Tour '22, Stage15: Last One Away

What started as a defensive move for his teammate is looking like a long looked for stage win for his team.  Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) had dropped his break away companion and was still eight seconds ahead of the peloton with under four kilometers to race.  It was still slim odds that he could get his team's first stage win in fourteen years and the first win for the French in their own Tour.  But no, the gods of the Tour are cruel and he was got within 500 meters of the line.  Instead of the hoped for stage victory, he finished 64th on the day in the second group 24 seconds behind the winner of 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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3894275-94-294403/Painting/last-one-away-tdf22-95.html

Giro, Stage 10. It's Not Impossible

As a mechanic hands out a bottle, Marco Frapporti's (Androni Giocattoli) director sportif tells him it isn't impossible to stay off the front.  That may have been a bit of a stretch.  With 62 kilometers and a catagory 3 climb before the end of the day, it is unlikely a lone rider will be able to hold off the chasing peloton, regardless of how small that peloton might be.  It should be noted that Androni Giocattoli has been in every single break of this Giro, and a number of times it has been Frapporti in the mix.  They are certain honoring their wild card invitation to the race.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3163003-43-249297/PaintingIt's-Not-Impossible--G18-43.html

Volta Catalunya Stage 2: All Alone

With the peloton having gotten to almost a minute behind and just one more climb on the horizon, Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) simply road the other five members of the early break off of his wheel.  Oddly, they were on a wide open long false flat and none of the others could stay with him.  Voeckler has a reputation for long breaks, it was in the Tour de France when he won the hearts of every Frenchman when he held the Yellow Jersey for 10 days, even once they got into the Pyrennes and none other than Lance Armstrong was the one trying to take it off of his shoulders.  Add to that, the comical faces that he pulls as he suffers up long climbs and tries to hold off a charging peloton, he is one of my favorites in today's Pro Tour.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2335059---195767/Painting.html#.UzI6T8vD_IU

Volta Catalunya Stage 1: Trying to Get Across

It appears to be an unwritten rule that the riders in the wild card teams must be present in every break away in every stage of every race.  Unfortunately for Amets Txurruka of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, they did make it into the early two man break, so he jumped from the peloton on the category one climb of the day in search of the others up the road.  He did make it near the base of the final climb, but none of them were able to stay away all of the way up the climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2333727---195767/Painting.html#.UzCuKMvD_IU

Tour Stage Nineteen: Shelter from the Storm

With about 15 kilometers left to go in the stage the skies opened up and dumped hard cold rain on the break away and the peloton alike.  I don't know if the cycling fan was channeling Bob Dylan, trying to keep Rui Costa dry, or just running along side with an umbrella that just happened to be in his hand.  The storm had turned the street into a small stream, but unlike baseball, the race must go on to the end.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183675---186227/Painting.html#.UfCHeM_D_IU

Tour Stage Fourteen: Trying to Get Across

Johnny Hoogerland, the Champion of the Netherlands, realized that the break he missed today was the one that was going to work.  So he jumped from the peloton in a lone search for the guys up the road.  Hoogerland has the dubious honor of being the rider that was hit by a press car in the Tour several years ago and knocked head over heals into a barbed wire fence.  He was pretty cut up, but given that you must finish every stage in order to stay in the Tour, he had to untangle himself and keep going, leaving a trail of blood along the roads of France.  The bright side was that he got to pull on the Polka Dot Jersey for his efforts before the crash, even if it did delay his trip to the hospital to get 90 stitches.  And yes, he was at the start line the next morning to finish the remain stages of the Tour.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182545---186227/Painting.html#.Ue3Eoc_D_IU