Fleche Wallonne 23, Women’s Race: Making Sure

With just 150 meters to go, Demi Vollering (SD Worx) looked back to make sure no one was coming up too quickly on her.  She did find Liane Lippert (Movistar) and Mavi Garcia (Liv Racing TeqFind) were back there.  But as she turned back forward her smile let everyone know that she knew the victory was going to be hers.  I don’t think I have ever seen such a smile grow so broadly across a rider’s face before.  Lippert, the German National Champion, held on for second, yet, Garcia, the Spanish National Champion, faded to fourth on the day.  

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-/3946449-541-195767/Painting/making-sure-fwf23-5.html

TDF, Stage 14: Moving Up

I just now realized that this title is a pun.  First, my intention was to capture an image of Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) as he raced in one of the leading groups on the road.  He was tucked in with some chasers of the leader and another small group on the road.  He had Omar Fraile (Astana-Premier Tech) and Elie Geshert (Arkea-Samsic) for company, amongst others, to help build his gap back to the Maillot Juane group.  The other interpretation of the title is that this shot was caught from the helicopter as it literally moved up from this group and went in search of the peloton.  His effort led to him moving from ninth place overall into second just over four minutes off the lead in second place.

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/3823020-88-291436/Painting/moving-up-tdf21-87.html

Tour, Stage 10: Bridging Back

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist the title of this painting, I think I actually laughed out loud when I thougt of it.  As the peloton went over the bridge onto the Ile de Re, Miquel Angel Lopez (Astana) was off the back on the rise up to the high point of both the bridge and the stage.  He was being pulled pack by three teammates but, alas, I could only identify Luis Leon Sanchez because of his Spanish National Champion's jersey.  They must have been very close to rejoining because the race director's car is just behind them, and they are passing the Mavic neutral service vehicle that is usually just behind the last member of the peloton.

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-2020/3696547-65-282744/Painting/bridging-back-tdf20-60.html

Tour, Stage 9: Commiserating

As the group of GC contenders hit the final climb, the Col de Marie Blanque, the pace became brutal. Riders began losing the wheels from the bottom of the slope.  As they slide away, Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) and the Spanish Champion, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) had time to commiserate about the toughness of the effort.  Just ahead, bedecked in the red of the National Champion of Switzerland, Sebastien Riechenbach (Groupama-FDJ) was starting to yo-yo off the back just ahead of the Director's car and the Mavic neutral service car.  Both Sanchez's and Reichenbach's National Champion jerseys are examples of teams honoring the national flags and not adding them as a side note to the team kit.  Primoz Roglic's jersey is an example of how not to do it.  You can't even find the Slovenian flag on his kit.

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-2020/3693434-56-282744/Painting/commiserating-tdf20-51.html

Fleche Wallone: Keeping Cool

Jesus Herrada (Movistar - Spanish National Champion) played his part of Movistar's plan for the day helping Katusha set the pace and slowly reel pack in the break away up the road.  While it wasn't exactly hot on the road (although much warmer that previous editions that have been raced in the snow), Herrada still used his water bottle to spray himself down in an effort to keep cool.  Katusha assisted in the chase, having the winners of the last two Fleche Wallones in their roster of riders on the day.  Of course Herrada's teammate, Valverde has one victory here on his Palmares as well.  This is an original ink and watercolor postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2352143---195767/Painting.html#.U1iIVsvD_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 4: Following the Leader

Stage 4 was the first stage to feature some real climbs in the 2014 running of Paris Nice, and because of that the Polka Dot Jersey (awarded for being first over the most climbs) was destined to change hands today.  The early breakaway was set up to claim all of the available points and they seemed to have come to an agreement to let V. Agnoli of Astana grab all of the King of the Mountain points on the first climbs of the stage.  He gathered up enough points to don the Polka Dot Jersey at the finish of the stage.  Oddly, Team Bretagne missed this breakaway after having been represented in every break of every stage thus far.  Perhaps coincidently, each day's break has had the same number of riders as days in the race, so it was four today.  V. Agnoli of Astana, Jesus Herrada of Moviestar (and the National Champion of Spain), Laurent Didier of Trek Factory Racing and Perrig Quemeneur of Team Europcar were the riders to comprise today's effort.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com, or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2327069---195767/Painting.html#.UyEnjs_D_IU