Tour '24, Stage 16: Finishing with His Teammates

Sadly, Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) wasn't able to contest the last sprint stage of the Tour today.  He crashed and was helped across the finish line by his teammate Kobe Goossens.  As they headed for their support personnel, Girmay put his arm on Hugo Page's shoulder to thank him for waiting.  He needed to cross the line to remain in the Tour and in the Maillot Vert.  Fortunately, x-rays and a medical exam proved he had no broken bones or serious injuries.  He plans to start Stage 17 to defend his lead in the sprinter's competition.  He will be hoping to add points on the remaining hard climbing stages counting on his main rival to not be able to hang with the peloton before it gets to the intermediate sprints.  Even Jasper Philipsen said it would be sad for him to take the jersey "this way"

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. 

"Finishing with His Teammates TdF24-100" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: No Doubt!

Alas, the fairy tale ending of Mark Cavendish's career did not get told today.  He caught washed away in the sprint coming in 17th for his final Tour de France sprint stage.  Not what he wanted, but he does have the record for Tour Stage wins that he set back in Stage 3 almost a week and a half ago.  Today, it was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) showing a clean set of wheels to Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious), Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) and the rest of the peloton.  He left no doubt that given a strong lead-out, he is the best sprinter in the Tour.  It didn't hurt his chances that Girmay is still sitting on the ground 800 meters back up the road.  Because Girmay crashed, Philipsen has moved within 32 points in the competition to wear the Maillot Vert in Nice.  With no more sprint stages, and Girmay's stronger climbing legs, the Eritrean should be able to keep the jersey, but it is much more of an fine edge now.

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 Doubt TdF24-99" (Original art by Greig Leach)

TDF, Stage 12: Peter Who?

I hesitated with this title.  I didn't want anyone thinking I was dissing Nils Politt's (Bora-Hansgrohe) teammate Peter Sagan.  Sagan had not started today's stage due to an aggravated knee injury first damaged in his crash with Caleb Ewan.  Now I know why he hasn't been up for the sprints in this Tour.  Now back to the amazing effort put in by Politt to win his first stage of the Tour de France. This might be the first stage win for his team as well.  This will go a long way to healing the wound of losing Sagan from this Tour (and later this season, losing him from the team).

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/3822723-77-291436/Painting/peter-who-tdf21-76.html

TDF, Stage 12: Are They Gone?

I guess I was wrong about what Nils Politt (Bora-Hasgrohe) was looking at in the previous post.  He must have been trying to gauge just how much his three break away companions had left to give.  Apparently what he saw led him to believe he could take off on his own.  And he felt sure he could hold them off all of the way to the line.  With just nine kilometers left to the line in Nimes, he had twelve seconds on the other three, over a minute to the other members of the early break, and a full fifteen minutes to the peloton that contained the Maillot Jaune.  Politt has yet to win a stage in the Tour in his career.  If I remember what Phil Liggett and Bob Roll had to say correctly, he hasn't won a race in his professional career (plenty of seconds and podium finishes but no wins).  The team lost there marquee sprinter due to injury, Peter Sagan, at the start of the stage, so there may be some extra motivation to win one for the team as it were.

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/3822722-76-291436/Painting/are-they-gone-tdf21-75.html

Tour, Stage 16: Again!

It was Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) spreading his arms wide in celebration in downtown Nimes.  Ewan said he had extra motivation because his brand new daughter and his wife were watching from the stands.  It was enough to get him to the line ahead of Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-Quick Step), taking fourth was Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe).  Sagan might of loss a couple of sprinter's points to Viviani but he may have now reached an insurmountable lead in the competition for the Maillot Vert.  In frame, but finishing tenth, was Andre Pasqualon (Wanty Gobert).  Now it is on to the rough days in the Alps before 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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3364424-91-263530/Again!%20%20TDF19-91.html

Tour, Stage 16: Still Ahead

The five man break was still of the front with just over five kilometers to the line in Nimes.  Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale) wasn't about to stop driving the pace, even if the peloton was literally just around the corner.  Lukasz Wisniowski (CCC), Stephane Rosetto (Cofidis) and Paul Ourselin (Total Direct Energie) were willing to help with the effort but it was clearly doomed.  Still nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3364396-90-263530/Still%20Ahead%20%20TDF19-90.html

Tour, Stage 16: Just One Point

It was five off the front for today's break.  They had little chance of surviving with the sprinters wanting one more stage before the Alps.  This is Lukasz Wisniowski (CCC) just behind Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale) as they got over the only catagorized climb, the Cote de Saint Jean du Pin.  Along the roads of France, the French have been out in droves to cheer on their Maillot Jaune.

See this painting come to life in this time lapse video:

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3364384-89-263530/Just%20One%20Point%20%20TDF19-89.html

Tour, Stage 16: Iceman Cometh

It has gotten quite hot in the south of France for stage 16 of the Tour.  Here Tony Martin's (Jumbo-Visma) comes up to pass him a nylon stocking full of ice.  His teammate then drifted down the peloton handing out ice pack from his musette to every member of the Dutch team.  A big part of surviving the stage (and the rest of the Tour) will be staying as cool as possible and fully hydrated.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3364381-88-263530/Iceman%20Cometh%20%20TDF19-88.html

Tour Stage 15: One for the Sprinters

Even with the TV announcers and myself rooting for the two men of the break away, it turned out to be the day for the sprinters that all had expected it to be.  Alexandrer Kristoff (Katusha) had the legs to best the rest and claim his second stage win and the third for the team.  He beat out Henrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) and the perpetual bridesmaid, Peter Sagan (Cannondale).  The others that stormed by Jack Bauer (Garmin Sharp) also included, Mark Renshaw (OPQS) and Bryan Coquard (Europcar).  Bauer was so close to winning the stage ahead of the sprinters that he still managed tenth on the stage.  The poor guy collapse after crossing the line, dejected and exhausted for a long, long break that almost was.  Noticeably absent from the finale was the fast man for Giant Shimano, Marcel Kittel.  The painting will appear along with all of my 101st Tour de France paintings into my soon to be self published cycling art book, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your own copy, or to discover how you can become involved in bringing the 2014 Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous incentives for those who choose to back this projects, rewards start at just $5 USD, and you can get an artist signed copy for only $25 USD, any amount contributed will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, even for just a $1 pledge.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but you know you want a copy of this visual treasure of the Tour, too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405594---199992/Painting.html#.U8yPgsvD_IU

Tour Stage 15: Flurries of Attacks

The peloton had managed to stay together until the reached the edges of Nimes with the rather unusual exception that the two man break was still off of the front and seemingly not very willing to be caught.  As they swung around the traffic furniture, opportunistic riders kept trying their luck at getting away.  Niki Terpstra (OPQS) drove hard to catch up with Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff Saxo) as Peter Sagan (Cannondale) drove on the peloton in hopes of riding them all off of his wheel.  Sagan is still searching for his first stage win in this Tour although he has proven his ownership of the most consistent sprinter's Green Jersey having finished in the top five in all but the mountain top finish thus far.  Bennati had the misfortune of puncturing and had to pull off from his chance of a win.  With Bennati unable to continue Terpstra's chance were rather reduced.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  The painting will appear along with all of my 101st Tour de France paintings into my soon to be self published cycling art book, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your own copy, or to discover how you can become involved in bringing the 2014 Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some fabulous incentives for those who choose to back this projects, rewards start at just $5 USD, and you can get an artist signed copy for only $25 USD, any amount contributed will get your name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, even for just a $1 pledge.  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but you know you want a copy of this visual treasure of the Tour too.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2405590---199992/Painting.html#.U8yHy8vD_IU