Tour '25, Stage 20: Airbourne

The Devil almost missed the breakaway going pass him.  He was performing his signature leap in the air for the press photographer and was more focused on getting back up in the air like he did of yore, than watching for the racers.  I was surprised that no one in the break seemed to bay Didi Stenft any mind.  Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) was on the tail of the bunch (for now) that was being led by Ivan Romeo (Movistar).  In the middle of the eleven-man group you can spy the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Although Jordan Jegat had tried and failed to get away, he did pull out a much stronger and more manageable group to ride to a hopeful stage victory.  One small problem, Ben Healy is seventeen seconds up the road on his own.

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.  

"Airbourne TdF25-134" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 3: Three Chasing One

When the solo rider attacked the break, the rest spent too much time trying to make the others do the chasing.  Finally, this trio of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Louis Barre (Intermache-Wanty), and Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana) realized the stage win, and with it the yellow jersey, was putting seconds into their aspirations. These guys had to make up fourteen seconds in a mere kilometer and a half.  I doubt there is any chance of that happening.  Instead, just two of them will be contenting themselves with a step on the podium.  They never managed to get any closer, but it was Tejada taking second and Barre taking third.  Despite, or more likely because of, all of his efforts it was Lipowitz who missed out.  The three now hold the same positions in the general classification that they finished in Charantonnay.

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. 

"Three Chasing One CdD25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Losing Ground

I confess that I was surprised that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) wasn't able to pull back the twenty seconds he lost on pave sector 9.  Admittedly, he was chasing the two-time winner of Paris Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel.  Both are known for winning races with long solo breakaways.  Apparently the crash took the spirit out of the World Champion or the constant pounding of the cobbles.  He did hold off the chasers to take second place in Roubaix, not a bad debut appearance at the Hell of the North.

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.

"Losing Ground PR25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '24, Stage 19: The Ones He Left Behind

With his teammate up the road looking to win the stage Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike) was doing his best to disrupt the chase of Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula).  Kelderman wouldn't pull through, but he chased anyone who tried to launch an attack.  Should the others manage to bridge up to Matteo Jorgenson, then Kelderman would be the freshest and able to still get a win for the team.  Both men had been in the break to function as support for their leader, Jonas Vingegaard, when he went on the attack.  Since that didn't happen, they were free to ride for the stage, still providing a collaborative duty for the 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. 

"The Ones He Left Behind TdF24-122" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: Chasing Just One Guy

Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) had tried several times to get into the early breakaway, but the heads of state weren't having it.  After the sprint point, first a small group got up the road and then a much larger one went after them.  Apparently, the top riders in the general classification were happy with who went up the road, so they kind of sat up.  This Yates managed to get into the big group.  From there he was able to jump across to the four-man earlier break, and then drop them almost as quickly.  Alas, he couldn't hold the wheel of Richard Carapaz as he went by.  As the duo neared the top of the Col du Noyer he trailed the Ecuadorian by ten seconds with just twelve more kilometers to race.  

Spoiler:  He never caught Carapaz, but then, no one caught him either.  He did move up one spot in the GC but still sits just over 28 minutes off of the Maillot Jaune.

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.

"Chasing Just One Guy TdF24-106" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: Chasing Champions

I suppose I should have titled this "Champions Chasing."  This duo used the final descent to break free of the peloton and go after the lone break away.  The two had ten seconds on the peloton but still had to make up another twenty-three seconds on Ricarda Bauerfiend with just two and a half kilometers to race.  The German Champion, Laine Lippert (Moivstar) and the Swiss Champion, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to be more concerned about trying to out smart the other to be able to work together to chase the rider up the road.  In addition, each were riding in defense of their respective team leaders, so at least they can hope to suck up any remaining bonus seconds at the finish line.  

The two never got closer than twenty-two seconds to Bauerfiend, and the peloton never got closer than the ten seconds that they have right now.

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-2023/3968195-174-297438/Painting/chasing-champions-tdff23-30.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 14: Keeping Him in Sight

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) did his patented attack with just under two kilometers left to climb on the Col de Joux Plane.  He quickly got away and built a lead of six seconds on the fan packed climb.  To his credit, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) didn't panic, nor go deep to match the Slovenian's acceleration.  Instead, he should some maturity and stayed within his own rhythm and slowly bridge back up to the Maillot Blanc.  After they rode together for a couple of hundred meters, Pogacar tried again but was block by a pair of motorcyles trying to get still and TV images of the move.  Whether their presence ruined Pogacar's chances or not, the pair stayed together to just shy of the summit.  Then it was Vingegaard jumping Pogacar and grabbing the maximum bonus seconds on offer, a feat everyone expected his adversary to accomplish.  Now it was time to fly to the finish and contest the sprint for those bonus seconds.

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-2023/3965639-91-297438/Painting/keeping-him-in-sight-tdf23-91.html

 

Paris Nice 2022: Together They Should Save Yellow

Admittedly this image belies what is happening in the chase to keep the Maillot Jaune.  Simon Yates (BikeExchange) had gotten free on the final climb endangering the race lead of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).  Clearly, Roglic was 'on the rivot' on the climb trying to stay on the wheel of his teammate, Wout Van Aert, in the Maillot Vert.  Several times on the climb, Van Aert had to wait for his team leader.  On the way down he had recovered enough to give his loyal lieutenant a bit of a rest as they worked together to pull back the Brit on the Austrailian team.  At this point, they were close enough to ensure that the Maillot Jaune would stay on the shoulders of Roglic, but I think the next goal was to set up Wout Van Aert for a stage victory (other than the time trial stage earlier in the week).  They didn't quite achieve that goal, but Roglic with the help of Van Aert did enough to win Paris Nice.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3872118-81-272742/Painting/together-they-should-save-yellow-pn22-44.html