Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: Not a Soul in Sight

 

Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) came to the line alone to claim the Rainbow Jersey of the UCI Road World Championships.  His gap was such that no one was visible chasing behind.  He had nearly two and a half minutes on the large group of chasers behind.  So that was plenty of time for us to watch the emotions of the moment place across his face, and hands, has he rounded the final bends of the Wollongong City circuit.  At the end of the Worlds last year he was frustrated that he could have one the title then, but had to ride for his countryman, Wout Van Aert.  This year, Van Aert was too far back to have a chance, so Evenepoel was going to let history repeat himself.  

One of the first to congratulate the new champion was Julian Alaphilippe (France) who ceded his two time title to his trade team teammate.  One of the last was his countryman, Van Aert.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3907952-34-295031/Painting/not-a-soul-in-sight-uci22-34.html

Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: Time for His Close Up

Once Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) dropped his last companion, he was off on his own.  With every pedal stroke he was gaining time on those behind.  And he was getting closer and closer to being the UCI Road World Champion.  He had enough of a gap on those behind that the TV Moto was able to slot in behind him and film his solo run to victory. With just thirteen kilometers left to race he was just under a minute ahead of the remnants of the break away and almost three minutes to the peloton that contained the favorites of the day.  Barring any crashes or mechanicals, the Rainbow Jersey is his.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3907951-33-295031/Painting/time-for-his-close-up-uci22-33.html  

Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: All Alone

It does amuse me when a rider is off the front on his own in a sea of cycling fans is described as being 'all alone.'  Clearly Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) is anything but alone as he rides away from Alexey Lutsenko (Kazakhstan) at the summit of his penultimate climb of Mount Pleasant.  While the cycling fans along the road have been growing in number by the hour, they were doing rather well at staying out of the way of the racers.  It had not been the plan by Belgium to have Evenepoel go for the victory, but the winner of the Veulta d'Espania was in the right place with the right form with just 25 kilometers to race.  It may have smarted a bit to ride over the name of Wout Van Aert (Belgium) painted on the road.  Or it may have given him that extra motivation since Wout was the theoretical leader of the Belgium team.  Regardless, he looked set to bring home the first Rainbow Jersey to Belgium since Philippe Gilbert won it ten years ago.  Fitting since Gilbert retired at the end of this year's Tour de France.  

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3907916-31-295031/Painting/all-alone-uci22-31.html

Tour '22, Stage 21: Down the Other Side

Now that all of the ceremonies are over (well until the final jersey presentations) it is time to race.  I have always loved this view of the peloton sweeping around the l'Arc de Triomphe since the circle was included in the 100th Tour de France.  Conversely, I am disappointed to not see the giant French flag that has flapped under the arch.  As the peloton upped the pace to set up their sprinters they were moving too fast for me or Phil Liggett to catch their names (or at least reveal them on air).  All I know is that it is Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl, BikeExchange-Jayco, and Team DSM lining out the peloton to help out their sprinters.

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 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895595-145-294403/Painting/goose-bump-tdf22-139.html

Tour '22, Stage 19: Keep It Going

It was most likely a fools errand but these five went out in a break away on a day earmarked for the sprinters.  It looked like Nil Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) was trying to get the rest to keep working together in hopes that they could get a bigger gap on the motivated peloton behind.  I do wonder what Taco Van Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) had to say in response.  Leading the group was the ever present break away artist, Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) along with Mikkel Honore (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious).  Both Politt and Mohoric are the only members of the  group  who have won a stage of the Tour, a total of three between them.  All of those wins have come from them going in a break away that made it to the end.  It is unlikely either will repeat the feat today.

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 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895278-122-294403/Painting/keep-it-going.html 

Tour '22, Stage 15: You Good?

The duo of Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Mikkel Honore (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) were never able to build up a big advantage over the peloton behind.  I don't think they ever got over a two minute advantage.  After going over the Cote d'Ambialet, Politt looked back at Honore seemingly asking how he was doing.  The other question perhaps was, "should we keep going, or is this worthless now?"  Every rider must ration their efforts over the three week of the Tour.  Think of a box of matches, you only have so many to strike before your box is empty.  So it is with a three week Tour, you can only put in but so many hard days before your body is simply empty.  Hopefully, one will not burn one's matches vainly.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3894177-90-294403/Painting/what-do-we-do-now-tdf22-91.html

Tour '22, Stage 15: What Do We Do Now?

The champion of Germany, Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) was out in the early three man break with MIkkel Honore (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl).  Earlier, the Maillot Vert, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had been out there with them, but he was called back to the peloton by his team.  They actually sent a team car up to him to tell him directly to sit up and come back to the fold.  More on that later.  With the break down to two men, Politt wanted some advice from his sports director about whether he should continue the effort or not.  With the day the last possible day for a sprint finish before Paris, it was unlikely the sprinters' teams were going to let a break away succeed.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3894177-90-294403/Painting/what-do-we-do-now-tdf22-91.html

Tour '22, Stage 13: Ambulance Chaser

Sometimes I amuse myself, even if no one else finds it funny.  When I saw Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) drafting off the race ambulance in hopes of rejoining the peloton, all I could think of personal injury lawyers.  You know, "amublance chaser" is one of their less than kind nicknames.  This driver was definitely being kind allowing Jakobsen to hide behind him even though the rest of the race caravan was quite a ways up the road.  It seems the race referees were turning a blind eye to this bending of the rules.  He did get back, eventually, only to be dropped 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 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893925-78-294403/Painting/ambulance-chaser-tdf22-79.html

Tour '22, Stage 8: Not Much Chance

Well, yes, a break away has made it all of the way to the end of a stage to sprint for stage honors, but it is rare.  The peloton hasn't let these three build up much of a lead.  So it is unlikely that Mattia Cattaneo (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) nor Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal) would manage to outwit the peloton.  Still they have no chance of winning the day if they don't try to go in the break, the peloton is just too strong and too deep with talent for them to have a chance in sprinting up the final 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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892801-42-294403/Painting/not-much-chance-tdf22-42.html

Tour '22, Stage 7: Well, That Went Well

Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) was laughing with Wout Van Aert as Van Aert added more to his sprint points in his bid to carry the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  Behind the duo Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) hung his head in his failed attempt to get around the Belgium.  He may be embarassed that he failed to follow the wheel of his lead out man Michael Morkov.  The pair are not quite in sync yet.  I have been struggling to figure out how to paint this awful Tour jersey of Jumbo-Visma.  I do think Laporte's jersey is just about spot on.  Good thing I have figured it out because I will be painting that team most every stage going forward as they fight to unseat the Maillot Jaune.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892714-35-294403/Painting/well-that-went-well-tdf22-35.html

Tour '22, Stage 5: Jarring Along

Stage 5 had been hyped as a big day for the first week of the Tour, and boy did it deliver!  Early on, just Sector 10 and already teams and GC riders were in trouble of losing their strong positions.  Sensing that they had a good opportunity for a stage win Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl went to the front with Kapser Asgreen and Michael Morkov.  Asgreen had been mention as a potential winner of the stage so the team was doing what it could to get him across the cobbles first.  On the Belgium team's wheels was Ineos-Grenadiers follow by about half of the peloton.  The rest of those in the Tour were sprinkled in various chase groups over the next two kilometers.  The crowds along the pave were treated to what they hoped for in the dust and sweat of the smaller Hell of the North.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892395-24-294403/Painting/jarring-along-tdf22-24.html

Tour '22, Stage 4: Half Speed

Today's intermediate sprint may have been important in the race for the Maillot Vert, but it seem to unfold at half speed.  Two guys were still up the road, so the sprint was for third, which was taken by Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl).  He was aided by his leadout man, Michael Morkov who took 6th.  Splitting the two Quick Step guys was the man in yellow (although he leads in the green jersey competition as well), Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).  Rounding out the more major placings was Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies).  It did seem as though everyone was holding back their efforts in hopes of having the legs for the final climb and sprint finale.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3892126-17-294403/Painting/half-speed-tdf22-17.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Getting Him Going

It isn't just the start riders that make a win at the Tour de France possible, it takes the entire team.  Not only the domestiques, but the mechanics, soigneurs, chefs, nutritionists, drivers and everyone else that makes a team function.  One of Jakobsen's leadout men, Andrea Bagioli (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) gets a quick wheel change and a push from the team car's mechanic to get him up and running.  With 31 kilometers until the end of the stage, Bagioli will certainly be able to get up to the front to do his part for his team's sprinter.

Watch as I create this painting in real time.  I talk about the Tour and how to create a compelling cycling watercolor with ink and paint.

Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and giving this post a thumbs up.  Plus I would love to hear your comments about this and the rest of my cycling 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, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891871-14-294403/Painting/getting-him-going-tdf22-14.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Every Sprint Matters

So, Bridget always picks a favorite from each stage.  Today as she was looking through my watercolors she commented that this one reminded her of the famous cycling scene from ET.  While the lone man up the road, Magnus Cort, took the maximum points, there were still plenty on offer in the quest to claim the Maillot Vert or sprinter's jersey as it is known.  While Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) has on the Maillot Jaune of race leader, he is targeting Green when he arrives in Paris.  So it was that he out sprinted Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) and Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies).  His teammate, Christophe Laporte lead him out beautifully and still had the legs to nip Sagan at the line.  Jakobsen was second losing some more points to Van Aert.  Jakobsen is currently second in the competition and is wearing green since the sprint point leader, Van Aert, is currently in yellow.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891865-12-294403/Painting/every-sprint-matters-tdf22-12.html

Tour '22, Stage 2: A Validation

Before the start of the Tour, there was quite a lot of anger over Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl taking Fabio Jakobsen instead of Mark Cavendish to the Tour.  It would have been Cavendish's chance to break Eddy Merckx's record of Tour stage victories, clearly that can't happen this year now.  However, the team believed they could win with Jakobsen, and as of day, they were clearly right.  He out sprinted Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), but his second place was enough to put him in Yellow (and to earn the Green Jersey as well).  Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) took third.  I'm quite sure the Danish former World Champion would have loved to win a stage in his home country, but he just didn't quite have the sprint today.  There is one more stage on Danish soil, so it still might happen.  Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) finished sixth on the day, but he is hidden from view by the celebrating Jakobsen.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891751-10-294403/Painting/a-validation-tdf22-10.html

Tour '22, Stage 2: Drink Up

Yves Lampaert (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) dropped back to his team car to get a drink for himself and his teammates before the 20 kilometer ban on visiting the team cars.  Lampaert looked great in the Maillot Jaune.  He was quoted as saying, "I'm just a farmer's son, this is more than I dared dream for."  And that humility was on full display at the end of the stage as he went to the front to help lead out his team's sprinter.  That makes two years in a row that I have seen the Yellow Jersey leading out a sprint in the early stages of the Tour.

Watch how this painting came together as I talk about the race and creating cycling watercolors here:

Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and giving this painting a thumbs up.  Plus, I love to hear what you think of the video or my artwork.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891734-8-294403/Painting/drink-up-tdf22-8.html

Tour '22, Stage 1: Taking Full Advantage

Most of the sports directors started their main GC competitors at the beginning of the start order in hopes of beating the expected late day rains.  Instead the rains came early scuttling the hopes of many and slowing down everyone.  Yet for Yves Lampaert (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) the rains had eased as he took to the course towards the end of the day.  Lampaert took full advantage of the conditions and came across the line in front of the palace with the newest best time.  At last the new best time remained the best time for the stage.  So it is not any of the GC men, nor anyone all of the pundits thought it would be, but a surprise who pulls on the first Maillot Jaune of the 2022 Tour de France.  Chapeau, Yves!

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891647-5-294403/Painting/taking-full-advantage-tdf22-5.html

Liege Bastogne Liege '22: Out on a High Note

 A bit of symmetry in today's finish of Liege Bastogne Liege.  Today's race was in honor of the last Belgium rider to win this race, Philippe Gilbert.  Today, it was a new young home country man, Remco Evenepoel (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) who claimed the win in front of his countymen in Liege.  It is also the first of the Belgium, French, and Dutch classics that his team has won.  That is a very rare occurrence for this team based in Belgium.  Equally, he was move to tears with his win.  As he said in his post race interview, he has been struggling both physically and mentally.  This win meant everything to him, and his team.  Behind him is a climate change protestor, whom I have seen at the finish of races previously.  The protestor runs (without endangering the competitors) behind the finishers hoping to get his slogan on camera and seen around the world.  Seems a good and relatively harmless way to get his message 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3881106-507-195767/Painting/out-on-a-high-note-lbl22-7.html

Liege Bastogne Liege '22: Catch and Hope to Release

On the way up the final climb, the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons, Remoc Evenepoel (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) jumped clear of the chasing peloton.  Evenepoel is known for going on long solo efforts to win a race.  Today he left it rather late for his normal standards.  He actually tapped his head to tell us all that he knew he was racing smart today.  He picked up and dropped each member of the early break away.  It was only Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) who could hold the young Belgium riders wheel.  Yet he to was eventually dropped as the pair got within twenty kilometers left to race.  Those of you who fish should get where I was coming from with this title.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3881100-505-195767/Painting/catch-and-hope-to-release-lbl22-5.html

Paris Roubaix '22: Where Did You Go?

Tom Devriendt (Intermache Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) looked back to find Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) coming back to his wheel.  It has looked like Mohoric was the strongest in the break, but suddenly he dropped off the pace.  There was no indication that he had a mechanical, but he apparently got himself sorted.  As he came back to the unexpected leader, he brought Yves Lambert (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) along with him.  Just in the background, you can make out the red shoulders of Dylan Van Baarle (Ineos-Grenadiers) about to make it four guys on the front with 28 kilometers left of Paris Roubaix.  There are some of the favorites chasing behind, but this quartet is looking like the podium for today's race.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3879926-498-195767/Painting/where-did-you-go-pr22-14.html