Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Some Big Names Out Front

It was a large group of fifteen riders that got off of the front of the peloton today.  It was a shorten stage due to the foul weather.  With only 110 kilometers to race, these guys building an over three-minute lead on the peloton containing the Maillot Jaune was significant.  To names that I was surprised to see let lose were Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost).  The former was here riding for his teammate Michael Storer, but Powless was hoping to make up for suffering so much in the cold these past two stages.  Joining these two are Josh Tarling (Ineos-Grenadiers), Fred Wrightk (Bahrain-Victorious) and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) amongst others.  With just thirteen kilometers of climbing left, it was looking likely that one of these fifteen would be vying for stage honors in the Queen Stage of 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Some Big Names Out Front PN25-30" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 21: Escaping on the Champs Elysees

If one is not a great sprinter, the only way to beat the great ones is to get off the front in a break away.  Frederki Frison (Lotto-Dstny) picked up where his teammates had left off in previous stages.  He was joined by two others that have been in breaks this Tour, too.  Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) bridged up despite no more mountain points were on offer, and Krists Nielands (Israel-Premier Tech) was eager to try another break away himself.  The trio had opened up about ten seconds on the peloton but with another 52 kilometers of up and down the Champs Elysees, it was unlikely to be the move to foil the sprinters.

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-2023/3967235-145-297438/Painting/escaping-on-the-champs-elysees-tdf23-140.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 15: "I Like those Polka Dots"

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) had lost his lead for the Maillot a Pois yesterday, but was still wearing it on loan from the Maillot Jaune wearer, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).  Since he is in yellow, Powless in second has the right to wear the polka dots.  Sitting a little bit behind the two that were tied at the top of the King of the Mountains competition was Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek).  As they reached the first summit of the day, the Col de la Fordez de Montain, Ciccone lead out the sprint for the points still on offer. (Alaphilippe and Lutsenko had already gone over the climb).  Since it was a category one climb, Ciccone took six points and Powless four.  However, the four points was enough to put Powless back in the lead on the road.  It also moved Ciccone closer to the erstwhile tied leaders in the King of the Mountains competition.

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-2023/3965798-95-297438/Painting/i-like-those-polka-dots-tdf23-95.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: Three Chasing One

Over the top of the last of the small climbs of the day, the Cote de Pontaumur, the break away split up due to the attack of the American, Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar).  On the lower slopes of the Puy de Dome, he was roughly a minute ahead of these three chasers.  He was holding off his fellow countryman, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) in his Maillot a Pois, along with Matthieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious).  These three had another seven chasing them, with other somewhere further back, with the peloton beginning to collect them one by one.  With all of those who seem most likely to win the Tour in Paris now about ten minutes back, the day was now becoming a story of two seperate races in a single stage.

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-2023/3964561-51-297438/Painting/three-chasing-one-tdf23-51.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: Left Unchallenged

After the effort of getting into the early morning break (well mid-afternoon anyway), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) wasn't going to leave anything to chance.  He had not been challenged over the Cote de Felletin, but he wasn't about to assume he would find the others so agreeable on teh Cote de Pontcharraud.  He went off the front, looking back to make sure no one was about to sprint out of the break away and grap the points at the top.  They did not.  In fact, they left him unchallenged on all but the final climb to the finish atop the Puy de Dome.

He must have been quite happy with Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Clement Berthet (Ag2r-Citroen), Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) and Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) and the other nine members of the break.  By this point, working together, they had built up a nearly eleven minute gap on the peloton full of all of the favorites/hopefuls of the general classification.

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-2023/3964557-49-297438/Painting/left-unchallenged-tdf23-49.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 6: Fliming the Favorites

It takes quite an operation to get all of the shots of the Tour de France that tell us this exciting story.  This shows us two of the ways that is done.  We can see the cameraman on the back of the motorcycle filming Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) glued to the rear wheel of his primary rival, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) who in turned is tucked in behind his teammate, Wout Van Aert.  Just peeking into the frame is the Maillot a Pois Virtuale, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost).  This quartet had just another eleven kilometers to climb up the Cauterets Cambasque and the end of the stage.  Will they simply ride together to summit, or is somebody going to attack the 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 $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-2023/3964113-33-297438/Painting/filming-the-favorites-tdf23-33.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 6: Polka Dots, Virtually

I kind of stumbled when titling this painting.  I meant to write "Virtual Polka Dots" but when working with ink and with watercolors, you have to learn to accept your mistakes and then figure out a way to make them work.  The same could be said for Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost).  He missed the early break, but put in the effort to chase them down.  He went over the previous climb first uncontested.  Now he was being challenged at the summit of the Cat 1 Col d'Aspin by Gorka Izagirre (Movistar) as Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) looked on.  Van Aert was the man that went from the moment Prudhomme waved the flag that started the stage.  Clearly, he was on a mission today.  The question is, what is that missioin?  Is he riding for the stage, or is he setting something up for his team leader deep into the final kilometers of the stage.

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-2023/3964044-31-297438/Painting/polka-dots-virtually-tdf23-31.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 6: Wanting His jersey Back

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) had lost his lead in the King of the Mountains competition yesterday, mainly because after mutliple attempts to be in the successful break away, he missed the one that went.  Today, he missed the one that stuck again, but was able to bridge up to the original fifteen escapees with four other riders.  Once in the group, he went right on the offensive on the first Cat 3 climb of the day.  Today he had his rookie in the tour teammate, James Shaw, to help him get to the summit of the Cote de Capvern first.  It helped that Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) and Asgreen's teammate, Julian Alaphilippe had other objectives for the stage.  So over he went this climb first, but that won't be enough to regain the Maillot a Pois.

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-2023/3964039-30-297438/Painting/wanting-his-jersey-back-tdf23-30.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 3: Last Climb in Spain

Today did not go as planned for Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), it went a whole lot better!  It was cleared that he and the team thought he would only be able to gain points on the first two climbs of the day, but instead the peloton decided that they were only going to race for stage honors.  That meant that he was able to go over the top of every climb on the stage first, thanks in part to an agreement with his break away companion, Laurent Pichon (Arkea-Samsic).  Pichon didn't vie for the climbs, and Powless didn't vie for the intermediate sprint.  Once over this climb, Powless sat up to save energy on the rest of the way to the finish.  Pichon carried on thus earning himself the most agressive rider of the stage prize.  You'll notice that Powless' bib number is a pale yellow, that denotes that he won that prize for his efforts in Stage 2.

All along the roads of the three stages in the Spanish Basque countryside, the fans have been out in droves.  They made sure they were there to see the Tour over the last climb in Spain in droves.  Seemingly, every single person had their own Basque flag.

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-2023/3963461-16-297438/Painting/last-climb-in-spain-tdf23-16.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 3: You Might Have a Problem

From the drop fo the flag that starts the stage Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) went on the attack in search of more points for his Maillot a Pois.  He was joined by only one other rider, Laurent Pichon (Arkea-Samsc).  As they were climbing the second climb of the day the Cote de Milloi, Powless pointed out that Pichon had a problem with his rear wheel.  It turned out that something was stuck to the tire and Pichon used his water bottle to knock it off.  There have been tacks thrown out onto the course for two stages thus far, fortunately they haven't cause any crashes yet.  It does help that most teams have sealents in their tires nowadays.

Least you think that Powless is being overly sporting, it is in his best interest to keep his break away companion with him.  Together it will be easier to hold off the peloton.  I doubt that Powless thought he would be allowed to be off the front this far into the stage, but as long as there isn't a hard chase he might as well keep adding to his KOM tally.

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-2023/3963441-13-297438/Painting/you-might-have-a-problem-tdf23-13.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 2: Never Really Alone

Not the the French fans stay home, but the Basque fans seemed to be three deep along every kilometer particularly on every climb over the first to stages of the 2023 Tour.  By the time Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) got to the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote de Gurutze, he had dropped his erstwhile break away companions.  While he may have been alone off the front of the peloton (by almost two minutes) he was hardly alone out on the climb.  Much has been made of the respect that the fans have been giving the riders, and I agree that none have truly endangered the peloton with foolish selfies and crazed running or flare burning, but I sure don't want that many people yelling in my face.

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-2023/3963327-8-297438/Painting/never-really-alone-tdf23-8.html 

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 2: More to Be Had

Sporting the Polka Dot jersey of the King of the Mountains, the American Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) managed to jump across to Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) who had started the early break away.  The duo was soon joined by Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step).  Powless was there in hopes of adding to his lead in the KOM competition and the others seemed to be riding for a stage victory.  As they approached the summit of the first climb of the day, the Col d'Udana. they had built up an almost five minute lead on the following peloton.  Powless put in a successful dig to get over this climb first, but the others didn't give him much fight.  In fact they let him claim maximum points over the first four climbs of the day.

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-2023/3963306-6-297438/Painting/more-to-be-had-tdf23-6.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 1: Sprinting for Polka Dots

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) was just able to out sprint a frustrated Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) to claim the five KOM points on offer at the top of the Cote de Vivero.  Given the climbs Cat 2 rating, it gave the American on the American team enough points to pull on the Maillot a Pois at the end of the opening stage of this year's Tour.  Zimmermann pounded his bars in disappointment, but then reached out and congratulated Powless on this sprint.  No sense making any enemies in the peloton on the first day of the Tour.

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-2023/3962891-3-297438/Painting/sprinting-for-polka-dots-tdf23-3.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen 23, Men's Race: Racing for Third

With Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) off the road and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) up the road by about 45 seconds, this group knew they wouldn't be catching either of them in the final six kilometers.  It looked liked the two Americans, Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) seemed to be having a bit of a chat at the back of the group.  They, along with Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) and Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) were going to have to resign themselves to racing for the bottom step of the podium.  That honor did end up going to Mads. With the third of the three who were most frequently named to win to day, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) claiming fourth on the day.  Fred Wright has to continue to look for that elusive race victory, but he has been close so many times.  The Americans managed nineth and fifth respectively.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3943949-519-195767/Painting/racing-for-third-rvv23-6.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: Down the Ramp

Neilson Powless (USA) was the first of the two Americans to compete in the Elite Men's Time Trial.  Powless got off to a good start but, alas, it wasn't to be his day.  Both he and I will have to wait until the weekend to have another go for the rainbow bands.  Unless he is in the mixed team time trial in the middle of the week.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906186-8-295031/Painting/down-the-ramp-uci22-8.html

Tour '22: Looking at Each Other

This quartet of Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux), Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech), Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) had been off the front since the opening kilometer of this rather difficult stage.  They had dropped two of their original number, but now it was looking like it would be the four of them vying for stage honors.  That is if they don't spend too much time trying to outsmart each other.  At least two were in hot pursuit 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 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-2022/3892421-26-294403/Painting/looking-at-each-other-tdf22-26.html

Tour '22, Stage 5: Working Together

I'm not really sure why Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) went into the break away today, after all there weren't any King of the Mountain points on offer.  It may have just been force of habit.  He has been in the break for every road stage of the Tour thus far.  Today he had five others off the front with him, including his teammate, the American, Neilson Powless.  Having been back to the car for a water bottle, he passed another over to Powless, one of the advantages having a teammate up the road with you.  Just ahead of the EF duo was Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM) and then Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies).  Leading the group but not really visible is Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux).  The sextet build up just shy of seven minutes on the following peloton.  I suppose those behind thought the cobbles would slow them down enough so they could be caught.

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-2022/3892381-22-294403/Painting/working-together-tdf22-22.html

Flanders 2021: Opening Up Another Gap

With 87 kilometers to race, it was Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) still pushing the pace and starting another break away. This time he was joined by Neilson Powless (USA), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Denmark) and about six others.  While it was great to see cycling fans all along the multi-lap course, it made me nervous.  I am not sure when I will be comfortable with large crowds in this Covid influenced world.  Not that I have ever been a fan of big crowds in my life.  Having finished the first set of laps through Leuven, the peloton was now back on their way to do another Flanders circuit.  It was nice to see at least one member of Team USA on the front of the race.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838933-30-292177/Painting/opening-up-another-gap-uci21-30.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: Spiraling Down

The trip up the San Marcos pass had drastically reduced the size of the break away.  Later it reduced the peloton as well.  And it seems that both Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo Visma) and his teammate, Neilson Powless, wanted to do the same on the way back down the other side.

I'm not much of a climber, so flying down the back side of a mountain through twists and turns is the pure joy reward of a hard climb.  Therefore, I love the look of a group of pros spiraling down a mountain road.

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%20of%20California/3333228-78-223355/Spiraling%20Down%20%20ToC19-23.html

This painting has sold!