Tour '24, Stage 5: The Tractor Swings Off

With the intermediate sprint coming in just four kilometers and another 58 kilometers it was time for Tim Declercq (Lidl-Trek) to get on with his job of chasing down the break away.  He was getting help from Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceunick) in the effort.  The two are both know as break away killers, and they seemed to be living up to their names.  On their wheels sits one of the Americans in the race, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike).  His job is to look after his team leader, keeping him safe in the peloton and out of the wind.  There is no chance that the break will be caught by the intermediate sprint, but everyone is confident that escapees will be swept up before the sprint in Aoste.

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 Tractor Swings Off TdF24-24" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 8: The Chaser Is Now the Chasee

There are certain constants in the Tour de France.  One of those is that you will find Tim Declercq (Soudal-Quick Step) on the front of the peloton chasing down a break away most every flat to semi-flat stage of teh Tour.  Not today.  Today it was 'the tractor' off the front with two companions.  Anthony Delaplace (Arkea-Samsic) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) must have been thrilled to have the man usually responsible for killing their break away dreams, helping them to have a chance to fulfill them.  As they headed up the Cat 3 climb of the day, the Cote de Champs Romain, they had almost five minutes on the peloton.  It is still a stage marked down as on for the sprinters, so their chances of success are slim.  But with Declercq, they are a little less slim than they would have been otherwise.

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-2023/3964389-43-297438/Painting/the-chaser-is-now-the-chasee-tdf2343.html

TDF, Stage 15: Taking Care of Cav

The high mountains like the Pyrennes are kyptonite to the pure sprinters like Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-Quick Step).  Add a hot day to the multiple steep climbs and it makes for a long, hard day for the Maillot Vert.  Cav's team left at least two teammates back to help him stay well within the time limit of the day.  At this point on the Mont Louis Cav was still hanging onto the peloton, but for how much longer?  One of his teammates, Tim Declercq, poured his cold water bottle onto the base of the neck of his team's fast man.  Declercq is usually the man on the front of the of the peloton chasing down breaks so Cav can go for the win.  Without a chance of a sprint finish, he switch to being the big guy the diminutive Cav could hide from the wind behind.

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/3823332-92-291436/Painting/taking-care-of-cav-tdf21-91.html

Tour, Stage 14: Are We Surrendering?

Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quick Step) looks back over his shoulder at his teammate who was just on the radio to their director sportif.  He seemed to be asking if they were going to surrender to the efforts on the front of the peloton by the team of Peter Sagan, Bora-Hansgrohe.  The Slovakian's team had been joined by another team, CCC, who had the last sprinter in the peloton.  Deceuninck-Quick Step's sprinter, Sam Bennett, who has the Green Jersey, was dropped by the pace dictated by Sagan.  As they raced hard to close the gap, they just weren't gaining any ground so it appears that the decision was made to sit up.  There are some big mountains coming tomorrow, so it was thought it was best to save their energy rather than blow up on a fruitless chase.  It is impossible for Bennett to lose the jersey today, but should Sagan win the stage it will be tougher to keep it all of the way to Paris.

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-2020/3699519-91-282744/Painting/are-we-surrendering-tdf20-85.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Little Help?

Some tradition remain intact despite their minimal need.  With two way radio communication back to his team car, Tim Delercq (Deceuninck-Quick Step) had already told his director sportif what help he needed.  Instead, the raised arm is to let the commissare in the follow car know that his team car will be coming up to provide him with assistance.  I'm not sure what was wrong, but with another 63 kilometers to race, and the peloton literally just around the corner, he had no worries about rejoining well before the end of the 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3490106-19-272742/Painting/little-help-pn20-19.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 5: Riding for Himself

Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quickstep) found himself in an unusual situation today.  Normally, he can be found on the front of the peloton chasing down break aways, but today he was the one in the front group.  With just 18 kilometers left to race, with a nasty hill at five kilometers to go, Declercq thought he would use his power to ride for himself.  This was the last moment that the break saw the powerful Belgium until they were all passed on the climb to the final intermediate sprint.

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%20of%20California/3333237-80-223355/Riding%20for%20Himself%20%20ToC19-25.html

Paris Roubaix: Eyes Down

Both an expression of all out effort, and sound advice when racing on cobblestones.  Tim Declercq (Decenunick Quick Step) was tasked with setting the pace for his teammates in the peloton.  Declercq was setting such a pace that he rode eveyone off of his wheel.  Decenunick Quick Step clearly had a plan for the day, and the team had the legs to put that plan into play.

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/Spring-Classics-/3319163-431-195767/PaintingEyes-Down--PR19-2.html

Tour, Stage 4: Left to Do the Work

With fifteen kilometers left to race and the early break still of the front, it was Quick Step that was forced to do the work.  All of the other teams know that Quick Step's Fernando Gaviria is on top former and none are willing to help them bring back the four guys up the road.  Tim Declercq (Quick Step) flicks his elbow to let his teammates know that he is finally done pulling and it is time for the rest of the wolf pack to take over the task, including, Niki Terpstra, Yves Lampaert and Bob Jungels.  The later two are wearing their National Champion Jerseys.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3185691-19-251072/PaintingLeft-to-Do-the-Work-T18-19.html

Vuelta, Final Stage: Sprinting for Green

It was a bit strange to see the Red Jersey of Chris Froome (Sky) along with his teammate, Ian Stannard mixing it up for an intermediate sprint on the final stage.  The way the math works, Matteo Trentin (Quickstep) had to win both the intermediate sprint - he did - and the stage - he did and Froome had to not place better than thirteenth at the finish for Trentin to win Green.  Trentin did his part with the help of his teammates, Niki Terpstra, Bob Jungels and Tim Declercq.  However, Froome was able to sprint to a tenth place across the finish line claiming Green, Red and White for himself.  He must have looked like the Italian flag when he tried to wear all three of his trophies from the Vuelta together.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Vuelta-2017/3031954-55-239162/PaintingSprinting-for-Green-V-56.html

Paris Roubaix: Opening Up a Gap

Perhaps it is true that there is strength in numbers.  Once a group of 16 had managed to join forces off of the front of the peloton, the break finally started to build up a bit of a gap on the fast riding peloton behind.  Tacked onto the pack of the group was Matthew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge).  Some of those ahead of the Australian were Michael Morkov (Katusha), Tim Declercq (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Marko Kump (Lampre-Merida). All along the route, the gendarmerie race ahead to warn the riders of dangers along the road.  Once the riders have swung past, the officers jump onto their motorcycles and rush past the race to take up their warning job again.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  In addition this painting, and all of my cycling artwork, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Be sure to discover my most recent book, Art of Cycling: Richnond 2015 UCI Road World Chanpionships.  You can find the book at your favorite online retailer or at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2767223-309-195767/Painting.html#.VwsQ5fkrLIU

Paris Roubaix: Bumping Along

Mid April means it is time for the "Hell of the North" the fabled, Paris Roubaix.  Over 300 kilometers of racing and 100 of those kilometers are over some of the roughest cobble stones in the world.  This race is so known for those pieces of pave, that the trophy for the winner is a granite cobble stone.  Quite a humble award for such a noble undertaking.  The day had the early breakaway, originally numbering 9 riders that gained 9 minutes on the peloton before the chase began.  This is the back of the break away as the rumble over an early section of pave.  Alexis Gougeard (AG2R) follows Time Declercq (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Alexijs Saramotins (IAM Cycling) amongst the others as the group try and stay away from the favorites and the wantabes behind.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply business in Wisconsin and have incredible great art making materials.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular watercolor just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about Paris Roubaix with the accompanying artwork, be sure to search out my recently published, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It can be found through most every online bookseller around the world.  Google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2541126---195767/Painting.html#.VSr33fnF-xU