Tour '26, Stage 5: A Clean Set of Wheels

I feel I may need to explain the title.  A clean set of wheels means that someone as such an advantage at the finale, that no one is anywhere near them, thus a clean set of wheels refers to no one in their slipstream or threatening to pass them.  That is just how strong of a sprint Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) was able to mount. He has now won his first Tour de France stage and in so doing got the first stage win for his French team as well.  Unable to match his burst of speed but still holding on for second was the guy who took the intermediate sprint, Max Kanter (XDS-Astana).  The final step of the podium in Pau went to Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) followed in turn by Huub Artz (Lotto-Intermarche).  Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) only managed to finish sixth, but did add some more points in his quest for the Maillot Vert.  I am not sure where the current wearer of the sprinter's jersey finished, but Mads Pedersen did hold on to his Green Jersey.  In fact, none of the leader's jerseys changed shoulders today.  I doubt that will be the case tomorrow as they race over the Tourmalet before ending atop Gauarnie-Gedre.

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.

Purchase this painting here: "A Clean Set of Wheels TdF26-37" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '24, Stage 13: Checking Before Celebrating

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) wisely looked to his left to make sure he had gotten to the line ahead of Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) before raising his arms in celebration.  He infamously celebrated a stage win two years ago without knowing that someone had already won the stage in a lone breakaway.  Needless to say, he has been teased about that for years now.  He is also aware that many have started their celebrations prior to actually crossing the line and gotten beaten by a well-timed bike throw.  Speaking of bike throws, Van Aert's was a bit pointless since he was outsprinted by over a half a bike length.  Many of the other marquee sprinters were caught up in the mayhem that was caused by the crash, but that does not negate the quality of Philipsen's second stage victory in this Tour.  Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) finished fourth today and conceded thirty-two points to Philipsen in the race for the Maillot Vert.  He still holds the jersey by twice that amount, but it is getting to look a little less like a sure thing.

There is only one more flat stage left for the sprinters to ply their trade, but it is on the other side of two days in the high mountains of the Pyrenees.  How many will stay in the Tour with no sprint on the Champs Elysees to hang tough for.  I have been betting that this is the last day in this Tour for Cavendish.  But without getting to try to break his own record today, he may struggle to the final sprint stage after the final rest day next Monday.

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.

"Checking Before Celebrating TdF24-76" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 13: Into the Barriers

One of the lead-out men for Lotto-Dstny leaned heavily into Amaury Capriot (Arkea-B&B Hotels) as he went by.  When he came off of his shoulder Capriot over compensated and lost his balance.  As he lost control, he took out Cees Pol (Astana-Qazaqstan) who went head over heels and blocked the way for the Lotto-Dstny sprinter, Arnaud De Lie.  A bit ironic since the crash was caused trying to move him towards the front for the sprint.  I don't normally paint crashes, I don't want to glorify the gory of the sport, but this being the thirteenth stage, it seemed appropriate.  Many, including, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) were able to avoid the flying bikes and bodies, but any that were behind the pile-up saw any chance of winning the stage go up the road.  The five-kilometer rule will mean that these guys will all get the same time as the stage winner should they be able to get up and walk or ride across the finish line.  Oddly, if they walk to the line, they must have their bike with them.

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.

"Into the Barriers TdF24-75" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour, Stage 13: 100 Years of Yellow

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) gave an extra level of celebration of the Maillot Jaune today.  100 years to the day of the first Maillot Jaune, the Frenchman gained time on his rivals on a day he was expected to relinquish the fable jersey to an Englishman (well techincally, Geraint Thomas is Welsch but it sounded better if it was to go to an Englishman - that is a whole other layer of history).  As Alaphilippe fairly sprinted up the final rise on the 27 kilometer course he knew he would have the coveted Yellow Jersey for at least one more day.  He put another 14 seconds between himself and Thomas in second place, thus giving himself a nice buffer for the mountain stages to come.

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%202019/3362569-74-263530/100%20Years%20of%20Yellow%20%20TDF19-74.html

Tour, Stage 13: Chasing Seconds

Defending Tour champion, Geraint Thomas (Ineos) surely expected to be chasing the stage and race lead as he sped through the streets of Pau.  Instead, he found himself chasing into second place.  Yes, he did cross the finish line with the new best time (as he had every check point out on course), but behind, the Maillot Jaune was continually getting the better of him.  I don't doubt that Thomas will be pulling on the leader's jersey, but it may be at least another day, if not considerably more.

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%202019/3362566-73-263530/Chasing%20Seconds%20%20TDF19-73.html

This painting has sold!

Tour, Stage 13: What Has to Be Done

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) had dropped pretty far down on the general classification over the first half of this year's Tour.  Today, he had to put in a good ride if he had any hope of having a highly placed finish in Paris.  He did just that finishing fifth on the day, putting time in most of those ahead of him on the leader board.

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%202019/3362560-71-263530/What%20Has%20to%20Be%20Done%20%20TDF19-71.html

Tour, Stage 13< Battling the Whole Way

The next American to get out on course was Joey Rosskopf (CCC), like Haga before him, he was setting new best times all along the course.  The difference was, he was bettering Haga's time along with all of those who had gone before.  Rosskopf finished his ride in first place, but dropped to tenth after the big names of the Tour came home.

Watch this time lapse video of the is painting as it comes to life.

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%202019/3362551-69-263530/Battling%20the%20Whole%20Way%20%20TDF19-69.html

Tour, Stage 18. Worth the Suffering

Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) has been just barely finishing inside the time limit for the last two days.  The joke is that sprinters are allergic to the mountains.  What makes a fast sprinter usually turns them into bad climbers.  It is all about fast twitch muscles and weight to power ratios.  Today, he got to make all of the suffering worth the effort.  He was able to claim his first stage of the Tour and the third stage for the French.  Nicely for the French, it was Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) who took second, making it one/two for the French and for French teams.  Still hanging about for third was the European Champion, Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates).  He was able to add to his sprinter points total, but Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) took eighth on the stage despite being banged up on stage 17.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3194790-99-251072/PaintingWorth-the-Suffering--T18-98.html

Tour, Stage 18: Still Here

And he is still in the race!  Lawson Craddock (EF Education First), the American who crashed badly on the first day of the Tour is still hanging on the back of the peloton.  He broke his scapula and got a bunch of stitches over his left eye.  He decided he would donate a $100 for every day he could stay in the Tour, and challenged others to donate as well.  He has raised over $120,000 for a Houston, Texas velodrome that was destroyed on the hurricane last year.  Ahead of the American ride Rory Sutherland (UAE Team Emirates), Wout Poels (Sky) the loyal hard working teammate of Chris Froome, and the Maillot a Pois of Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step).  With just 12 K left to ride today, Alaphilippe dropped back to save his legs for the last day of climbing tomorrow.  It is doubtful that anyone can take the jersey from him, he is sure to go in the break again on stage 19.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3194784-98-251072/PaintingStill-Here--T18-97.html