Tour '26, Stage 18: One More Peek

After three categorized climbs and just shy of one hundred and forty kilometers, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was finally able to sprint for the maximum sprint points on offer in Corps.  As he did his almost token sprint, he looked back one more time to make sure no one would dare challenge him.  They did not.  Had they done so the breakaway would have collapse right then.  Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula), Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) his teammate Mathias Vacek and the rest of the breakaway have been counting on the Dane's power to help keep them off the front and away from those chasing behind.  Now, what will happen now that Pedersen has achieved his goal for the day.  I suspect he will help Vacek as much as possible before he runs out of steam.

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.

Purchase this painting here: "One More Peek TdF26-131" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 6: Not Giving Up

Having been dropped by the peloton on the way up Col du Tourmalet, Torstein Traeen (Uno X-Mobility) was seconds away from losing his Maillot Jaune as he sped down the other side of the mountain.  As he approached a hard left turn, he overlapped his teammate's rear wheel in went down head-over-heals.  He struggled to get back up, but eventual got to the upright and to the side of the road.  He was checked out by the doctors and was cleared to ride on.  No one wants to go out of the race while in the Maillot Jaune.  He took his time but did finally get back on the bike and rode on to the end of the stage escorted by the very teammate who he ran into before crashing.  He rolled across the finish almost a half-hour after the stage winner with his teammate Anders Johannessen.  Clearly, he won't start tomorrow in yellow. The question remains will he be able to start stage 7 at all?

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.

Purchase this painting here: "Not Giving Up TdF26-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: Swoosh!

One of the things I try to do is make sure I paint a least one guy from every team participating in the Tour.  Today, I was looking to paint the remaining four out of the twenty-three teams (and increase from previous years).  I only managed to add one to that total.  This is Tobais Foss (Ineos-Grenadiers) the current Norwegian Time Trial Champion.  Ineos as added TotalEnergies as another sponsor and has done a terrible job of integrating the company's logo into their regular race kit.  That may be why I choose the Norwegian champion's kit to paint.  I will miss that long stripe down the back of the jersey that has been part of their kit since they were known as Team Sky.  He finished his day fourteenth in the stage. He moved himself up thirteen places, but still sits way back in the general classification.

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. 

"Swoosh! TdF25-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: A Bit of a Discussion

With the early break away looking like it might have a chance of getting to contest the stage victory, Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) jumped out of the peloton in an effort to bridge across the the leaders.  His attempt to cross the two minutes was covered by Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost).  Bettiol has a teammate in the break so was disinclined to help Skjelmose's chagrin.  The Danish champion did look back and question why the Italian on the American team wasn't helping in the effort.  An exchange of words on the lines of :

"Why don't you help?"

"My teammate is up there."

"Then why are you here with me?"

Shrug

The pair never got up, and were soon back in the folds of the peloton.

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-2023/3964555-48-297438/Painting/a-bit-of-a-discussion-tdf23-48.html

Tour de France 23, Stage : Dropping Some, Chasing Others

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) used the climb up the Col de Marie Blanque, his teammate Sepp Kuss, and his own abilities to drop most of the contenders in this Tour.  Most importantly, by the summit of the final climb of the day, he had put a minute into his main rival, Tadej Pogacar.  Now he had three or four guys yet to chase down in hopes of taking the stage.  In addition to stage honors, should he catch those ahead, he will pull on the Maillot Jaune of Tour leader.  There are other ways he can claim the Yellow Jersey without winning the stage, but that all depends on how the guy at the front of the race, Jai Hindley, finishes out 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 $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-2023/3963884-27-297438/Painting/dropping-some-chasing-others-tdf23-27.html

 

Fleche Wallonne 23, Men’s Race: Down to Two

Soren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) attacked his erstwhile break away companions over the second climb of the Cote d’Ereffe.  Of the other seven in the original group, only Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Circus-Wanty) was able to join the Dane on the front of the race.  They had another 46 kilometers to race but they were holding off the chasers and the peloton, for 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 $90 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3946908-544-195767/Painting/down-to-two-fw23-8.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: Coming Home, Fast!

Tobias Foss (Norway) proved today that there is a reason that you race the race.  No one had mention Foss as a potential winner of the Elite Men's Individual Time Trial.  He was posting new best times at every check point on the road, including at the finish.  But as his bib number shows, he had eleven other men racing their hearts out behind him, many of whom are renowned specialists against the clock.  Most notably were; the two time winner of the Tour de France, the current winner of the Veulta d'Espania, and the two time Rainbow Jersey in this very discipline.  Yet in the end he was able to but in an amazing final ten kilometers to win the gold medal (and the right to wear the Rainbow Jersey everytime he races a time trial for the next 12 months).  Kung came close, but came up just a mere three seconds short of Foss' time.  Chapeau!

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/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906195-12-295031/Painting/coming-home-fast-uci22-12.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: Early Kilometers

Magnus Cort (Denmark) gained international fame with his exploits while the Tour de France was in his home country coming away with the Maillot a Pois as the race went to France.  He then held on to the jersey for eight more days making him a Danish hero.  Every painting I did of him in the Tour sold, one actually going to Magnus himself.  I was so honored.  Naturally, I wanted to paint him again before the season is out, so this was it.  As he said on social media after the race, it wasn't the day he had hoped for.  But it was nice to see him out on the road again.  Hopefully, he will have a better day in the road race on the weekend.

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/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906188-9-295031/Painting/early-kilometers-uci22-9.html

Wollongong 2022, Women's ITT: Under 23

Wollongong 2022 is the first time the the U-23 designation has been awarded to the women's races.  While the younger riders were on the road competing with the Elite Women they were also competing for their own rainbow jersey of time trial champion.  You may notice that Emma Norsgaard Bjerg (Denmark) is racing with a black bib number not the white numbers in the previous paintings.  That black number is what denotes that she is racing in the U-23 competition.  While she finished in 14th place on the day, I do believe that placing was enough for her to win the Silver Medal in her specific classification.  This is one of the paintings that I will have posted on YouTube as I create it in real time.

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/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3905967-4-295031/Painting/under-23-uci22-4.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Every Climb in Denmark

No, this is not a victory celebration on a mountain top finish.  Instead it is Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) celebrating being the first over every categorized climb through the Tour's visit to Denmark.  In a pre-race interview he said that he and his father had been planning to do this since 2013.  That is almost as long as I have been painting the Tour (I have been watching much longer than that).  Being the first over the final climb of the day means that he will carry the jersey to French soil.  And more importantly he will almost definitely start the fifth and sixth stages in the Maillot a Pois, as well.

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-2022/3891867-13-294403/Painting/every-climb-in-denmark-tdf22-13.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: Looking for More

Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) went out on a solo break today to add points to his tally in the King of the Mountains Competition.  While he may have wanted some company in the effort, at least this way he didn't have to sprint it out for the single point atop the Category 4 climbs out on course today.  He had already clinched the first Maillot a Pois and was looking to add more points as he approached the second climb of the day.  Should he claim the final climb he will most likely hold the jersey through at least the first two stages on French roads.  Not bad for the countryman of most of the fans along the roadside 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891857-11-294403/Painting/looking-for-more-tdf22-11.html

Vuelta, Stage 17: I Flicked My Elbow

I should explain the title.  When a rider is either ready to pull off of the front, or is trying to encourage those behind to take over the pace making, he will flip his elbow out to the side as a signal for those behind to move forward.  When I am on group rides I will usual tap my butt to indicate the same intention, but the pro peloton is moving a lot quicker and sometimes it is unwise to remove a hand from the handlebars.  Stefan Denifi (Aqua Blue Sport) has just swung off of the front on the first of the two climbs of the day, and seems a bit displeased with how long it is taking Daniel Moreno (Movistar) to take over the pace making.  On the Spaniard's wheel is Julian Alaphilippe (Quickstep), Alessandro de Marchi (BMC) and finally, Magnus Cort (Orica Scott).

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-2017/3030088-37-239162/PaintingI-Flicked-My-Elbow-V-38.html