Tour '26, Stage 19: Chasing Up Alpe d'Huez

Undaunted by the leaders' three-minute advantage, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) jumped clear of the group of race favorites in search of another stage victory.  In just four kilometers of the twelve of the climb he has already pulled back half of the advantage of those up the road.  At this point in the climb the crowds were very much under control.  That may have something to do with the heavy presents of the Gendarmie.   The only one in sight of the Maillot Jaune was one of the many press photographers on the back of a motorcycle.  

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: "Chasing Up d'Huez TdF26-139" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →   

Tour de France 23, Stage 15: On the Final Climb

Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) may not have been the strongest descender in the break away, but he was definitely shinning when the road went up for the final ascend of the day.  He had dropped those that he had been with in the previous post and went off in hopes of getting that long sought for stage victory in the Tour de France.  Just ahead of him was one of the many motorcycles that carry the press  still photographers.  Unlike the infamous moment yesterday (I didn't paint the motorcycles impeding Pogacar's attack of Vingegaard), this moto stayed out of the way, nor did they provide a draft for Poels on his ascent up to Saint Gervais les Bains on Mont Blanc.

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-2023/3965818-98-297438/Painting/on-the-final-climb-tdf23-98.html

Paris Roubaix 23: Onto Another Sector

The pair of Jonas Koch (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Juri Holman (Movistar) were the first to escape off the front of the peloton.  So they were the first to hit Sector 24 with enough of a gap that the flotilla of press and race motorcycles was allowed to slot in behind them.  I loved the image of the foreshortening that shows the arch announcing the entrance into this sector in the background enough that I felt it was worthy of being captured in watercolors.  That is part of my selection process of what I chose to paint.  I look for images that tell the story of the race, but then I also look for a captivating image as well.  After all, this is also about making art.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3945231-530-195767/Painting/onto-another-sector-pr23-10.html

Paris Nice, Stage 3: Covering the Peloton

The best way to get the images of the race that we all enjoy is to be in the middle of the race on the back of a motorcycle.  Here as the peloton spreads across the narrow road, a photographer turns around to shoot the group as they chase down the lone escapee.  I have seen this particular helmet over the years shooting races.  Does anyone know who wears a red helmet with a white stripe and a white star?  The drivers must be very skilled to stay out of the way of the race and counter balance the squirming photographers and videographers that are their charges.

I once tried to see if I could paint the races this way.  Silly I know, but it would have been cool.  But the weather of this race thus far would have made it impossible let alone the infeasiblitly of painting on a moving motorcycle on back country roads.

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/Paris-Nice/3488946-12-272742/Painting/covering-the-peloton-pn20-12.html

Tour, Stage 13: Pressing on Alone

With the peloton breathing down the neck of the break away, Michael Schar (BMC) decided to press on alone.  He has the pedigree to time trial away from the peloton, but 24 kilometers is a long way to hold off an re-invigorated peloton.  I realized as I was posting this image, that the motorcycle passing Schar was the same one that was photographing the break in the previous painting.  With just about 30 seconds between Schar and the peloton the referees were clearing out all of the vehicles between them so as not to give the chasers an unfair advantage in closing to the leader.

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-2018/3190725-71-251072/PaintingPressing-on-Alone--T18-70.html

Tour, Stage 6: Ready to Go

This Tour seems to keep dishing up ill timed mishaps for the GC contenders.  Some have lost over a minute in their bad luck's bad timing.  Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) was a little more fortunate than others to have his late mechanical happen with another twenty kilometers to race.  While he will have to expend more energy than his main rivals, he will be able to rejoin the race without the risk of losing any time on the day. 

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-2018/3186854-28-251072/PaintingReady-to-Go--T18-28.html