Tour '25, Stage 12: Shepherding Yellow

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) was being shepherded by his teammates, Nielson Powless and Harry Sweeny, over the relatively flat first hundred kilometers of the stage.  He did have two teammates in the large breakaway up the road, and three more taking turns on the front of the peloton.  As they make sure Healy has everything he needs, one of the Visma-Lease a Bike guys drops back along the front of the peloton.  I presume he is headed back to fetch bidons from his team car.  It should be noted that this is the Irishman's second day of racing in the Maillot Jaune.  It has been just shy of forty years since one of his countrymen have worn yellow in the Tour de France.  The last guy to do it was Stephen Roche.  In that case, he went on to win the 1987 Tour de France.  I don't think Healy will be able to repeat that accomplishment.

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. 

"Shepherding Yellow TdF25-73" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: No Points Today

Well, technically, no points at the end of the stage.  Depending on how Jasper Philipsen does in the finale, this could be a real blow to Biniam Girmay's (Intermache-Wanty) from carrying the Maillot Vert all of the way to Nice.  Unlike the race for time, there is no same points inside of the final three kilometers for the sprinters.  Yes, he will get the same time as today's stage winner, but that isn't what this Eritrean is racing for.  Also hitting the deck through the final roundabout inside of the final kilometers was Marijn Van Berg (EF Education-EasyPost).  You may be able to make out his two American teammates waiting to help him to the line.  They are the US Champion, Sean Quinn, and Nielson Powless.  Rest assured that Girmay's teammates are waiting for him as well.  They just happen to be off camera.

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.  

"No Points Today TdF24-98" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 14: Most, But Not All

Now that the race was going again, it was going hard up the first Cat 1 climb of the day, the Col du Cou.  The sprint for maximum points at the top was started by Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step).  He drew out first Nielson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) and then Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek).  As they sprinted to the line, Alaphilippe realized he didn't have the legs and swung off to his left.  Unfortunately for Powless, he had to go around the long way to avoid crashing with the Frenchman.  That also opened up the inside line (the shortest way to the summit) for Ciccone.  He Italian was able to grap the maximum points.  Taking second on the climb came back to haunt the American.  Spoiler Alert.  The two less points and what happened later in the stage, meant that he would lose his Maillot a Pois.  He will be still wearing it tomorrow however, since the new King of the Mountains is also the leader of the Tour de France.

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-2023/3965607-86-297438/Painting/most-but-not-all-tdf23-86.html

 

Flanders 2021: Four Chasing One

With fifteen kilometers to race, this foursome was just 12 seconds behind the lone figure of Julian Alaphilippe (France).  Michael Valgren (Denmark) was on the front with Jasper Stuyven (Belgium) having just swung off the front.  Both Dylan van Baarle (Netherlands) and Nielson Powless (USA) were resting in the Dane’s draft before it was their turn to push the pace.  But try as the quartet might, they were continuing to lose time against the defending World Champion.  They never did catch him, leaving these four to fight it out for the remaining two steps of the podium.  Those went to Valgren, who took bronze, and Dylan van Baarle (Netherlands) who claimed silver.  After all the work that Team Belgium had but in all day, they missed out on the medals with Stuyven managing a fourth place.  The American, Powless, took fifth place ahead of a fast closing Thomas Piddcock (Great Britain).

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-2021/3839019-33-292177/Painting/four-chasing-one-uci21-33.html

Tour, Final Stage: Time to Start Racing

 With the formalities of the final stage our of the way, it was time to get to racing.  Although, I didn't see the honorary champagne toast between the winner, his teammates and his director sportif.  In the past the champagne was once replaced with a good English Cider, but I don't think I have ever not seen the toast.  Nevertheless, now it was time to race for the victory of the final stage of the Tour.  I was unable to identify who the Ag2r La Mondiale rider who was just rolling of the front of the peloton, but it is Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) taking over with the pace making and Christoph Laporte (Cofidis) waiting to do his part to get a break away established.  While there are many iconic images of Paris, this is the one that is Paris and the Tour de France.  Every year the Champs Elysees plays host to the final stage, and everyone in the peloton is thrilled to have made it to the end of the Tour.  Many hope to achieve the rare feet of making a break stick for the stage, but it rarely succeeds.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect 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/Tour-de-France-2020/3705808-141-282744/Painting/time-to-start-racing-tdf20-133.html

Tour, Stage 16: The Next Group

With the peloton (and all of the general classification riders) seemingly taking the day off, it was clearly the day to be in the break away.  Three chasers had already bridged up to the ever growing break away.  So was the hope of this next group on the road.  Simon Geschke (CCC) was making sure his team had a man up front, as was poth Mikel Nieve (Mitchelton-Scott) and Romain Sicard (Total Direct Energie).  For the other two, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) and Pavel Sivakov (Ineos-Grenadiers) it was about getting up to help out their teammates make the best of their presence in the break.  They did get there, but then that seemed to be the last I ever saw of them.

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-2020/3701729-108-282744/Painting/the-next-group-tdf20-102.html

Tour, Stage 13: In the Picture

 You must know by now that I enjoy a good pun, particularly when I can use it in a painting title. Plus, if you've ever wondered how all of these great photographs are shot during bike races, this is how.  It takes a special photographer to hang off the back of a motorcycle as he concentrates on getting the shot with out knowing where the road goes, or just how fast the driver is going to have to go.  These two, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) and Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) were the next to ride away from the now splintering break away.  With twenty kilometers left to go, and the main peloton over ieght minutes back, it was going to be one of the guys in the break who would win the day.  With that knowledge, it was time to try and become the guy who would claim the day.  For Powless, in his first Tour, this is the third time he has gone it a break, would he have the same good fortune that Hirschi (Sunweb) did on this third try yesterday?  Spoiler...  He did not.

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-2020/3699144-84-282744/Painting/in-the-picture-tdf20-78.html

Tour, Stage 13: Down in the Super Tuck

The American, Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling) is a demon descender.  He let the rest of the large break away down the other side of the mountain in what has come to be known as the super tuck.  It is when a rider comes off the saddle, sits on the main tube and gets as low over the handle bars as possible.  It is not very stable or safe, but it is aero-dynamic. Behind the stone falling down the mountain are Pavel Sivakov (Ineos-Grenadiers) who had finally recovered from his double falls in stage one, along with Daniel Felipe Martinez (EF Pro Cycling), Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) and Marc Soler (Movistar) amongst others.  EF was in a great tactical position having put three men into the seventeen man break, it is their stage to lose.  Only Bora-Hansgrohe had managed to get more than one guy into this front group.

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-2020/3699083-82-282744/Painting/down-in-the-super-tuck-tdf20-76.html

Tour, Stage 6: Starting His Attack

The youngest and the only first time Tour rider in the break was Nielson Powless (EF Pro Cycling).  It may have been his youthful vigor, or the fact that today is his birthday, but he definitely had the legs to go on the attack from the break on the final climb of the day.  As they hit the steeper section of the Col de la Luscette, it was only Nicolas Roche (Sunweb) who had the legs to go with the American's attack.  Was Powless about to give himself a Tour de France stage victory as a birthday present?

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-2020/3690693-36-282744/Painting/starting-his-attack-tdf20-31.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial, Passing on the Birkelundsbakken

The American Nielson Powless was tiding a brilliant time trial.  He was going stronger and stronger as he approached the line.  He seemed to be the only one who wasn't fighting the Birkelundsbakken climb.  He even got Paulo Buccio (Italy) on the lower slopes of the hill.  It seemed to be no question that he would medal, it was just a question of which one.  And then...  As he crested the climb shifting into the big gears for the descent, he slipped his chain.  In the effort to get it back onto the front chain ring he went head over heals onto the asphalt.  While his bike change was incredibly fast, it still cost him too much time.  Buccio never caught him, but he ended his day in seventh.  It just shows, that the race isn't over until it is over.  Crashing is one reason I quit racing, it just hurts too damn much.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034584-15-239826/PaintingPassing-on-the-Birkelundsbakken--Bergen-15.html

Tour of California, Stage 3: The Power of Youth

To the surprise of the commentary team, and to the ever dwindling peloton, the youngest man in the race (still a teenager), Neilson Powless (Axeon Hagens Berman) jumped off of the front of the group. He quickly opened up a gap of up to 30 seconds on those laboring up the Gibraltar Road climb.  The climb is the steepest and hardest in this year's Tour of California, and was proving to be upsetting the overall classification rather quickly.  Already off the back and losing large junks of time are two of the wearers of the Yellow Jersey, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Ben King (Cannondale).  It remains to be seen if the youngster Powless had the legs to hold off some of the big names of international cycling.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting measuring 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting (and all of my cycling art and cycling books) are available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting (and yes international shipping is available), just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2792237-13-223355/Painting.html#.VzvJBPmDGko