Tour '24, Stage 18: Getting No Closer

This quintet was doing their best to chase down the three up the road, but as the kilometers rolled by under their wheels they weren't able to close the gap.  Despite the efforts of Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) who had switched from riding for his teammate, and started riding for himself.  He was aided by Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech), Tom Skujins (Lidl-Trek), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hangrohe), and Oier Lazkano (Movistar).  But with a mere eight kilometers to race, the group was still forty-five seconds behind the leaders.  The large chasing group they had left behind was still about fifteen seconds back.  However, just like these guys, they weren't able to close the gap 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Getting No Closer TdF24-114" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Sprinting to the Summit

The American Champion, Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) led out his teammate Richard Carapaz in a sprint for the top of the Col de Manse.  Thus far today, Carapaz had gone over behind Oier Lazkano (Movistar), so it was essential that Carapaz get the better of the young Spaniard on the Spanish team.  I don't think the team in pink realized just how much Lazkano had in his legs still.  He got around their lead-out to claim the maximum points on the first three climbs of the day.  Carapaz did get another single point on the final climb, but he is still just behind Lazkano in the points total.  They are now fourth a fifth respectfully, but are way behind the guy leading and the guy wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan.  The next two days are big mountain days so perhaps things could change in the race for the King of the Mountains title.  I doubt it.  Those two days are bound to be when the final battles to win the Tour happen, and the top two points holders are also the two vying to win the Tour overall.

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.

"Sprinting to the Summit TdF24-110" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: Strong Climbers

In the valley between the Col du Tourmalet and the Hourquette d'Ancizan this five-man group came together off the front of the remnants of the breakaway.  As they started up the climb it was Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) leading them through the switch backs.  Healy had an incredible group of strong climbers on his wheel.  Right behind him is Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers), followed in turn by Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ).  This may well be the break that stays to the finale on the top of the Pla d'Adet.  That is IF the top of the general classification men don't decide to attack each other.  All of the top three would very much like to have the ten bonus seconds that come with winning 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Strong Climbers TdF24-80" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: Nearing the Top of the Tourmalet

With twenty KOM points, a big cash prize, bragging rights, and the chance to go for a long solo run for stage victory, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) makes a move off the front.  His attack was covered by the Spaniard Oier Lazkano (Movistar).  With the border into Spain just down the other side of the mountain, it was logical that Lazkano wanted to make an impression on the Basque fans and the Tour.  Naturally, the Frenchman Gaudu had much the same desire for his compatriots along the route waving the tri-colore of France.  It was Lazkano who went over the top of the Col du Tourmalet first, but both garnered enough points to feature into the top five on the quest for the final 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Nearing the Top of the Tourmalet TdF24-79" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 11: Last Chance Saloon

With the peloton closing in on the early breakaway, the team cars will soon be pulled out of the gap.  Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-Ag2r-Mondiale) in his tri-colore French National Champion jersey wisely grabbed a bottle and some food while he still had the chance.  Lapeira was joined in the break by his fellow Frenchman Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) in the now ten-man group.  With another 61 kilometers left in the stage, the peloton was just too close for these guys to still have any hope of a stage win.  With four more climbs to come, it most likely means they won't have much chance to amass King of the Mountain Points 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Last Chance Saloon TdF24-58" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 11: The Group that Got Away

It took a while today, in fact it took 88 kilometers before the breakaway was truly established.  The six-man group was first formed by Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) but by now included his teammate Ben Healy.  Joining the guys in pink are Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) the French Champion Paul Lapiera (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies).  Both Lazkano and Vercher have been off the front in earlier stages, but did not stay away to the end.  With the peloton not giving these guys more than a minute or two, it wasn't looking like this one would stick to the end either.  It was hard to decipher what the GC teams were up to.  I suspect they had their own plans for the day and were busy trying to tire each other out.  

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.

"The Group that Got Away TdF24-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 4: Down to Four

As they climbed the infamous final climb of the day, the Col du Galibier, the early break was down to just four guys from the original seventeen.  Christopher Juul-Jensen (Jayco-Alula) kept dangling off the back and then regaining the others.  It was looking like Oier Lazkano (Movistar) may be stronger than the others. But David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) was motivated to gain another stage victory for the French now that the race was back on French soil.  And finally, Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) may have been there to soak up King of the Mountain points to defend his teammates lead in the competition to wear the Maillot a Pois.  His teammate kept the jersey for another day, but it really wasn't due to Johannessen's efforts.

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.

"Down to Four TdF24-18" (Original art by Greig Leach)