the Maillot Jaune on the way up the Col d'Eze.

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/Paris-Nice/3872112-79-272742/Painting/its-up-to-you-pn22-42.html

Paris Nice 2022: A Very Select Group

It has been a very hard Paris Nice and the final stage was no different.  On the penultimate climb up the Cote de Peille this very select group got off the front containing first, second, third and fifth on the general classification.  The odd man out was Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) in the Maillot Vert.  He was there to aid his team leader in the Maillot Jaune, Primoz Roglic.  The quintet was rounded out by Daniel Felipe Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers), Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic), and Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco).  It seems that they were all able to stay with each other on this climb, but there is still the Col d'Eze.

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/Paris-Nice/3872081-77-272742/Painting/a-very-select-group-pn22-40.html 

Paris Nice 2022: Trading Punches

This foursome seemed to be very equally matched.  Each time one would go on the attack the others would catch back on.  Some took a little longer than others, but yet thus far they kept coming back together. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) dropped back to the back where he could keep a close eye on each person who went on a runner and then decide if he needed to chase. Just in front of him is Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco) who is only 39 seconds back on GC.  But it looks like Daniel Felipe Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers), who started the day almost a minute behind the Maillot Jaune, is giving it another go.  With these three is Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) who has gotten himself closer since his poor showing in the time trial, now just over a minute and a half off the pace.  With just a kilometer left to race, it is going to take a heroic attack combined with a complete collapse to bring about any substantial reordering of the general classification.  Stanger things have happened, and they have happened in this 80th edition of the race to the sun, Paris 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 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/Paris-Nice/3871898-74-272742/Painting/trading-punches-pn22-37.html

Paris Nice 2022: Passing Out Drinks

Today is realistically the last day for Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) and his team to put a dent in the time he lost in the individual time trial.  So he had one of his guys on the front of the peloton sharing the work of chasing down the break and the rest of his teammates making sure he was in good shape for the final climb to come.  Matis Lovel had grabbed a bottle from a team soigneur along the side of the road and then dropped back through the peloton to hand it over to Quintana.  Behind the Arkea Samsic pair another teammate, Simon Guglielmi looked on ready to swap a wheel or do whatever may be necessary to keep their man in contention.

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/Paris-Nice/3871872-69-272742/Painting/passing-out-drinks-pn22-32.html

TDF, Stage 17: Are You Ready?

Arkea-Samsic may be down to just three riders left in the Tour, but that didn't mean they weren't going to light up the stage.  As they hit the bottom of the Col de Peyresourde, Elie Gesbert looked over at his teammate Nairo Quintana.  I thought this was going to be the moment when Gesbert swung off and Quintana went on a raid in the mountains.  He has won on this stage in years past.  Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) felt the same as me, he was up on his pedals ready to match the Colombian's acceleration.  Thing is, the attack never came.  And it wasn't long before they were all back in the peloton.  All except the guy behind with his jersey wide open.  When the other three slackened their pace, Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) went off in search of the six men up the road.

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/3824048-107-291436/Painting/are-you-ready-tdf21-106.html

TDF, Stage 15: Leaving It to Others to Sprint

Apparently, Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) was doing just fine, he was merely waiting for the two big climbs of the day to go on the offensive.  Half way up the Port d'Envalira he jumped clear of the large break he had been hiding with.  No one in the group could match the Colombian's burst of speed when he attacked.  It is a lot easier to vie for the maximum points on the top of a climb when there is no one there expect yourself.  Quintana had told reporters that today he was going to take back the Maillot a Pois that he had when he was in the Alps.  With this raid, he was now equal on points with just one more big climb to go.

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/3823338-94-291436/Painting/leaving-it-to-others-to-sprint-tdf21-93.html

TDF, Stage 11: A Dynamic Duo

After the early intermediate sprint, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) went off the front.  It made sense that Quintana would go on a climb, he had a good lead in the King of the Mountains, but one could always use more points.  However, the Cote de Gordes is only a Cat 4, and offers only one point towards the Maillot a Pois at the top.  It didn't matter the point count, the World Champion was able to drop the Colombian climber and go off on his own.  We all thought it was a suicidal move, but he was later joined by a strong group of stage hopefuls.  Clearly the riders know more than us fans, or the race commentators.

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/3822541-64-291436/Painting/a-dynamic-duo-tdf21-63.html

TDF, Stage 9: What Are You Going to Do?

On the Haute Category Col du Pre, it was a locked battle for the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.  Early in the stage, Michael Woods (Israel Start Up Nation) had become the virtual leader in the competion for the Maillot a Pois.  On the previous climb, Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) had just nipped the Canadian for the maximum points atop the Col des Saisies.  As the duo approached the summit of the Col du Pre, it seemed that one was asking the other what they were going to do.  While the two battle it out, Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) and Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) did their best to keep the others in sight.

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/3821976-53-291436/Painting/what-are-you-going-to-do-tdf21-52.html

Dauphine, Stage 4: Fighting All of the Way

Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) fought for every second has he completed the 9.4 kilometer time trial course. Quintana is not known for being a master of the race against the clock, but he did well enough to keep within striking distance in the coming mountains.  He gave up a minute to some of the other main contenders but that could be fixed in on could day in his preferred terrain.

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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814864-102-185083/Painting/fighting-all-of-the-way-cd21-18.html

Tour, Stage 15: The Back of the Front

We were all surprised to see the two Colombians, Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) and Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) letting a gap go on the Grand Colombier.  Both continued to drop off the pace, even as Rigoberto Uran (EF Pro Cycling) and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) hung tough with the Jumbo-Visma led small peloton.  Quintana recovered a little later on, but still lost time finishing the day just over five minutes behind the Maillot Jaune, but still inside the top ten.  Guillaume blew a bit later and is now in eleventh place.  Rigoberto Uran finished with the front group taking over the third place that had been held by his countryman, Bernal.  Uran is probably the only one within hope of still challenging the Slovenians for the Maillot Juane in Paris.  Well, I guess Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) and Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) are still there or there abouts.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3700466-101-282744/Painting/the-back-of-the-front-tdf20-95.html

Tour, Stage 13: Not Where He Wants to Be

 Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) was not where he wanted to be with 60 kilometers to race. He was one of several who went down in a high speed crash off of the Cote d'Anglards de Salers.  While he was banged up, poor Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) broke his collard bone and had to leave the Tour.  IN the supersition category, Mollema was sitting 13th on the GC when he crashed out on Stage 13.  Quintana was being paced back to the peloton by his teammate Wnner Anacona. Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) is also in this group having gone down in the same crash.  At this point those three have joined up with the Maillot Vert, Sam Bennett and his teammate Michael Morkov (Deceuninck-Quick Step) as they spent a little too much time behind their team car.  This title may have been some foreshadowing, Quintana did not finish the stage where he wanted to be either.  Nor Bardet for that matter, both may have been more injured than they realized.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3699133-83-282744/Painting/not-where-he-wants-to-be-tdf20-77.html

Tour, Stage 8: Getting Some Daylight

Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) decided to use the final climb of the day, up the legendary Col de Peyresoule, to try and gain back some of the time he lost yesterday.  His countryman, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) new a good wheel to follow when he saw one.  Nairo Quintana (Arkea Samsic) was the only other of the contenders who could go with the acceleration.  The trio opened up a gap on the rest of the contenders and the Yellow Jersey of Adam Yates.  A few were eventually able to bridge across, but the group was thinning down all of the way up the climb.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3693189-51-282744/Painting/getting-some-daylight-tdf20-46.html

Paris Nice, Final Stage: Who Is Going Now?

With four kilometers left of the 2020 Paris Nice (and perhaps the entire cycling season), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) looked over to see who was going on the attack.  He quickly decided he didn't need to chase Nairo Quintana (Arkea Samsic) who was behind the Maillot Jaune (and his teammate, Vincenzo Nibali) by two minutes.  Given the strength of the Colombian climber, it was little chance any one would see him until the end of the race.  Spoiler alert:  It was Quintana who won the final stage of Paris Nice.  It makes one wonder what would have happen had he not crashed, losing time in stage 2.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3492514-35-272742/Painting/who-is-going-now-pn20-35.html

Paris Nice, Stage 6: The Next to Go

With Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) back into the peloton, it was Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) who launched the next attack.  Just up the road was the lone figure of Andersen's teammate, Tiesj Benoot.  You can see Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) trying to decide if he should follow Molard's attack or keep his eye (and energy) on those who are closer to him in the general classification.  With just 12 kilometers to the end of the stage, it wasn't that likely that enough time could be put into the Maillot Jaune to make a true difference.  Conversely, with only one more stage to race, there wasn't much of a choice other than to try.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3491266-28-272742/Painting/the-next-to-go-pn20-28.html

Paris Nice, Stage 1: Holding Their Advantage

After the crosswinds had split the peloton apart, this rather elite group of sixteen guys continued to press their advantage over the chasing peloton.  Leading the effort were two domestiques Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Connor Swift (Arkea Samsic).  One of the favorites to make the split was Nairo Quintana on his new team Arkea Samsic.  With 38 kilometers left to race they were hoping to grow their 30 second advantage.  Those behind were doing all they could to prevent that from happening.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3487773-2-272742/Painting/holding-their-advantage-pn20-2.html

Tour, Stage 18: Showing Everyone

Most everyone had written Nairo Quintana (Movistar) out of the Tour de France script.  The Colombian had suffered in the southern mountains and even his team didn't have confidence that he would last up the final climb of the Col du Galibier.  He showed them all as he left everyone on the uphill side of the mountain.  What no one expected was that nobody would be able to pull time back on Quintana on the descent into Valloire.  His move did send him up the over all general classification to seventh.  It should be exciting to see if this was a one off, or this is what we will be seeing through the last two mountain stages of the Tour.

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.

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