Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 4 ITT: Every Inch

Remco Evenpoel (Soudal-Quick Step) was carrying so much speed through every corner that he had to use every inch of the road surface.  I swear his shoulder brushed the safety cushion has he came out of one of the many roundabouts in the short seventeen-and-a-half-kilometer course.  There is a saying in racing, "you have to be willing to lose in order to win."  Evenpoel personified that adage as he risked crashing by carrying speed into every corner.  The risk paid a big reward!  He not only one the stage by thirty-seven seconds, he took the lead in the Criterium du Dauphine as well.  Given his age, he is both the wearer of the Maillot Jaune, and the owner of the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  With this race that fits his expertise (as exemplified by the rainbow bans of ITT World Champion) he put time into the only two guys that beat him in the 2024 Tour de France.  Again, this race is proving to be a preview to a very exciting Tour de France this July.

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.

"Every Inch CdD25-21" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 3: Really Close!

When I stopped the video to paint (and title) this, I didn't know yet if Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM) had posted the new best time or not.  She had.  The World Champion in the Women's Individual Time Trial had managed to claim the lead when she finished by the slimmest of margins, a mere 0.019 seconds over Loes Adegeest (FDJ-Suez).  But a win is a win, or so she thought until one more rider cross the line.  This ride gave her second on the day and moved her into third on the general classification.  She certainly honored the Rainbow Stripes.

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.

"Really Close! TdFF24-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 7 ITT: A Specialist at His Craft

Currently the World Champion in the individual time trial, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) had to swap his Rainbow Jersey for that of the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  That did not mean that he still wasn't the best at the race against the clock out on course today.  He posted new best times at every check point as he raced to take the Maillot Jaune off of the shoulders of the man on course behind him, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  While he did win the stage, he did not claim the lead in the 111th Tour de France.  He still sits in second behind Pogacar, but narrowed his disadvantage to a mere thirty-three seconds.  Conversely, he increased his leaded over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to a twenty-second advantage. He has now won at least one stage in all three grand tours, a feat that only 107 others have managed in cycling history.  Not bad for a twenty-four year old.

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 Specialist at His Craft TdF24-39" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 20: Simply the Best

Ah, the pit falls of painting a time trial live...  The Time Trial World Champion Flippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) was having an incredible on the 40.7 kilometer course.  He set a new best time through each check point.  As he neared the final climb up to the finish line in the beautiful Midevel town of Rocamadour he was looking like he was on a ride no one was going to beat.  Therefore, I went with this title.  Spoiler alert, he wasn't simply the best.  In fact, he was 5th on the stage.  Clearly he road a much better time trial at the Worlds in Flanders almost a year ago.  He was the best man on the day then, but sadly, not 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/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895455-129-294403/Painting/simply-the-best-tdf22-130.html

Doha 2016, Elite Men's ITT: Very Efficient

Tony Martin (Germany) is in a very efficient aero tuck as he pushes his massive 58 tooth chain ring over and over.  Martin set the new best time at every check point along the course on his way to the one that matter most.  It was a treat to watch the master of the discipline churn his legs on his way to his fourth Rainbow Jersey.  It has taken him three years to reclaim what he had lost first to Bradley Wiggins and then to the man behind him on the road, Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus).  This time he was able to hold off the efforts of Kiryienka, but then unlike Richmond, he came to the Worlds healthy and fit.

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/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2864464-37-227958/PaintingVery%20Efficient%20Doha37-Greig-Leach.html#.V_5wsOArLIU

Tour of California, Stage 6: Setting the Bench Mark

This is the first chance that I have had to see Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky) in his newly minted Rainbow Jersey of World Individual Time Trial Champion that he won here in Richmond, Virginia.  Kiryienka was a late pick for who on the team would be coming to California to race.  Add to that his crash on a descent on stage two, and he isn't in the best place to take the stage.  That being said, he posted the best split time and came across the line with the new best time.  However, due to his position on the general classification, there were quite a few top notch riders yet to throw their helmets into the ring.

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.  This painting along with my book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI World Road Racing Championships," 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.  Remember, it is a one of a kind piece, so once it is sold, it is no longer available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2794049-30-223355/Painting.html#.V0CzwvkrLIU

2014 UCI Worlds: Going for a Fourth

Tony Martin rolled down the start ramp and out on the course around Ponferrada, Spain, in search of a record breaking fourth consecutive World Time Trial Championship.   Martin of Germany, has an incredible record in the Worlds and in German, as well as the ProTour calendar.  This year he won the only time trial in the Tour de France, but also claimed his first road race stage victory in his career in the same Tour.  Wearing race bib number one, he was the last to head around the 29.5 kilometer course.  An advantage as he will know the split times of everyone on the road ahead of him.  He would always know if his efforts were enough, but he had some very stiff competition just two minutes up the road.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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.  While you are there, why not take the time to look around at all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441852---202544/Painting.html#.VCTvAc_D_IU

Tour Stage 20: Picking Them Off One by One

The Time Trial stage has riders starting on their own at first two minute intervals and then three minute intervals as the top riders come to the start line.  The order of start times is in reverse of the rider's placing on the General Classification, so the Lanterne Rouge starts off the day and the Maillot Jaune is the last rider on the road.  Tony Martin (OPQS) in his Rainbow Jersey of the World Time Trial Champion, was burning up the 54 kilometer course passing rider after rider who had set out before him.  At this point he is catching Mickael Cherel (AG2R) who had left downtown Bergerac 8 minutes ahead of the Time Trial Specialist.  Riders are not allowed to draft off of each other, so as Martin approached Cherel, he swung wide of the Frenchman and then stayed on that side of the road until he was well past the Frenchman.  Not that Cherel could have caught the wheel of the flying German.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website and will be included in my complete collection of paintings of the 101st Tour de France that are soon to be self published in my, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become part of bringing this fabulous race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some exciting and excellent rewards for those of you who choose to pledge your support on Kickstarter, with rewards starting for as little as $5 USD.  Everyone who supports the project will have their name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, regardless of the pledge amount.  If you would like to purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't you want a copy of "Book de Tour" as well?  Sure you do!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408548---199992/Painting.html#.U9QTH8vD_IU

Tour Stage 20: Ready to Roll

Having waited twenty days to show why he is the World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin (OPQS) was ready to roll down the start ramp in Bergerac.  Called the 'Race of Truth' because it is the efforts of the guy on the bike alone, without drafting, teammates or any place to hide from the wind, that determines how well they do in the stage.  Martin was not very high up on the General Classification, but with this being his discipline, he would only be happy with a stage win.  He has won the last two individual time trials in the Tour de France, and is wearing the Rainbow Time Trialist Jersey for the third year in a row.  This Tour he has also won an open road stage, a first for him, using his time trialing abilities to hold off the chasing peloton.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes by Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is available through my artist website and will be included in my complete collection of paintings of the 101st Tour de France that are soon to be self published in my, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become part of bringing this fabulous race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some exciting and excellent rewards for those of you who choose to pledge your support on Kickstarter, with rewards starting for as little as $5 USD.  Everyone who supports the project will have their name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, regardless of the pledge amount.  If you would like to purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't you want a copy of "Book de Tour" as well?  Sure you do!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408544-151-144-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U9QM_MvD_IU

Tour Stage Eleven: Just Under Way

Tony Martin rolled out of the starting gate bedecked in his rainbow jersey of the World Champion Time Trialist early in the order of riders.  The time trial is ordered with the rider the worst cumulative time starting first then working through the GC standings with the wearer of the Malliot Jaune going last.  Martin had been injured early in the Tour, and has been a member of the riding wounded since Corsica, the wound reopened with the force of will he exhibited in today's stage.  Ultimately he did homage to the rainbow stripes on his back.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   A wonderful company that deals in excellent art supplies.  This painting is also available for purchase at my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182349-66-60-186227/Painting/Sports.html#.Ue2QvMvD_IU