Tour de France 23, The Race Behind

With the winner on the top of the Puy de Dome already settled.  Now the camera turned its attention to the race for the Maillot Jaune.  As soon as the peloton of favorites hit the lower slopes of the Puy du Dome, the race for the general classification was back on.  With about three kilometers to race to the summit Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) jumped out of the group of all the hopefuls.  The only one with the legs to cover his move was the Maillot Jaune of Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).  Pogacar did open a gap over Vingegaard that ever so slowly grew to eight seconds.  Try as he might, that was all the more time Pogacar could claw back on this Danish rival for yellow in Paris.  

Each can claim victory on the day.  Pogacar regained more time and let Vingegaard, the contestants, and the rest of us that he was still very much in this Tour.  Conversely, Vingegaard had the legs to make sure Pogacar didn't gain more time, and rode smart enough to not go into the red and blow is Tour on a single climb.

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-2023/3964578-54-297438/Painting/the-race-behind-tdf23-54.html

This original has sold, but there are digital prints available.

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: He Flew Up the Mountain

I stand by my prediction that an american would win the day, a North American, and so it was.  Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), a Canadian, passed the USA national, Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) with about 750 meters to race.  He was the one that came over the rise under the lens of the press photographers alone, Jorgenson was caught and passed by others leaving just off the podium in fourth place on the stage.  The Tour can be very cruel to some, and a sweet mistress to others.

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-2023/3964568-53-297438/Painting/he-flew-up-the-mountain-tdf23-53.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: One More Kilometer of Pain

Due to the protect status of the Puy du Dome, the race was not allowed to post the normal countdown markers in the final meters of the stage.  However, given the struggles the contestants riding with their heads down, having the markers on the road seemed a reasonable solution.  Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) was still off the front on his own with one kilometer to go and about fifteen seconds on those chasing behind.  It has looked as though the stage was going to go to an American without doubt since it was Jorgenson being chased by Powless.  But now, the one closing in was Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), but it still means my prediction is right, he hails from Canada, another part of America.

Additionally, the race was not allowed to permit fans on the course until the summit, so it was a bit odd to watch the peloton toil in silence.   While not as exciting for fans and viewers alike, it was certainly considerably safer.

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-2023/3964563-52-297438/Painting/one-more-kilometer-of-pain-tdf23-52.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: Three Chasing One

Over the top of the last of the small climbs of the day, the Cote de Pontaumur, the break away split up due to the attack of the American, Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar).  On the lower slopes of the Puy de Dome, he was roughly a minute ahead of these three chasers.  He was holding off his fellow countryman, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) in his Maillot a Pois, along with Matthieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious).  These three had another seven chasing them, with other somewhere further back, with the peloton beginning to collect them one by one.  With all of those who seem most likely to win the Tour in Paris now about ten minutes back, the day was now becoming a story of two seperate races in a single 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 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-2023/3964561-51-297438/Painting/three-chasing-one-tdf23-51.html