Tour Femmes '25, Stage 7: Are You Coming?

Wearing her green bib number indicating she was voted the most aggressive rider from stage 6, Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) looks back at the TV Moto as if to ask if he is going to come with her.   She is on the tail of the day's early breakaway.  Beside her seeming to try and guest what Squiban is looking at is Susanne Andersen (Uno X-Mobility).  Just in front of her is the Belgian Champion, Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal).  Had I known how this stage was going to end, I may have read something else into this look over her shoulder.

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.

"Are You Coming? TdFF25-36" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 18: Most Aggressive

Despite still having another six kilometers to climb to the summit of the Col de la Loze Ben O'Connor (Jayco-Alula) was awarded the title of most aggressive rider for stage 18.  With a minute and a half over his former companion on the climb and another three-and-a-quarter-minutes to the yellow jersey he was on his way to a stage win as well.  He got there first, winning the first Tour stage for his new team and his first in two years.   As rain fell off and on on the summit, E. Leclerc switched from passing out polka dot t-shirts to a much more useful polka dot rain poncho.  I am so happy the O'Connor is another guy who was able to turn his Tour de France around today!  Normally, there would be a painting of the stage winner with his arms aloft, but somehow France TV who provides all of the race footage wasn't able to get their cameras in the right place to get the shot as he crossed the line.

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. 

"Most Aggressive TdF25-123" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 7: I Got Close

Despite being the last member of the breakaway, Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B&B Hotels) was still about to be caught be the peloton. With 12.7 kilometers left of stage 7 he looked back to see the UAE led peloton about to swallow him up.  The catch came with exactly twelve kilometers to go.  His efforts weren't in vain.  He managed to pick up three King of the Mountains points along the way.  I fully expect he will be awarded the most aggressive rider of the stage, too.

This painting represents the third competitor in this Tour that I am painting for the very first 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"I Got Close TdF25-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Alone, Again

This painting is sold, but prints are available.

Much was made during the first hundred kilometers of the stage about just how deep Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) had gone yesterday, and just how much she had had to chase today after 5 seperate bike chances.  Would she have the legs to hold off the attacks, or at the very least keep them within her time buffer?  Why would they doubt the co-queen of the women's peloton? While Marianne Vos has won everything flat and bumpy, the other dominant woman on the road is Van Vleutin.  Today she prove all of the doubters wrong going on the offensive with six kilometers left to race.  She was racing with the two fruits of yesterday's labors, naturally the yellow jersey, but also the red bib numbers of the most aggressive rider of the previous stage.  She should get both of those honors again 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. 

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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896714-193-294403/Painting/alone-again-tdff22-52.html

Tour of Britain, Stage 5: From Aggressor to Helper

The red bib number on the back of Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani CSF) is for being the most competitive rider in Stage 4.  In the Tour de France it is referred to as the most aggressive rider, so that is where the title comes from.  Today, Tonelli is helping out his teammates by dropping back to the team car to fetch bottles for the team.  The riders will stuff bottles in their jersey pockets and all around inside their jerseys.  Once they have filled the inside of their clothes with as many bottles as possible, he will ride back up through the peloton passing them out to the other five members of his team.  This will be repeated all day long, that is until the race is in the last 20 kilometers, then it is no longer allowed to get anything from the team cars.  On super hot days, that rule can be relaxed for the health and safety of the racers.

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/Tour%20of%20Britain/2849137-59-189075/PaintingFrom%20Aggressor%20to%20Helper%20ToB33-Greig-Leach.html#.V9HtfZgrLIU

Tour, Stage 1: The Arrival of the Peloton

When asked about the changes of the break away succeeding all the way to the end of the stage, Jens Voigt (now commentating for NBC Sports) replied, "as much as a drop of water in hell."  So beautifully put, and so accurately as well.  Anthony Delaplace (Fortuneo Vital Concept) glances back over his shoulder to discover that the peloton is very close behind indeed.  Delaplace and his companion, Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac) were the last two left off the front of the original break away.  Coincidentally, the pair had a bit of a struggle getting across to the now missing three from the original escape.  Delaplace would eventually garner the "most agressive rider" prize for his efforts on the day.  Perhaps a bit of a French bias, n'est pas?

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817379-5-224974/PaintingThe%20Arrival%20of%20the%20Peloton%20TdF5-Greig-Leach.html#.V3f3nLgrLIU