Paris Roubaix '26: Saved by Shimano

With this team car way back behind the peloton, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) took a spare bike from the Shimano Neutral Service.  While not ideal, it sure beat waiting minutes to get his spare off of his team car.  Naturally, the neutral service bike wasn't set perfectly like his own spare, so once his team car can reach him, he will be changing bikes again.  With another 120 kilometers to race, he can hope that his bad luck got out of the way early (unlike last year).

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.

"Saved by Shimano PR26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 2: Losing the Tail

With another eleven kilometers to race back into Rotterdam it was Nafosat Kozieva (Tashkent City Women's Pro Cycling) losing contact with the peloton.  Never a good feeling to watch the Shimano Neutral Service vehicle leave you behind.  She should finish the stage still with the following caravan of team cars.  It has been a rough race for her team with four of her teammates not finishing the first stage of this Tour de France Femmes.  Perhaps this Continental level team is a bit out of their class for this 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Losing the Tail TdFF24-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 15: Neutral Service

When a rider doesn't have access to his team car, he can get help from neutral service.  Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty) had the misfortune to have a flat tire while helping to get the early breakaway started.  His team car had not yet got through the peloton, so it was the Shimano neutral service mechanic who gave him a rear wheel and installed it too.  Despite it being a good fast change, it meant that the South African's time in the break was over.  He dropped back to the peloton.  He then looked for his team car and got a wheel that fit his specks.  For some reason, he later had another bike change which spelled the end of his day.  He finished the day 28th a just over twenty-two minutes behind the stage winner.  Had he not had these misfortunes he might have had a chance at the stage win.  He is a good climber.

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.

"Neutral Service TdF24-85" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: Kissing Polka Dots Goodbye

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) has had a very long run in the Maillot a Pois.  While he did lose the lead in the King of the Mountains competition to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) he stayed in the jersey because he was the next best and Tadej was in Yellow.  Yesterday, he used the small climbs to draw even with the leader of the Tour.  That effort may have been too much.  Today as the peloton started up the Haute Catagorie climb of the Col du Tourmalet, he lost the wheels and with it any hope of having the polka dots on his shoulders (or butt for that matter) tomorrow.

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. 

"Kissing Polka Dots Goodbye TdF24-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 19: We Can Do This

 

As the trio of Kasper Asgreen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) and Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citreon) came over the ridge it was clear to Asgreen that Mohoric was on the limit.  He looked back to encourage his break companions to keep going.  He knew that if they worked together all of the way, they could fight it out to win the stage.  After all, with just 13 kilometers to race, he had a very similar lead over the peloton yesterday and still won the stage.  This stage the trio was only fleeing the break away (put as before, the group contained most of the marquee sprinters still in the Tour).  Mohoric said in a post race interview, that he was gone when he reached the top, but if he wanted a stage win, he had to hold the wheel of the former Danish champion.

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-2023/3966649-129-297438/Painting/we-can-do-this-tdf23-129.html

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Team Relay: She Has to Wait

Liane Lippert (Germany) looks back trying to encourage Mieke Kroger to stay on her wheel as the climb the last rise up towards the finish line in the Mixed Team Relay in Wollongong, NSW. Kroger had done a long hard pull across the flats but couldn't match the climbing prowess of her teammate Lippert.  As they climbed they yelled back and forth, knowing that their time would depend on the second woman to cross the line.  Clearly Lippert was getting frustrated but she knew she must wait for her teammate so that they could work together in hopes of making the final step of the podium currently occupied by the home team, Australia.  At the line they were just eight seconds slower than the Australians.  I doubt the eight seconds were lost at this moment, but it didn't help.  

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/3906811-19-295031/Painting/she-has-to-wait-uci22-19.html

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Team Relay: One More Minute

Using what is now becoming obviously the winning stradegy, the Italians Vittoria Guazzini (the new U23 Women's Time Trial Champion) and Elisa Longo Borghini (the current World Road Champion - at least until Saturday) are inside the final kilometer with just about a minute left to get to the finish line in the Mixed Team Relay.  As strong as they were, they didn't quite have enough speed to better the time of their Swiss adversaries.  They came home just under three seconds behind the Swiss team for the Silver Medal.  Their time did knock the Australians into the Bronze medal position with just two other teams to finish behind them.  Coincidentally, they were the Netherlands and Germany, the only two teams to have ever won this event thus far.  The Netherlands had poor luck losing Bauke Mollema to a mechanical problem and then Annemiek Van Vleutin to a rather frightening crash just as she rolled down the start ramp.  Despite their misfortune, they did manage a fifth place 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/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906802-18-295031/Painting/one-more-minute-uci22-18.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 4: On Her Own

Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) used her time trial skills to ride away from every woman still in the Tour de France Femmes.  With nine kilometers to go she had build up a forty one seconds on the three who were trying to get across to her.  She has just over a minute on the group that contains the Maillot Jaune and all of the other high up on the general classification.  She has just gone through the time bonus point out on course.  So while she isn't a GC factor, she just took three seconds off of her total time thus far in the Tour.  She is riding alone save the race referee's car, the Shimano neutral service, and just visible is one of a flotilla of race motorcycles.  I can't image anyone catching her now, she is adding to her advantage with nearly every pedal stroke on her wasy to Bar sur Aube.

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-2022/3896050-167-294403/Painting/on-her-own-tdff22-26.html

Tour '22, Stage 14: Going Long, Going Early

Using a small uncategorized climb, Michael Mathews (BikeExchange-Jayco) attack his erstwhile break away companions for a long solo effort for victory.  He may have been hoping someone might have come with him, but he wasn't waiting around for anyone.  He quickly built up a thirty second gap on those he had left behind.  He had another 51 kilometers to race, kilometers the included two more categorized climbs before the line.  He clearly felt he had the legs to make it work.

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-2022/3893997-86-294403/Painting/going-long-going-alone-tdf22-87.html

Flanders 2021: You Only Need Two

Both Coryn Rivera and Ruth Winder knew that the time was taken when the second woman finished the course, so they weren’t too worried that they had left Leah Thomas behind.  The duo had built on the lead that their male teammates had given them, finishing their effort with the new best time.  Alas for us here in the States, their time didn’t stand up to those yet to finish.  They ended the Mixed Team Time Trial in eight place, not quite what they had hoped for as they gasped for air at the finish.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838542-18-292177/Painting/you-only-need-two.-uci21-18.html

TDF, Stage 18: Collateral Damage

Do I need to defind collateral damage?  Ineos-Grenadiers have spent countless Tours de France setting a relentless pace on the front of the peloton slowly eliminating their competition on climb after climb.  They are doing the same this Tour, but with much different results.  Yes, there pace on the front cracked Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo) on the climb of the Col du Tourmalet.  However, they also cracked the guy who has one the Tour for them in the past, Geraint Thomas.  He has suffered this Tour after dislocating his shoulder in the early crashes in the early stages of the Tour, but the whole team (with two notable exceptions) just aren't living up to what is normally expected of them.  Perhaps they just aren't having any fun on their bikes anymore.  I am sure they were all riding hoping to move their newly designated leader, Richard Carapaz into at least second place on the GC.  I suspect they felt he could get that fugitive stage victory for the team today as well.

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 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/2021-Tour-de-France/3824240-118-291436/Painting/collateral-damage-tdf21-117.html

TDF, Stage 17: Neutral Service

While I miss the bright yellow of the Mavic service vehicles, I would much rather ride Shimano components.  My first race bike, way back in the 70s had Simplex and Mavic parts, and the Shimano groupset I have now is so much better.  Unfortunately for Estaban Chaves (BikeExchange) he had a flat tire and the base of the final climb of the day, the Col du Portet.  Never a good time to have a mechanical, but it was even worse with his team car so far down the road.  That is the point of having neutral service.  They ride behind each group on the road (until there are just too many groups) ready to lend support to whomever may need it.  It was a quick change and Chaves was able to catch back onto the splintering peloton further up the climb.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.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 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/2021-Tour-de-France/3824068-109-291436/Painting/neutral-service-tdf21-108.html

TDF, Stage 16: Another Tough Day

Chris Froome (Israel Start Up Nation) has had some good days in this Tour, but today wasn't looking like it was going to be one of them.  He finished twenty-three minutes behind the stage winner today, but then the Maillot Jaune along with the main peloton was sixteen minutes behind as well.  Froome is still on his way back from injuries that looked like he may never walk again.  He is doing much better than half of the men in the Tour.  I liked what Mark Cavendish had to say about Froome, "Don't count him out, he will be back," those are important words from someone who had been written off themselves.  Look what Cav has accomplished this Tour when it looked like he wouldn't have a team at the end of last year.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.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 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/2021-Tour-de-France/3823757-100-291436/Painting/another-tough-day-tdf21-99.html

TDF, Stage 7: Who Let These Two Go?

I really don't know how all of the GC riders could have let these two get into a large break away.  Worse the duo of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) were opening up a gap of over six minutes on the guy in second at the start of the day, and all of those whom had been named as a likely winner when we reach Paris in just over another two weeks.  As they climbed the Cote de Glux en Glenne, the Shimano neutral service vehicle stayed close to help should it be needed.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/2021-Tour-de-France/3821557-38-291436/Painting/who-let-these-two-go-tdf21-37.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: Job Done

For some team members it is the goal to win the stage, or perhaps the stage race, but for most it is to help others achieve those goals.  For the guys who work tirelessly to achieve the wins for others, the title of domestique is theirs.  The Costa Rican, Andrey Amado (Ineos-Grenadiers) had done all he could do for the team on the climb of La Plagne.  With 15 kilometers left to race, he dropped of the front and rode to the line as best he could.  Ahead of him was the neutral support vehicle provided by Shimano with Marco Haller (Bahrain-Victorious) joining others that were sliding off the back of the ever shrinking peloton.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815690-119-185083/Painting/job-done-cd21-35.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Still Free

I couldn't resist this title.  In stage 5, Lawson Craddock (EF Eduation-Nippo) went on a solo attack.  When I painted that effort I titled it, "Going Free"  So naturally when the Texan went again today I had to titled it "Still Free"  Craddock was looking good up and over the Cote de Frete, but those behind weren't going to let him stay out there unchallenged.  With just fifteen seconds and another 6 kilometers to race, most of them uphill, it was unlikely he would succeed in the effort.  He did move himself into second in the King of the Mountian competition.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815293-115-185083/Painting/still-free-cd21-31.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: The Stage and Two Jerseys

Brent Van Horn (Lotto Soudal) had gone in the early break looking to claim the first King of the Mountains Jersey of this year's Criterium du Dauphine.  Instead, he came away with considerably more.  It is a rare thing for the break away to stay off the front all of the way to win the stage, but that is what Van Horn managed to do (those with him were absorbed by the peloton within the final 15 kilometers of the stage.)  Van Horn not only took is first victory in a pro tour race, but because he did so he is now the first to wear the yellow jersey of race leader.  Ironically, his success on the stage means he will not be wearing the polka dot jersey of the king of the mountains, because the yellow jersey of race leader takes precedence.  Not a bad day out on the bike.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814172-88-185083/Painting/the-stage-and-two-jerseys-cd21-4.html

Omloop 2021 - Avec Panache

 One thing is certain, if Julain Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) is racing it will be entertaining.  The commentator on the feed that I was using said that Alaphilippe wins with panache.  Even if he doesn't win, he will always provide the audience with a show.  He reminds me of his countryman, Thomas Voeckler, although he has a much better palmares then the guy who held off Lance Armstrong in the Tour for three days through the Alps while wearing the Yellow Jersey.

Alas, behind the World Champion is the neutral service vehicle that is no longer the bright yellow of Mavic.  The Mavic company has pulled out of supply neutral service this year and yielded that duty to Shimano.  Perhaps a more appropiate company now that most every pro team uses Shimano componets on their bikes (Campanolo and SRAM being the other choices).

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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-2021/3796485-4-290150/Painting/avec-panache-ohn21-4.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: Neutral Service

Along with the riders team cars, the race caravan includes neutral service vehicles ready to meet the needs of racers from every team in the race.  Since Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) is up in the break and his team car is behind the chasing peloton, he gets a bidon from the Shimano neutral service car.  De Gendt must have thought he was in Europe going to the left side of the car forgeting that the driver sits on the right in Australia.  Never the less, he was able to quench his thirst in the hot South Australian weather (although not as hot as the previous three stages).

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-Down-Under/3286112-131-194179/PaintingNeutral-Service--TDU19-13.html

Giro, Stage 19: Climbing Alone

Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) has been riding an agressive Giro, and today's Queen Stage was no exception.  Sanchez had jumped free of the breakaway on the ascent of the Colle del Finestrie, followed only by the Shimano neutral service vehicle.  Suddenly he sat up, stretched out his back and legs and started soft pedaling.  He apparently had been told to wait for his team leader, Miguel Angel Lopez who was struggling a bit on the early slopes of the Cima Coppi.  Given the way he was riding, he seemed a shame to pull the Spaniard back when the team has yet to win a stage in the 101st Giro d'Italia.

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/101st-Giro-dItalia/3168812-77-249297/PaintingClimbing-Alone--G18-82.html