Paris Roubaix '25: Caught in the Middle

Once Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) had his flat and the other three went forward, Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) found himself caught in the middle of the main groups on the road.  As he entered pave sector 14, he decided to just wait for those behind to catch him up.  Not ideal, but he had a better chance of catching the leaders with the help of the six or so men chasing behind.

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.

"Caught in the Middle PR25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 7 ITT, Catching His Minute Man

Well technically, Stefan Bissenger (EF Education-EasyPost) was catching his minute and a half man.  In the time trial, each rider starts 90 seconds apart with the guy lowest on the general classification going first and then on up the standings in reverse order.  Once the starts get to the last fifteen guys on the GC, they start two minutes apart, just to keep this from happening.  Bissenger is a master at the Individual Time Trial so it wasn't that surprising that he caught Nikias Arndt (Bahrain-Victorious).  A little more surprising was that he wasn't the new best time when he got to the finish in Gevrey-Chambertain.

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.

"Catching His Minute Man TdF24-33" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Team Relay: Setting It Up for the Women

Stefan Kung and Stefan Disseger were the two men who came together to the line for Switzerland.  The duo of Stefans posted the best time at the finish of the men's lap.  Since the time is taken on the second man to cross the line, it was not a problem that only two of the three finished together.  This duo was handing over a sixteen second advantage to the trio of Swiss women.  And it was a very strong line up of women that are just now waiting for the green light to start their race through the streets of Wollongong.  

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/3906773-16-295031/Painting/setting-it-up-for-the-women-uci22-16.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: On a Rough One

My heart breaks for poor Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-EasyPost).  In the opening time trial he crash twice.  This discipline is his speciality, so he has ridden all the way around France just to have another go at the closing time trial.  And here he is having to change bikes.  He either had a flat tire or perhaps an electronic shifter issue, but either way he had to stop and get another bike.  In a race that is decided by seconds he knew that this moment was the one that ended his hopes for winning a Tour de France Time Trial.  Starting the day in 88th overall, he clearly wasn't going to be anywhere near the top ten, nor is he much of a sprinter, so tomorrow isn't a day for him either.  Given that this was his day, he was amazingly calm as he gently layed down his (rather expensive) bike as the mechanic got his other one off of the team car's roof.  Knowing his stage was over now, he just noodled the rest of the way in finishing in the mid fifties 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, 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-2022/3895453-127-294403/Painting/another-rough-one-tdf22-128.html

Paris Nice 2022: Slipping Away

With little hope of outsprinting some of those in the front group Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost) went off the front of the peloton with roughly 15 kilometers to race.  The Swiss rider was joined by his countryman, Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) and Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal).  You can't see, but trust me he is there, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo Visma) bridge across to defend his Yellow Jersey and the position on the GC of his teammates.  He need not have worried, too many in the peloton fancied their chances in a sprint finale, so these escapes were put back into the peloton in quick order.  It is impressive that Gilbert had the legs to go again having been off the front of the peloton for 100 kilometers and then in the front group for another 45.

 

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/Paris-Nice/3870707-45-272742/Painting/slipping-away-pn22-8.html

Flanders 2021: Fastest at the Second Check

Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) was laying down a brilliant ride.  When he got to the second time check he logged the best time thus far.  Yes, there were some big names on the road behind him but he looked to be on a podium worthy time trial.  Unfortunately, he wasn't going to replace the lore of his countryman, Fabian Cancellara.  It was a combination of fading a bit towards the finish and some of the other behind him that left him with a seventh place 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 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-2021/3837375-2-292177/Painting/fastest-at-the-second-check.html

TDF, Stage 21: Leading the Way Up the Champs Elysees

The trio of escapees still had twenty seconds on the peloton.  I can't imagine that Deceuninck-Quick Step, the team of Mark Cavendish, was going to let anyone stay away thus spoiling Mark's chances of breaking the record of stage wins in the Tour.  Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) has been holding off the peloton for longer than expected earlier in the Tour, and when he teams up with Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe)and a strong time trialist like Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-Nippo) they weren't going to make it easy to pull them back.  It is a long drap up to the l'Arc Triomphe on Champs Elysees partiuclarly after 20 days of racing, and just another 12 kilometers left in this final stage.  Still, they seem up to the challenge at hand (or under wheel).

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/3824857-142-291436/Painting/leading-them-up-the-champs-elysees-tdf21-141.html

TDF, Stage 21: And Now, We Race!

With all of the tradition having been honored, it was time to race.  After the champagne toasts, the winner's team photos, the handshakes, the mugging for the cameras, and the procession onto the Champs Elysees led by the team of the Maillot Juane, it is time to get back to the business of a bike race.  The moment that the yellow jersey crossed the line for the first of eight laps, the attacks began.  This trio of Harry Sweeny (Lotto Soudal), Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-Nippo) and someone from Bora-Hansgrohe got a bit of seperation as the peloton flew back down the Champs Elysees away from the l'Arc de Triomphe.  As Phil Liggett said, "That might be the biggest flag I've ever seen."  Normally, their would be a fly over by the French airforce, but they arrived just a bit late.  I'll leave the interpretation of that fact 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 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/3824849-139-291436/Painting/and-now-we-race-tdf21-138.html

TDF, Stage 20: Flying Around

Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-Nippo) was one of the earlier riders to start the final time trial of this Tour de France.  While he may not be very high up on the general classification, he was leading the time checks as he attacked the course today.  As he whipped through the town of Montagne towards the second time check he could begin to wonder if the stage would be his.  Yes, there are about seventy riders to come after him, but he did log the best time as he crossed the line in Saint Emilion.

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/3824535-130-291436/Painting/flying-around-tdf21-129.html

TDF, Stage 5 ITT: Catching One

Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-Nippo) catches Christian Rodriguez (TotalEnergies) who had started a minute and a half earlier.  Bissegger was on a storming ride (and yet the rain seemed to leave him alone).  He was one of three riders for his team to hold the top four positions at the finish for a period of time.  The hard part for my painting the time trial is guessing who's ride is going to be a part of the story at the end of the day and who will be a statistic somewhere down the leader board.  Not that is final standing on the day negates the quality of the ride he put in.  

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/3821229-28-291436/Painting/catching-one-tdf21-27.html