Tour '26, Stage 7: Accepting the Inevitable

A newer Tour tradition seems to be those left in the breakaway saluting each other as the peloton closes in.  Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarche) reaches over for a fist bump from his breakaway companion Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros).  The pair has been off the front of the race for roughly a hundred and fifty kilometers, but the sprinters want their chance to shine.  It was a doomed enterprise, but nothing ventured nothing gained.  Veistroffer did pick up maximum sprint points and the sole King of the Mountain point out on the course today.  I suspect he will also be rewarded the most competitive rider of the stage for the second time this Tour.

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: "Accepting the Inevitable TdF26-49" (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 '24, Stage 7 ITT: Sportsmanship

In these times of 'burn it to the ground' adversarial politics, it is great to see to fierce competitors show respect for each other just prior to racing against each other.  On his way to the start house, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) fist-bumps Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  Pogacar is forty-five seconds ahead of Evenepoel in the GC, but this is Evenepoel's specialty.  He is the current world champion in the individual time trial but is wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider rather than his rainbow bands.  Pogacar had said before the start of the stage, that it would be the young man that will win today and not himself.  We shall see if he was clairvoyant or just lowering the press's expectations for the day.

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. 

"Sportsmanship TdF24-37" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 8: You Got Me There

It looked like Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) was going to get the maximum available points at the intermediate sprint in Tucane Sanit Apre, but it wasn't to happen.  He was caught at the line by the man who is wearing the Maillot Vert of the best sprinter in this Tour, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), each has a teammate tucked in behind them as Meeus fist bumps his congratulations/admiration to Philipsen.  Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) continues to add to his sprint point tally, but has yet to get the better of Philipsen in any Tour sprint thus far.

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-2023/3964382-42-297438/Painting/you-got-me-there-tdf23-42.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: We Tried

Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels) reached out to salute his erstwhile break away companion, Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo).  The pair fist bumped as the peloton close in.  You may be able to just make out the Movistar lead reduced peloton just around the corner.  While in the break alliances are made, and later broken, but this one seems to have stood the test of kilometers.  They had managed to stay away until the final eleven kilometers to the summit in La Plagne.

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/3815691-120-185083/Painting/we-tried-cd21-36.html

Paris Nice, Stage 5: Conceding

Ryan Mullen (Trek-Segafredo) was starting to dangle off the back of the early four man break.  When the band finally snapped, he was joined by Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie).  The two fist bumped their solidarity as they drifted back to the peloton with 19 kilometers left to race.  They thought it best to concede the effort of the break was doomed and begin cooling down as they tucked back into the peloton for the end of the stage.

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/Paris-Nice/3490111-21-272742/Painting/conceding-pn20-21.html

Tour, Stage 3: Celebrating the Attempt

The early break away was inevitably caught with about thirty kilometers left in the stage.  Yoann Offredo (Wanty-Gobert) made it a point to fist bump all of his break away companions (minus the one still up the road, Tim Wellens - Lotto Soudal).  As Stephane Rosetto (Cofidis) looked back after his fist bump Paul Ourselin reached out his fist in turn.  Behind him, Anthony Delaplace (Arkea Samsic) would just have time for the celebratory gesture before they were all caught by the fast closing peloton.

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%20de%20France%202019/3357407-13-263530/Celebrating%20the%20Attempt%20%20TDF19-13.html