Tour '25, Stage 21: It Takes a Team

Yes, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won his fourth Tour de France, but it takes a team, even the one guy who didn't make it to Paris, Joao Almeida who called it quits during Stage 9 succumbing to his injuries from an earlier crash.  The rest of UAE posed together in the traditional linked arms before having to dodge more road furniture.  Along with Pogacar, it was Adam Yates, Marc Soler, Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Tim Wellens, and Jhonathan Narvaez worked together to make the dream become a reality.  The team celebrated the win by rolling out splashes of yellow on their jerseys, yellow bar tape, and yellow socks.  The two wearing national champion's jerseys added a yellow band to their sleaves instead. Admittedly, you can't see those here.  I didn't see any champagne toast at the start today.  Everyone was unsure how the stage would play out, so best stick with the program until the last guy rolls across the line on the Champs Elysees.

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.  

"It Takes a Team TdF25-140" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 7: Paying Him Back

Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates) has been an amazing support rider for Tadej Pogacar throughout this Dauphine.  So, it should come as no surprise that Pogacar was more than happy to ride up to his teammate to bring him a bottle and check on just how Frenchman.  Yes, Sivakov races with a French racing license. Behind both Ivan Romeo (Movistar) and his teammate, Gregor Muhlberger, keep a close eye on just what these two might be up to.  When Bridget looked through today's paintings to pick her favorite, she thought it looked like Tadej was giving Pavel a rose.  They certainly have been a very successful pair (and he will prove it in just a few kilometers time yet again).

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.

"Paying Him Back CdD25-38" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Worlds: Stretching Their Advantage

Both Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) and Pavel Sivakov (France) both look over at the timekeeper's motorcycle to see just how far back the chaser are.  With 73 kilometers the duo from UAE Team Emirates were stretching out their advantage to just shy of a minute over those closest behind them.  Pogacar had waited for Sivakov at the top of a climb after they escaped the breakaway.  He knew that despite his strength there was still too many kilometers to try and go it alone to the finish line.  However, he eventually found the Slovenian's pace just too much to stay on his wheel.

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.  

"Stretching Their Advantage Z24-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: Going from the Break!

It only took about twenty kilometers for Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) to get off the front of the peloton through the breakaway and off the front of the race.  Many tried to hold onto his wheel again, but it was only his trade teammate, Pavel Sivakov (France) who could manage to stick with the defending Tour de France champion.  Perhaps doing team training sessions together helped Sivakov to understand just how Pogacar rides.  With 78 kilometers left to race, it was a bit early to try to go solo, but then Pogacar did go eighty kilometers alone this year at Strade Bianche.  And this time he as a guy who will work with him, for the foreseeable future at least.  

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. 

"Going from the Break! Z24-10" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: Coming Across

It was a large group of ten guys that got away from the peloton and went of in search of the six-man breakaway.  As they crested the short steep climb of Witikon, they were a minute behind the break and two minutes ahead of the peloton.  Most were there to help their team leaders later like Jan Tratnik (Slovenia), Laurens De Plus (Belgium), Florian Lipowitz (Germany), and Kevin Vermaerke (USA).  However, it can be argued that Magnus Cort (Demark), Johannes Stamne-Mittlet (Norway), Mattia Cattaneo (Italy), Pavel Sivakov (France), and Jay Vine (Australia) were here for themselves.  If these men managed to join with the leading group, it is highly likely that they will be in with a chance to win a medal today.  They do still have another 117 kilometers to race and some very big names (and teams) are in the peloton 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Coming Across Z24-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: Up & Over, Again

The twelve laps around the Wollongong circuit took everyone up and over Mount Pleasant repeatively zapping strength from the legs every time.  The early break was still away with 93 kilometers to go. Each rider followed the other over the top and filed into a long single file line down the other side.  While there are others in the group, this is Pieter Serry (Belgium) following, Pavel Sivakov (France), then Luke Plapp (Australia), Lukasz Owsian (Poland), Pier-Andre Cote (Canada) and just dropping out of sight of the fans is Guy Sagiv (Israel).  They may be doomed in their efforts to stay off the front since the peloton has pulled them back to an under four minute advantage.  Only time will tell if it is all worth the effort for the group.

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

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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