Tour '26, Stage 8: Inside of Two Kilometers

After going under the two kilometers banner Liam Stock (Lotto-Intermarche) looked back to see the peloton rounding the corner a mere ten seconds behind him.  The conventional theory is that the breakaway needs a minute's advantage for every ten kilometers left to race.  By that formula, Stock is right on the very edge of being able to make it to the finish line in Bergerac before being caught by the peloton.  Even before he got to the final kilometer flame rouge, he knew the catch was nigh and sat up in surrender to the inevitable. The catch translates to him having been off the front for 179 kilometers of an 180-kilometer 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Inside of Two Kilometers TdF26-56" (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 Down Under '23, Final Stage: Now or Never

With only two up hill kilometers left in the Tour Down Under, Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) knew that if he was going to take back 15 seconds on the Ochre Jersey of Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) he was going to have to go hard, and go now.  He quickly got a gap on the peloton and was just as quickly joined by the Australian Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen),  The question was, is there enough road to drop both Vine and the man he was tied for second place with, Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious).  The answer was no to the first part, and yes to the second.  Bilbao came in seventh on the stage, but remained in the top three of the 2023 Tour Down Under.

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-Down-Under/3929056-176-194179/Painting/now-or-never-tdu23-30.html

Tour, Stage 12: Allez! Allez! Allez!

 It was a thrill to see Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) jump clear of the chasers on the final rise of the stage.  While he left it too late to catch the lone man up the road, it was enough to get him second on the day, and a six second bonus.  The bonus wasn't that important but it did put him under nineteen minutes off the lead.  He is now sitting in 20th with his favorite terrain of the Alps to come.  He's probably too far back to make the podium in Paris, but he seems to have the legs to go one better one day in the mountains to come.  Allez translates as Go and is what is screamed at every rider as they go around the hexagon of France.

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-de-France-2020/3698159-78-282744/Painting/allez-allez-allez-tdf20-72.html