Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Not a Bad Set of Wheels

After goofing around with the cameraman and toasting her teammates with a small can of Coke, Alison Jackson (Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) sped pass Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) and crouched down to draft off of the Gendarmes' motorcycles.  I suspect she was just continuing her goofing which is part of her cycling persona.  It is the first day that the women have had even the slightest chance to relax a bit, but again, there will be some racing when we get closer to 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Not a Bad Set of Wheels TdFF26-50" (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

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Tour '22, Stage 13: Ambulance Chaser

Sometimes I amuse myself, even if no one else finds it funny.  When I saw Fabio Jakobsen (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) drafting off the race ambulance in hopes of rejoining the peloton, all I could think of personal injury lawyers.  You know, "amublance chaser" is one of their less than kind nicknames.  This driver was definitely being kind allowing Jakobsen to hide behind him even though the rest of the race caravan was quite a ways up the road.  It seems the race referees were turning a blind eye to this bending of the rules.  He did get back, eventually, only to be dropped again.

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-2022/3893925-78-294403/Painting/ambulance-chaser-tdf22-79.html

Dauphine, Stage 3: Pilot Fish

 It is the Irish time trial specialist, Ryan Mullen, that is serving as the pilot fish for his teammate Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).  Stuyven was the team's hope for the anticipated sprint finale.  But with an apparent mechanical, it was Mullen who was tasked with bringing the Belgium sprinter back through the caravan of cars and onto the tail of the peloton.  With 27 kilometers still to race, he would have plenty of time to recover from this effort and to be ready for the next.  With the team director's car just ahead, they knew they were almost back.

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/3814721-96-185083/Painting/pilot-fish-cd21-12.html

Tour, Stage 10: A Little Testy

Maxime Monfort (Lotto Soudal) was a bit annoyed with Gorka Izaguirre (Astana).  Monfort and others have been doing long pulls at the front of the peloton to keep the break away in check.  When Izaquirre got on the front he may have been there for about eight seconds before flicking his elbow and sliding over.  Monfort's complaint was that if the Astana rider was going to get in the mix, then he should do a real pull.  If he wasn't going to work, then he should go back into the folds of the peloton.  I suspect Izaguirre's response was a less polite Spanish version of "Buzz off!"

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.  There wil be a video of this painting within the next 24 hours on the You Tube channel.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3360123-50-263530/A%20Little%20Testy%20%20TDF19-50.html

Doha 2016, Men's TTT: Through the Time Check

The landscape out by the first time check wasn't much to look at, but then most of the guys on Astana were concentrating on the wheel in front of them and producing as much wattage as they possibly could.  I will be trying to continue to find beauty in the sands outside of the city, just as Georgia O'Keefe managed in the deserts of New Mexico.  The boys in blue were posting stronger times than I expected in the early stages of the days team time trial, but the teams of Etixx-Quickstep and BMC had yet to roll down the start ramp.  Those two teams have held the Team World Champion title between them for over four years now.  Would Astana be the one to de-throne them?  In a word, "no."

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/2863224-5-227958/PaintingThrough%20the%20Time%20Check%20Doha5-Greig-Leach.html#.V_qbHPArLIU

Rio Olympics: Slipping to the Back

The Dutch team took to the polished wood of the Rio Velodrome to show their stuff in the qualifying rides today.  The team of four will take turns pushing the pace on the front of the quartet and then use the high banks to swing off the front and slot back onto the back.  Once on the back they can catch a breather until it is their turn on the front again.

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/2836466-81-226051/PaintingSlipping%20to%20the%20Back%20Rio81-Greig-Leach.html#.V63sK5grLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Swing Off

Orica-AIS labored on the climb out of the city.  The rider who lead them up the relatively short climb up from the banks of the James River swung off to catch the draft from her teammates.  With catching the draft, she would also catch her breath before working her way back up to the front of the line.  To explain, each rider will take her turn riding on the front of the group, pushing through the wind while those behind shelter in the slipstream use as much as 30% less energy that the one on the front.  She will then swing off of the front and drop to the back of the group to recuperate as much as possible before breaking the wind again.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available as an original or two different size prints at the Convention Center.  Later they can be purchased through www.richmond.com.  This was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.

Giro Stage 12: Bending the Rules

The enforcement of the UCI Professional Cycling rules is a hot topic online these days.  After Richie Porte (Sky) was penalized two minutes for accepting a replacement wheel from a countryman on an opposing team, many are wondering why he received such a harsh penalty when other infractions are ignored.  Infractions like drafting off of team cars when trying to return to the peloton after a wreck or a mechanical.  Which is exactly what Carlos Betancur (AG2R) is doing in this painting.  Coincidentally, Orica-GreenEdge is the team car here and it was Michael Matthews of Orica GreenEdge who gave Porte the wheel on Stage 10.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the American family run art supply company, Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for the low price of $50 USD, plus shipping (including international shipping).  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2557646---184157/Painting.html#.VV4sE_lViko

Tour Final Stage: Pulling Peraud Back

Panic must have gone through the hears of Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R), his team and all of France, when he lost his front wheel on the slick pavement markings and took out himself and several other riders.  Chaos ensued as team mechanic rushed around passing out wheels, bikes and bandages.  Peraud had crashed long before the all important 3 kilometers to go point, so any time he lost on the peloton would be applied to his overall time.  That meant he was in danger of losing his second place, something the team could let happen.  So while there was no team time trial in this Tour, AG2R ran a very fast one to get their man back into the peloton, screaming at the cars to give them room and let them do what needed to be done.  There efforts were rewarded, but there were some very anxious moments in Paris before he was tucked back into the fold.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com,  and it will be included in my soon to be published tome, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how you can be a part of bringing my art of the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some great Backer Rewards for those of you who choose to pledge your support starting at just $5 USD, and for $25 USD you will get an artist signed copy of the book.  Everyone who pledges regardless of the amount will have their name in print on the Special Thanks page.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But you should also get all of the paintings in a book form, too. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2409028---199992/Painting.html#.U9Wj78vD_IU

Tour Stage 10: Taking a Pull

With a group of three riders up the road Team Cannondale went to the front of the peloton to help Astana up the tempo.  Cannondale felt that their man, Peter Sagan, could grab more points at the intermediate sprint and then given the profile of today's stage to Oyonnax, he had a could chance of getting that illusive first stage victory.  So far Sagan is proving that to be the most consistent sprinter, one does not ever have to win a stage.  Just as it is possible to win the Maillot Jaune without ever winning a stage over the twenty one days of the Tour.  The title refers to a rider who goes to the front of the pace line, taking his turn with his nose in the wind.  The time out on the front is referred to as a "pull".  Then the other meaning here is that he is taking a pull on (or a drink of) his water bottle.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published book of cycling and art, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to become involved in bringing the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  If you would like to purchase this painting, follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to browse around all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2403850---199992/Painting.html#.U8dffM_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 11: No, No, You First

As predicted by Johnny Hoogerland (Androni Giacattoli) a large break got away with fourteen riders all over an hour down on the general classification, another perfect situation for BMC as they didn't need to be on the front for the second day in a row.  While to numerous to list here, both FDJ and Europcar got two of there men into the break as did Bardiani CSF and Neri Sottoli.  To understand was is going on here, you need to understand that riders are expected to take turns pulling on the front of the break, however, not everyone follows the rules.  Francis Mourey (FDJ) wants to stay on the back of the break so he taps and gently pushes Romain Sicard (Europcar) into the slot ahead of him.  Why this is important is that drafting allows the rider behind to save up to 30% of the energy that the riders in the wind are expending.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard (4"x6") that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com  In addition this painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%27Italia%202014/2367683-60-54-198213/Painting/Sports.html#.U314SM_D_IU

Tour of Britain Stage 5: Let's Go Faster

Angel Madrazo put himself into his fourth breakaway of four road stages in the Tour of Britain as he continues to secure the King of the Mountain jersey.  One of the effects of drafting is that the shelter riders uses about 30% less energy than the guy with his nose in the wind, so on a pedaling descent the first in line cannot go as fast as those behind.  Madrazo is anxious to keep the break's speed up so gives a helping push to Stefano Pirazzi all in an effort to stay out in front of the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   I highly recommend them, they are a family run business creating and marketing a wide variety of excellent artist's supplies.  Also, this piece is available from my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 2013 Tour of Britain.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2213425-11-6-189075/Painting/Sports.html#.UjyGPMvD_IU