The Art of Cycling: Team Time Trial

Showing posts with label Team Time Trial. Show all posts

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Tour '26, Stage 1: Ready to Pounce

I'm not sure that I agree with the general public's choice of the dark jersey for Visma-Lease a Bike. I had voted for the light-colored kit, but I am rarely on the winning side of most any voting. However, it was Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) putting in one final pull for his team leader Jonas Vingegaard. Despite having been dropped Davide Piganzoli clawed his way back to the duo. He was able to give one last pull after Jorgenson swung off. That may have been enough to get Vingegaard across the line with the best time by eight seconds over the Italian Champion, Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos). With that stage win, Vingegaard will start tomorrow in the Maillot Jaune. Maybe a bit soon to claim the jersey, but it will boost his confidence to have put time into his main rival (and all of the others) after just the first stage of the Tour. Wout Van Aert wasn't able to start the Tour and it was Piganzoli who was a last-minute replacement. Clearly, he has already earned his spot on the squad.

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.

Purchase this painting here: "Ready to Pounce TdF26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 1: Losing Some Time

It was a bit of a surprise to see Tadej Pogacar's team, UAE Team Emirates, losing time against their main rivals. As they went through the second time check led by the American Brandon McNulty, followed in turn by the Mexican Champion Isaac del Toro, the Austrian Champion Felix Grosschartner, and then Tadej Pogacar himself, they have already dropped fourteen seconds off of the best time. It is Tim Wellens who has just swung off the front of the UAE line preparing to slot back into the line in hopes of being able to give it another turn in the wind. Pogacar closed a little bit of time on the final climb ascending at the fastest pace from the final time check to the finish line. That feat was enough to give him the first Maillot a Pois but dropped him into third place in the general classification.

Purchase this painting here: "Losing Some Time TdF26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 1: Finishing His First Tour Stage

Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) finishes his first stage of the Tour de France in his very young lifetime. Seixas is the youngest rider to start the Tour since 1930 at not quite 20 years old. He had the disadvantage of being on a team that is not known for its time trial prowess yet managed to finish just 39 seconds off of the time of the stage winner. He now sits in tenth place, and fourth in the race for the White Jersey of the best young rider of this Tour de France.

Purchase this painting here: "Finishing His First Tour Stage TdF26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 1: Two Champions, One Team

It was the last two guys from Netcompany-Ineos, that hit the bottom of the final climb. Both are their nations' time trial champions, Tobias Foss for Norway and Filippo Ganna for Italy. The two worked together until Foss could no longer hang with the three-time Italian champion. Ganna went to the line on his own claiming the hot seat of stage leader in the process. With eight more teams to finish it was not a sure thing that he would win the day in the end, but he laid down a tough challenge for those yet to make the final climb. He didn't quite hold first, but finished second by a deficit of a mere eight seconds.

Purchase this painting here: "Two Champions, One Team TdF26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 1: Looking for Their Leader

As Movistar hit the first of the two final climbs, their team leader Cian Uijtdebroeks wasn't able to hold the wheels of his teammates. As his teammates realized they didn't have him with them, they looked back debating how long they should wait, or if he would recover in the final kilometers. The Spanish champion Raul Garcia Pierna waited as Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda wondered what he should do. It was decided to let Pablo Castrillo go on ahead to gain the best time possible for the team and the others would bring Uijtdebroeks to the line as fast as he could manage. After all, it is only the first stage of the Tour, there is plenty of time to regain lost time knowing full well that most anything gain happen over the next twenty stages.

Purchase this painting here: "Looking for Their Leader TdF26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 1: Launched by the Team

Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) had stayed on the back of the team's formation as they sped through the flat opening section of the course through the streets of Barcelona. It seems that every team was saving their team leader or climber until the final 800 meters of the stage when the course rose up to the Stadium Olympic overlooking the city and the Mediterranean coastline. Pidcock managed to claim the second-best time as he crossed the line of the opening stage of this Tour de France. Admittedly, his team was the sixth team to start, so I doubt the second place will last until the end of the day.

Purchase this painting here: "Launched by the Team TdF26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 1: Leading Off the Tour

It is the opening stage of the Tour de France in Barcelona today! The race starts with a team time trial under new rules for the first time in the Tour de France. The team's time will be taken by the first team member to cross the line, and all of the riders will be given their actual finishing times. So while it is most important to work together, it is a micro version of what it is to race in the Tour. The team will work to put their team leader in the best possible position at the end of the stage. The first team to roll down the start ramp was Caja Rural-Seguros. They are a wild card team licensed in Spain and have returned to the Tour after a nearly 50-year break.

Purchase this painting here: "Leading Off the Tour TdF26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist →

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: The Best Two with the Best Time

The last two riders for Visma-Lease a Bike were arguably their two best guys. It was Matteo Jorgenson leading Jonas Vingegaard across the line in Nevers to post the best time when they finished their Team Time Trial. Their effort put them into first and second place respectively. So, after three days Jorgenson will pull on the Maillot Jaune that he is defending from 2024. It also shows that the duo should be ready for the challenge of this year's Tour de France. I'm looking forward to see what they can do in the next two mountain top finishes in the ensuing stages.

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.

"The Best Two with the Best Time PN25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: Sprinting with Three

The USA Champion in the time trial discipline, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) was working hard in the final kilometers of the Team Time Trial. He was hoping to move himself and his teammates Jhonatan Narvaez and Joao Almeida up in the general classification. They had a disappointing finish dropping forty-two seconds to the team that won the stage. Not exactly the results we have come to expect from this team.

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.

"Sprinting with Three PN25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: Finishing Alone

New rules and timing methods mean that the time for the team in the Team Time Trial is taken when the first rider crosses the line. However, each individual rider is given his actual time on the day, not the time of the first of his team. That may be why Tobias Foss (Ineos-Grenadiers) went off alone leaving his last two teammates, Magnus Sheffield and Thymen Arensman being in the closing meters. Sheffield had started the day confident that he could regain the Maillot Blanc of best young rider and even hoped to become the next Maillot Jaune. Instead, the team's performance saw him dropping a place in the young riders' competition and dropping to tenth in the general classification thirty-eight seconds off of the pace of the new race leader. His team leader, Thymen Arensman is another two seconds behind that.

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.

"Finishing Alone PN25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: I'm Done!

The third stage of this Paris Nice was the Team Time Trial, a discipline of teamwork mixed with a dash of truth reckoning. That was where Kelland O'Brian (Jayco-Alula) found himself. He has done all he could for his three remaining teammates and looked back to the team car to let them know he was cooked. He had done well to help put his teammates, Michael Matthews, Ben O'Connor, and Mauro Schmid in a position to post the best time at the finish in Nevers. While another team did best them at the line later on, his (and their effort) was enough to move all three into the top ten spots on the general classification.

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.

"I'm Done! PN25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Paris Nice 23, Stage 3: Getting It Done with Four

While they were expected to do very well in today’s team time trial, it was still a treat to watch Jumbo-Visma out on course. They seemed to even have a plan on when they would jettison each rider after they had given their all. As this foursome came to the line, it was clear they would win the stage, the only question was by how much. The answer, not by as much as they had hoped, nor by enough to put one of the team into the Maillot Jaune (even though technically they are already in yellow jerseys). With Tobias Foss (the reigning TT World Champion) on the front for one last pull, the foursome would soon be three. Jan Tratnik took up the pace with Nathan Van Hooydonck the man designated to take Jonas Vingegaard across the line. By so doing the three are now close to the lead, but not in it to start the stage four. Vingegaard now has between a three and fourteen second buffer over the rest of the field of contenders.

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/Paris-Nice/3938709-92-272742/Painting/getting-it-done-with-four.-pn23-10.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 3: Keeping Gaudu Close

Not traditional known as a team time trial specialist team, Groupama-FDJ had an incredible ride today. They finished fourth on the day mainly due to the strength of Stefan Kung who finished with his team leader, David Gaudu, glued to his wheel. Every time the camera got the team out on the road, Gaudu was always on the back of his teammates wheels. I can’t say if he ever took a pull, I just never saw it happened. But it is a team’s job to ride for their team leader, and they did it in spades today! Gaudu sits equal on time with Kung, both just two seconds off the pace of Pogacar and not more than eight seconds off of the best placed of the favorites, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). Chapeau!

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/Paris-Nice/3938703-91-272742/Painting/keeping-gaudu-close-pn23-9.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 3: Leading Them Home

Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) drove hard all of the way through the finish line keeping as many seconds to the team’s advantage as possible. Behind the big German, his countryman and team leader, Maximilian Schachmann was pulling faces just to stay on his wheel. The duo gapped Marco Haller and another teammate in the final meters of the team time trial course. They finished 29 seconds off of the best time, leaving Schachmann 28 seconds out of first place going into the mountain top finish stage 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 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/Paris-Nice/3938701-90-272742/Painting/leading-them-home.-pn23-8.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 3: “How Are We Doing?”

It seemed like UAE Team Emirates was struggling to keep their leader, Tadej Pogacar in contention. As Matteo Trentin slid back from his pull on the from of the now four man group, he seemed to be asking how they were doing. Or perhaps, just checking in with Tadej to make sure the pace was right for him. Mikkel Berg was setting the pace now, with Felix Grosschartner waiting to take his turn in the wind. Groacchartner had lost the wheels in the first kilometer or two, but was able to get back on and finish strong, dropping Bjerg and Pogacar off with just two kilometers to go. Pogacar finished just 18 seconds off of the best time of the day. He did lose a bit to two of his main rivals but still well within striking distance. He also lost ownership of the Maillot Blanc, the jersey awarded to the best young rider. The white tunic will now go over to Kellan O’Brien (Jayco-Alula).

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/Paris-Nice/3938700-89-272742/Painting/how-are-we-doing-pn23-7.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 3: Off the Front and Out the Back

Today’s stage was a team time trial, the first in almost sixty years contested in the Paris Nice race. Jayco-Alula went out hot and seemed to keep building speed as they went around the 32 kilometer course. The discipline has each teammates spending time on the front pushing through the wind as those behind get a bit of a break until it is their turn to put their nose into the wind. This is the first time each rider will be given their actual finish time, and the team’s time will be taken by the first rider to cross the line. Usually, the clock stops on the fourth or fifth rider to cross the line, and that is the time given to each member of the team. Lucas Hamilton had just finished his turned on the front, but it was all he had to give. As he swung away, he simply drifted on past his teammates; Chris Harper, Matteo Sobrero, Simon Yates, Luke Durbridge, and Kellan O’Brien. Their sprinter, Michael Matthews had already been dropped by the group setting new best times all along the course.

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/Paris-Nice/3938693-88-272742/Painting/off-the-front-out-the-back.-pn23-6.html

Thursday, September 22, 2022

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

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.

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

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Relay: Out of Sync

I can't remember ever seeing Tahiti or any of the other South Pacific island nations at the Worlds before, but then Australia is certainly a lot closer than Europe on the Americas. So it was a treat to see Tekau Hapairai, Kylie Crawford, and Elodi Touffet (Tahiti) out on course after the male members of their team had finished their lap of the Mixed Team Relay. This is only the third year of this event which replaced the team time trials of years past. It makes more sense to have teams compete under their national flag then as their trade teams as it was in years past. With no disrespect to the teams efforts, they were not quite the well oiled machine of some of the big name European teams, but the joy they felt to be competing at the worlds was unmistakable.

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/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906695-13-295031/Painting/out-of-sync-uci22-13.html

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Tour, Stage 2: Better Than Defending

Team Jumbo-Visma had planned to go out and defended the Maillot Jaune of their sprinter. However, yesterday their designated sprinter crashed and wasn't able to contend the finale. No matter, one of his lead out men, Mike Teunissen step into his place and took the stage yesterday. So today they are defending the Maillot Jaune. Yet, they did more than defend it, they extended his lead over all of the other contenders in the 2019 Tour! The team crossed the line 20 seconds quicker than the erstwhile stage leaders, Team Ineos, leaving Teunissen with a 24 second lead over his four teammates, Wout Van Aert, Steven Kruijswijk, Tony Martin and George Bennett. He has 34 seconds on the next guy on the general classification who isn't a teammate. Chapeau!

The Dutch were hoping to hold both the Maillot Jaune in the Tour and the World Cup in the finale of the Women's World Cup today. I will gladly let them have the Maillot Jaune as I cheer the victory of the USA Women's soccer team!

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%20de%20France%202019/3356887-10-263530/Better%20Than%20Defending%20%20TDF19-10.html