Tour de France 23, Stage 20: Bouyed by His Fans

In the last Tour de France of his career Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) went off on his own up the Col de Petit Ballon.  All along the climb he was cheered wildly by the mainly French fans along the road.  Many held up signs thanking him for his career.  He has been riding the Tour for as long as I have been painting it and I always enjoy watching him race, even if he does break my heart sometimes.  It must have given him wings on the climb to see and hear such adoration for those out just to see him race one more time.  Since he lives near by, he will see his name painted on his home roads every time he goes out for a ride after taking care of his goats.  Merci, Pinot!

The funniest sign was: Pinot Gris < Thibaut Pinot.  It is always fun when you can work in a math equation to your fan art.

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-2023/3966833-135-297438/Painting/buoyed-by-his-fans-tdf23-135.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 20: Hoping for the Stage

Yes, everyone went out today hoping that this, their last chance, would be the stage to win.  Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) a local favorite was pushing the pace up the Petit Ballon, a climb he has ridden many, many times.  He has a fellow countryman on his wheel, Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) along with the Brit Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Greandiers).  Pidcock was hoping to move up on the general classification, not the Pinot nor Barguil would have minded that either.  But the Frenchmen were looking mainly for stage honors on this the last competitive day in the Tour.  

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-2023/3966832-134-297438/Painting/hoping-for-the-stage-tdf23-134.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 17: Flying Up the Mountain

It is always a treat to see the leaping Devil in the Alps.  Didi Stenft leapt as the lead group went by on the Cormet de Roseland lead my Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek).  The Devil had some extra vigor in his leap as one of the press photographers capture much the same image I am.  Skjelmose's teammate Guilio Ciccone was hoping to get another ten points to add to his hold on the Maillot a Pois.  On his wheel is one of the French favorites, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) looking for a stage win in his final Tour de France.  Just peeking over the shoulder of Pinot is the Australian, Ben O'Connor riding for the French team Ag2r-Citroen.

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-2023/3966332-111-297438/Painting/flying-up-the-mountain-tdf23-111.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 12: Wanting the One that Got Away

These six were all after the one who got away on the final descent of the day.  Well, one isn't chasing.  Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) had a lone teammate up the road so he was either on the back getting a free ride, or like now, on the front trying to slow the chase.  Martin was in the group with Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar), Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma), the French hero Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), and Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X).  With fourteen kilometers to race, it was beginning to look like they will be racing for second place today.  On the other hand both Martin and Pinot were working hard to increase their time gains on those ahead of them on the general classification.  Fortunately for them, while many were ahead of them, all of them were behind.  At the end of the day, both move up five places each.  That put Thibaut Pinot into the top ten, just 32 seconds behind his own team leader, David Gaudu.  They are now the two top placed Frenchmen in the Tour.

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-2023/3965365-74-297438/Painting/wanting-the-one-that-got-away-tdf23-74.html

Tour '22, Stage 18: Sprinting Up the Mountain

As I said early, I'm not sure why Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was off the front of the stage, and even less so why he sprinted over the top of the Col de Spandelles.  He dropped both Dani Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ).  I keep expecting him to sit up and wait for his team leader.  He does later but not until the final climb of the day.  It is rather strange to see the Maillot Vert going over a category one climb first, but that is just the nature of the talent of Wout Van Aert.  

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 

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Tour '22, Stage 18: Will They Challenge?

With the Maillot a Pois off the back of the breakaway Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) felt that he was the heir apparent for the King of the Mountains title.  As the strongest of the break away reached the top of the Col d'Aubisque he looked back to see if anyone was going to try and out sprint him for the twenty points at the top of the climb.  As he went off, it seemed clear that neither Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) nor Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) weren't interested in the points.  I know Pinot was still trying to get a stage win for himself, his team, and his country.  I honestly have no idea why Van Aert was even off the front.  He had already grabbed the maximum sprint points and he did have his team leader (and the race leader) down the mountain.  Perhaps he just kept pushing waiting for when Jonas Vingegaard came up to him on one of the final two climbs of the day (and the Tour).

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

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Tour '22, Stage 17: Getting Away on the Col d'Aspin

With this painting, I have now painted at least one rider on every of the 22 teams in the Tour this year.  Astana Qazaqstan has had a very quiet race, but today their leader Alexey Lutsenko decided he had had enough of riding in the shadows.  On the wasy up the first big climb of the day the Col d'Aspin, both he and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) went off the front of the early break away.  They built up a sizable advantage over the peloton, but there was a chance to fight for the Miallot Jaune behind.  The speed of the infighting in the peloton meant that these two were reeled back in on the next climb of 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.

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Tour '22. Stage 9: The Next Escapee

Every Frenchman, woman, and child was screaming with delight as Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) - and this American-lept free of the diminished break away and headed up the mountain alone.  He had only one guy up the road to catch for a stage victory.  Alas, he never got closer than 19 seconds to Bob Jungels, but it was quite a thrill while it was happening.  Once he started to drift back off of Jungels pace he seemed to lose this fervor finishing fourth on the stage a full forty seconds behind the stage winner.  Nevertheless, it is good to see him coming right as the big mountain stages arrive later this week.

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.

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Tour '22, Stage 4: What Can We Expect?

I love an opportunity to craft a title that can have multiple interpretations.  This one fits that bill.  Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) dropped back to his team car with about 40 kilometers to go to get a bidon and some information.  He may have been asking what should he be expecting to happen on the finale of the stage.  I, and every French cycling fan, are also wondering what we all can expect from Pinot in this Tour de France.  He claims he will only be going for stage wins and not the general classification.  The fact that his bib number doesn't end in a one, means his team hasn't set him as the team leader.  That honor goes to David Gaudu.  Perhaps that move will lesssen the pressure on Pinot allowing him to excel rather than explode in the final week of the Tour.

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-2022/3892131-19-294403/Painting/what-can-we-expect-tdf22-19.html

Tour, Stage 20: A Gaggle of Covidiots

 I was hoping to get a view that would allow me to paint Thibaut Pinot (Groupama FDJ) with the French Flag.  I didn't realize it would be a gaggle of drunk idiots who almost failed to pull the flag out of the way as Pinot raced across his home town roads.  The macho men also neglected to wear a mask or respect the riders in their labors.  I think the new term for 2020, Covidiots, fits this group like a glove.  All of the other fans seemed to get what they should be doing, and also that it would be wise to be out of the distance of these guys air and spittle.

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/Tour-de-France-2020/3704380-131-282744/Painting/a-gaggle-of-covidiots-tdf20-123.html

Tour, Stage 9: Still Racing

With tons of guys dropping off of the pace on the final climb it was a true heart warming moment ot see Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) still on the back of the main peloton.  He was with quite a few other team leaders (just look for the bib numbers that end in 1) including Rigoberto Uran (EF Pro Cycling), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis).  I was convinced that Thibaut would not come out to race today, so seeing him still with the leaders on the Col de Marie Blanque was truly impressive.  He did drop off a bit at the top, but nothing like yesterday.  His will is still very strong even if is back has let him down in this year's Tour.

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-2020/3693443-57-282744/Painting/still-racing-tdf20-52.html

Tour, Stage 8: Surrounded by the Team

It seems that Thibaud Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) was harmed more in the crash in the first stage of the Tour than he let on (or at least that the team let on).  Pinot has been regularly plaqued by bad luck in the Tour, leaving last year during stage 19.  He started trying to stretch out his back on the climb up the Port de Bales and dropped of the pace.  His teammate, William Bonnet, had already climb of a few kilometers earlier.  He was surrounded by his teammates that included, Sebstien Reichenbach, Rudy Molard and Stefan Kung, all of whom willingly sacrified their standing on the GC to try and nurse Pinot over this and the following climb in hopes that he would recover on the road.  Instead, he came in over nineteen minutes behind the main contenders, thus kissing his Tour victory good bye.  With respect, it must be said that as I am writing this (about seven hours after the stage was completed) Pinot has not left the Tour.  But with another tough day of climbing in the Pyrenees tomorrow I doubt he will be back after the rest day on Monday.

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-2020/3693080-49-282744/Painting/surrounded-by-the-team-tdf20-44.html

Tour, Stage 19: Heart Broken

Try has he might, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) was just unable to continue with his Tour.  It was such a wild reversal of fortune.  Pinot left the Tour in tears while sitting fifth over all and just thirty seconds behind the man that would be in Yellow at the end of what turned out to be a very wild stage.  Pinot was consoled by a teammate as he made the realization that he was going to have to climb off his bike with just two and a half stages to the line in Paris.  I am sure if he had been well, he could have a serious chance of taking over the Maillot Jaune at the end of today's stage.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

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Tour, Stage 19: Not What He Needed

As the peloton started up the Montee d'Aussois, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) dropped back to the doctor's car.  He was apparently getting a tight wrap on his left thigh along with a heavy dose of the magic spray.  I can't imagine trying to climb mountains on my bike with a tightly wrapped bandage on my thigh.  Pinot was in obvious pain, and kept dropping further back as the peloton went on up the mountain.  He had started the stage in fifth place and just 30 seconds behind the anticipated future leaders of the Tour.  In other words, without this, he may well have taken over the Maillot Jaune today.  This was clearly not what he needed to happen.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

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Tour, Stage 18: The First to Launch

Perhaps taking a page from his countryman's book, it was Egan Bernal (Ineos) who jumped free from the peloton on the upper reaches of the Galibier.  Bernal is the best placed young rider so he is wearing the Maillot Blanc instead of the new deep red of Team Ineos.  Behind the young Colombian, the World Champion, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) tries to join the attack.  You can see Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) looking over to his teammate and other riders to see if they were going to help with the chase.  Bernal started the day in seventh place, but with this move he appears to be leaving his team leader in the dust on his way to claiming Geraint Thomas' place on the general classification.
Today seems to be adding more wrinkles to the Tour that it is ironing out.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

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Tour, Stage 15: Playing for Keeps

The final climb of the day up the Foix Prat d'Albis was proving to be the challenge that was expected.  The next to go on the offensive was Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) hoping to repeat his stage win from the day before.  He did not, but he did move himself into fourth overall.  Glued to the Frenchman's wheel is Egan Bernal (Ineos) in his Maillot Blanc of Best Young Rider.  This was an attack that the Maillot Jaune, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) had to respond to.  Behind Bernal's teammate, Geraint Thomas was starting to recover on this climb.  Alaphilippe looked to be letting the gap go.  He does have over two minutes to play with, but he surely doesn't want to give up a second of his advantage.  Stuck on the Frenchman's wheel is Emaunel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) doing his best to climb the mountain and the general classification.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

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Tour, Stage 14: Atop the Tourmalet

Wow! Has this ever been a great Tour for the French!  Today the Frenchman, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) added to his lead in the Maillot Jaune.  The stage went to another countryman of the Tour, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)/  I believe that is the second stage for the home team as it were, but it is also the tenth day in Yellow for the host country of the Tour.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

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Tour, Stage 8: Everything to Ride For

Having taken second over the top of the Cote de la Jailere (and its 5 bonus seconds), Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) was just one second from taking back the Maillot Jaune.  He was joined by his countryman, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) who was hoping to move up on the general classification.  Both men were hoping for a stage win, but that would require catching the last man from the early break, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).  For Alaphilippe, any of the time bonuses for the top three stage finishers would be enough for the Yellow Jersey.  For Pinot, any time on the chasers and the time bonus would move him up the classification.

Both men achieve the GC goals, Alaphilippe is back in yellow and Pinot now sits third overall.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube

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Giro, Stage 20: Cooked

All of the effort, all of the kilometers, all of the climbs, and all of the attacking yesterday seemed to have finally caught up with Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ).  On the way up the Col Saint Pantaleon the Frenchman seemed to hit a wall.  He was cooked.  One of his teammates got him a bottle from the team car, passed it over, Pinot simply passed it back to the car.  He knew his Giro had ended and he wasn't going to be on the podium after all.  He was escorted through the rest of the stage by Sebastien Reichenbach, Jeremy Roy and Steve Morabito.  Pinot had fought hard for the complete race but sometimes the body says enough is enough.

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/3169671-87-249297/PaintingCooked--G18-91.html

Giro, Stage 19: Getting a Bit of a Gap

While Chris Froome was up the road, now wearing the Virtual Maglia Rosa, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) wasn't done trying to improve his position on the general classification.  He was able to use his sticcato rhythm climbing technique to open up a gap on Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), who is more of a methodical time-trialing type of climber.  Pinot had already secured the bottom step of the podium as he climbed to Bardonecchia, perhaps he could gain more time on the Dutchman behind him on the road.  Dumoulin does have over two minutes on the Frenchman, so he would be wise to stay within himself, and hope he can pull back just enough time to pull on the Maglia Rosa.  His second overall is still well in hand with six kilometers left to race to the summit.  Holding on to the wheel of Dumoulin is Richard Carapaz (Movistar) hoping to get enough time to re-take the Maglia Bianca of best young rider. 

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/3169152-82-249297/PaintingGetting-a-Bit-of-a-Gap--G18-87.html