Tour '24, Stage 16: Total Fatigue

One has to feel for Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility).  He had already crashed and was just missed by a teammate in a sharp corner.  As he went to get onto his spare bike, he overshot and went back down onto the roadway.  He was narrowly missed by the passing team cars.  Then, as the car paced him back towards the peloton, it missed the turn off of the roundabout and almost hit the other Uno-X team car.  He did managed to regain the peloton not long after.  Despite have just had a rest day, fatigue was clearly setting into both the riders and the support personnel of all of the teams.  I'm wearing down doing all of these paintings and I'm not out riding hundreds of kilometers throughout Italy and France.

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.  

"Total Fatigue TdF24-97" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 13: Quick Change

Very early into the stage the French Champion, Valentin Madouas (Grouipama-FDJ) had a problem with his bike.  Since the peloton was flying up the road trying to prevent anyone getting into a break away, it seem prudent to simply swap out his bike.  Bastille Day is the single most important day for a Frenchman to win a stage of the Tour, and how much more special would it be for the national champion to raise his arms in victory in the tricolore jersey.  Given the one Haute Catagorie climb to the finish line, it was going to take some special legs to claim such an honor for anyone.  And sadly I just haven't seen that kind of prowess on the mountains that today is going to require.  Plus it could well be a day that the leaders of the Tour fight it out to gain time one on the other.

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-2023/3965427-76-297438/Painting/quick-change-tdf23-76.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 7: Quick Change

 

Pulling the title from my time working in the theatre, Romain Bardet (DSM) has a quick bike change at the rear of the peloton with another 48 kilometers to race.  While it is never great to have a mechanical problem, it was as good as possible since it came twenty kilometers before the final climb of the day.  I should mention that there was no Stage 6, so that is why it isn’t appearing in this blog.  It was a day of dangerous high winds.  I tell my own story of riding it high winds while filming one of my YouTube post of today’s stage.  Bardet was able to rejoin the peloton and factor in the finish of 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 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/3939661-102-272742/Painting/quick-change.-pn23-20.html

Dauphine, Final Stage: Bike Change

Not quite sure why, but Richie Porte (Ineos-Grenadiers) had a quick bike change at 50 kilometers to go.  It was just before the climbing got going in ernest.  There didn't seem to be a mechanical so it could have been that he wanted to change to a lighter climbing bike with a different gearing then the bike set up for the early part of the stage.  Given how calm and fast the change was, it seemed more planned than a mechanical emergency.  Porte did a beautiful job defending his Maillot Jaune that he claimed in stage 7.  Spoiler alert, he took the overall win at the end of this stage, with his teammate Geraint Thomas taking the final step of the podium.  Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech) finished second overall, a position he held on the general classication since the stage 3 time trial.

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 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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3816426-124-185083/Painting/bike-change-cd21-40.html

Tour, Stage 21: So Frustrating

It had to be an incredibly frustrating Tour for Michael Matthews (Sunweb).  He has just missed out on a couple of sprint stages, and made it through the Alps just for the chance to sprint it out on the Champs Elysees.  Today luck was not on his side.  He flatted and had to get a bike change with just two laps left until the final sprint of the Tour.  While the change was quick, it couldn't possibly be quick enough for him to be able to feature in the finale.  I was impressed with how he kept his cool.  I  guess it is appropiate that the signage on the barrier made it appear as though he has a halo.  He was able to catch back on, but he had spent to much energy to feature in the finale.

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"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3366729-125-263530/So%20Frustrating%20%20TDF19-125.html

Amgen ToC, Stage 3: Not the Time for This

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) is just not having the race of his dreams, his nighmares, maybe.  Yesterday he struggled valiantly (and successfully) to beat the time limit.  Today he must have been feeling much better, he was still with the peloton as they approached the Haute Catagorie climb of Mount Hamilton.  Alas, he had a mechanical right at the base of the climb.  That was bad enough, but then he had the slowest bike change I have ever watched during a bike race.  He did managed to get back to the forming grupetto and come in far ahead of the broom wagon today.  I think his body language says all you need to know about his mood at this point.

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/3332328-67-223355/Not%20the%20Time%20for%20This%20%20ToC19-12.html

LBL: Changing Bikes & Sponsors

There are a number of things that confuse me about professional cycling... Why women don't get equal billing & pay being the biggest one.  But another that leaves me scratching my head is the decisions of sponsors.  I get it when a team has been caught doping in the past and the company doesn't want to be associated with the negative press of the riders' (and team's) actions.  But when a team has been as dominate and clean as Team Sky, why would their sponsor pull out of bike racing.  Sky as been extremely successful in the past decade and has had the largest budget of any Pro Tour Team and yet this it the last time we will see the Sky kit in a bike race.   So it just seemed like David De La Cruz (Sky) getting a bike change was the right image to show the closing of this chapter of the Pro Tour.  Don't worry for the riders, the team stays, it will just have a new name going forward - and sorry, I don't know what that name is.

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%20Classics%20/3325628-445-195767/Changing%20Bikes%20&%20Sponsors%20%20LBL19-3.html

Fleche Wallone: Take This One!

Even the best riders and mechanics can't keep things from going wrong.  Dan Moreno (Movistar) managed to snap a chain while passing through the town of Huy for the first time.  The Italian let his team car know what the problem was via radio and then pulled off to await a new bike.  The entire team in the car jumped out to get Moreno another bike an get him back racing as quickly as possible.  With another 60 kilometers left to race, it was certain that Moreno would be back in the peloton in support of his team leader, Alejandro Valverde.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I will be crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  Please feel free to become a follower of this blog to be informed of the project and your chance to participate in helping to make it happen.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/2952533-398-195767/PaintingTake-this-One!-FW17-2.html

E3 Harelbeke: On the Road, Out of the Race

Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) was one of several riders that got caught out in a small pile up in the front end of the peloton.  One of the many risks on the roads of Belgium are the deep joints of cement that run down the center of many of the smaller roads.  So even when the riders are off of the pave, they still are not out of danger.  Sagan was helped back underway by his teammate, Christoph Pfingsten, as well as an enthusiastic cycling fan on the side of the road.  But he got back underway long after the peloton had sped up the road.  It was amusing to notice that the fan helping Sagan get back underway was wearing a Discovery Team kit - the last kit worn by Lance Armstrong.   Good to know there are still some fans of the Texan out watching cycling in Europe.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/2939892-384-195767/PaintingOn%20the%20Road,%20Out%20of%20the%20Race%20E317-5.html

Rio Olympics: Quick Change Artist

Australian Rohan Dennis followed on the bad luck of his teammate Richie Porte from the Men's Road Race.  Dennis managed to break the aero bars of his time trial bike.  Naturally, he couldn't finish his race on that machine, so he had no choice but to stop for a new bike.  His team mechanic was already out of the team car and unlocking the spare bike before either Dennis or the car came to a stop.  The bike change only took ten seconds, but it was enough time to push the Australian off of the medal stand.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835912-68-226051/PaintingQuick%20Change%20Artist%20Rio68-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yal5grLIU

Tour de France, Stage 16: Swapping Bikes

Alberto Contador's team, Tinkoff Saxo, has employed yet another new tactic in the peloton.  While many riders will change from a time trial bike to a road bike on Individual Time Trials that include a steep finishing climb, Tinkoff Saxo has now started having some of their men changes bikes on road stages as the terrain warrants.  Yesterday, Peter Sagan switched from a lighter climbing bike to a heavy more aero-dynamic bike once the mountains had been completed,  Today, Contador did much the same thing but in reverse since today's challenge ended with two big categorized climbs.

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, www.richesnonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the North Central United States.  In addition this painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember it is an original painting, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2582670-99-210122/Painting.html#.Va1yIvlViko

Tour Stage 20: Precious Seconds

Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R) had everything riding on his performance in the only Time Trial of the 101st Tour de France, and did not need anything to go wrong.  Unfortunately his wishing of luck to Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) did not insolate him from having bad luck himself.  At about the half way point when he had already secured the Virtual Second Place on the road, he had a rear tire flat.  He let his following team car know what was wrong and then pulled to a stop along the decorated front yard of a house along the route.  He gently set his first time trial machine down as he waited for his mechanics to bring a replacement bike to him.  He did his best to remain calm, as the pair moved with precision to get him up and running.  The whole process took about 15 seconds, but with the GC placing so tight, it was time he would rather not give up.  Perhaps the adrenaline from the delay would push him to the line in time.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will be part of the soon to be self published complete collection of my paintings and writings of the 101st Tour de France, "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 race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some great rewards for those who choose to pledge their support starting for as little as $5 USD.  Everyone who backs the project will have their name in print on the Special Thanks page of "Book de Tour".  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't you want a copy of the book?  Of course you do!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408582---199992/Painting.html#.U9QbtMvD_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 17: A Quick Switch

No rider, no team leader can win a race on their own.  It takes a complete team of helpers, from mechanics to chefs, masseuse to coaches, and domestiques to office personel, to get a team leader high up in the General Classification.  The on board race mechanic is passing over a replacement bike to Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) so he can get going again swiftly.  He was in the early break of the day, and definitely didn't want to be left behind.  He felt sure that the stage winner would come from the break away and the only way he could have a chance was to get back into the break, quickly.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2371806---198213/Painting.html#.U4a6j8_D_IU

2012 Tour: A Biker Down

Every team leader has one rider who is assigned to stay with them if at all possible, usually this teammate is the same basic build so he can give the team leader his bike should it be necessary.  That is exactly what is going on in this image, the riders for the former Rabobank team are passing bike parts (wheels) across to the leader who is waiting patiently to get back on the road.  The fans along the road are enjoying and photographing this bike change and the chance to see some of these amazing athletes up close and stationary.  Rabobank started this season as Blanco, a reference to having no title sponsor, but will line up at this Tour under the title sponsor of Belkin, adding a little more green to the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1990989-8-6-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.Uc0QBMvD_IU

Giro Day Thirteen: A Quick Once Over

The mechanic jumps out of the car and runs to his cyclist as the riders is just getting off of the bike, but then it all slowed down.  As the Director came around to take another bike off of the roof, it seems the right bike was the second one in.  I was impressed that the rider never lost his cool, regardless of how long the bike change took, but then it was still a long way to the finishing line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale through my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151519---184157/Painting.html#.UaAo_svD_IU