Tour '25, Stage 11: Out Thrown

Both Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) and Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) had managed to drop the other three members of the breakaway.  They were chased by Mathieu Van Der Poel.  He had lost a stage on a breakaway effort in the final meters of a stage.  Today, he was unable to catch the break and was about at the same point when he was caught then as he was now when these two sprinted for stage victory.  Schmid had the misfortune of being on the front for the final kilometer but came oh so close to outsprinting the Norwegian on the Norwegian team.  It came down to the quality of each man's bike throw.  Abrahamsen had the better lunge for the line claiming his first Tour de France stage victory of his career.  You may remember he spend days in the Maillot a Pois and a day or two in the Maillot Vert last year, but this is the first time he has taken a Tour 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Out Thrown TdF25-72" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 8: Cruising

The long flat stage designed to be one for the sprinters had the peloton at more of a cruising pace.  For those at the back, it was almost a day off.  With the first mountain stage looming Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) - the Swiss Champion - and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) could be forgiven to try can get as much rest as one can at 30 miles per hour.  While there was no one off the front of the peloton the sprinters' teams were keeping the pace locked in to prevent anyone from trying to escape before the intermediate sprint in Vitre.

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. 

"Cruising TdF24-47" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 4: A Swift Swiss

It was the Swiss Champion Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) who jumped out of the breakaway to claim the first intermediate sprint in Snapper Point.  William Junior Lecerf (Soudal-Quick Step) gave the champion a run for his money, but in the end wasn't able to come around Schmid.  After the sprint, the break rejoined and got on with their likely vain effort to win the 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"A Swift Swiss TDU25-32" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Alone at the Top

While on the climb it seemed to me that Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) was about to be dropped any moment.  She was pushing a big gear and looked to be using her shoulders to push her pedals over.  But once an attack was made by Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) the Swiss Champion went on the offensive.  She dropped the Dutch woman and went on to win atop Willunga Hill by ten seconds.  Winning the stage moves out of her national champion's jersey and into the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  She also now sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition, and she leads the Sprint Points competition as well.  Not a bad day out on the bike, at all.

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.

"Alone at the Top TDU25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: Chasing Champions

I suppose I should have titled this "Champions Chasing."  This duo used the final descent to break free of the peloton and go after the lone break away.  The two had ten seconds on the peloton but still had to make up another twenty-three seconds on Ricarda Bauerfiend with just two and a half kilometers to race.  The German Champion, Laine Lippert (Moivstar) and the Swiss Champion, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to be more concerned about trying to out smart the other to be able to work together to chase the rider up the road.  In addition, each were riding in defense of their respective team leaders, so at least they can hope to suck up any remaining bonus seconds at the finish line.  

The two never got closer than twenty-two seconds to Bauerfiend, and the peloton never got closer than the ten seconds that they have right now.

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-2023/3968195-174-297438/Painting/chasing-champions-tdff23-30.html