Tour '26, Stage 10: So Close

Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) were at it again in the intermediate sprint early on in Stage 10 of the Tour de France.  It looked like it would go the way of Kanter, in fact, it looked like he sat up just before the line.  Pedersen, never one to give up, kept going and did the classic sprinter's bike throw to win the maximum points by a photo finish at the line in Lacapelle de Fraisse.  This win will increase his lead over those who hope to pull on the Maillot Vert themselves.

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: "So Close TdF26-66" (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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Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Photo Finish

Once we all looked at the photo finish, it was clear that Soren Werenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) has won the mass sprint, but in real time, no one was sure who had won.  It was interesting to watch Warenskjold listening to his race radio trying to discover whether he had gotten the better of Paul Magnier (Soudal-Quick Step) or not.  Hidden by Magnier is the powerful sprinter, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) whom many would have tapped to win a mass sprint today.  The extra icing on the cake for Warenskjold is that he was a very late call up to race Omloop Nieuwsblad for his team.  Way to step up to the plate (or bike cleat in this case)!

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.

"Photo Finish OHN25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 4: Photo Finish

Just before she attacked the announcer, I am listenting to, Anthony McCrossan, said "She needs to wait, but she thinks she needs to attack early..."  Predictably, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) was caught, and dropped after her attempt to surprise Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) failed in the final kilometer.  Next to try was Pieterse who got the jump on the fading Niewiadoma and the patient Maillot Jaune.  As she went, Vollering waited a beat and then did her best to catch the young neophyte.  The two reached the line together in Liege.  Neither celebrated nor did either know have any idea which one of them had won the stage.  They stood together surrounded by a scrum of photographers, tv cameras, and reporters as they waited for over four minutes before it was announced that Pieterse had held on for the win.  She had quite the stage, first she won a stage in the Tour de France Femmes in her first pro tour race, next she is now the leader of the Queen of the Mountains jersey, and finally, she is now the best young rider in the Tour.  Not a bad day out.  I admit I don't remember which of those two jerseys is considered the more important so I don't know which one she will be wearing at the start of stage 5 in Bastogne tomorrow.

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.

"Photo Finish TdFF24-21" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 19: Photo Finish

Of the three that came together into the finishing straight in Poligny, it was Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen).  He was the weakest sprinter of the threesome, so he had to try and get the jump on the other two.  His effort became the lead out for Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) who had already won a stage from a long, long, break away just yesterday.  With 50 meters to the line, Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) came up beside the former Danish champion.  As they reached the line both threw their bikes across the line in hopes of winning the stage.  It was impossible to tell who had won.  Both stood pensively waiting to hear who had won the stage.  They couldn't tell.  It did come down to the quality of Mohoric's bike throw.  By virtue of the photo finish, he managed to win the stage by the width of his tire.  His tearful interview post stage was a gem.  He not only honored Gino Mader his teammate who died in a crash in the Tour do Switzerland, but he felt that he disrespected all of Asgreen's work thoughout today's stage.  That seems to be the nature of his more famous countrymen, Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic.as well.  Chapeau for a stage well ridden!

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-2023/3966666-130-297438/Painting/photo-finish-tdf23-130.html

Tour '22, Stage 10: I'm Still Here

With a very well timed bike throw, Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) reminded us all that he is still in the Tour (and still climbing rather well).  It really looked like Nick Schultz (BikeExchange-Jayco) had done enough to out sprint everyone to win Stage 10, but he didn't have the sprinter's bike throw down as well as the former wearer of the Maillot a Pois.  Cort has been riding in obscurity since his brilliant opening stages in his home country of Denmark.  He held onto the King of the Mountains title until the end of stage 8, a stage or two longer than he thought possible.  He did add a point in his total today, but it wasn't enough to unseat the two ahead of him in mountain points.  It is a rare thing to see a photo finish on a mountain top finish, yet here one is.

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-2022/3893279-58-294403/Painting/im-still-here-tdf22-59.html

Tour '22, Stage 5: From Start to Sprint Finish

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) had tried to get the jump on his break away companions with one kilometer to go, but then ran out of steam in sight of the finish line.  It was Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) who opened the sprint, but had to content himself with third on the stage.  But it was Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) who just out threw Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermache-Wanty Gobert-Materiaux) for the line in another photo finish for a stage victory.  This time there was no victory salute as neither knew who had one the day.  Today was one of those rare exception when the break away actually is able to go all the way to victory.  They did beat the chasing duo by 51 seconds and the remnants of the peloton by a little over a minute.

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-2022/3892430-27-294403/Painting/from-start-to-finish-tdf22-28.html

Tour '22, Stage 3: So Close!

I doubt it is possible for a stage to be any closer than it was today.  Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange-Jayco) timed his throw for the line perfectly just barely edging out Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) for victory in Sonderberg.  That set up Van Aert taking second in a stage of this Tour for the third time.  That was more than enough to keep him in both the Maillot Jaune and Maillot Vert.  Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) claimed the last step of the podium edging out Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) whom you can not see from this angle.  

Now we all get a rest as the Tour entourage spends tomorrow getting itself to the north of France.  I hesitate to call it a rest day for the Tour, but I am looking forward to catching up on some other things.

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-2022/3891875-15-294403/Painting/so-close-tdf22-15.html

Beijing 2022: Any Part Will Do

Well, not really, the skis don't count, any body part will do.  At the end of their semi final in the Women;s Freestyle Cross, Daniela Maier (Germany), Fanny Smith (Switzerland) and Brittany Phelan (Canada) stretched as they could to claim a chance to ski for a Gold Medal.  Maier and Smith got the chance.  However, Smith finished in third but was yellow carded moving her to fourth and Maier into Bronze.

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 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3867274-44-293321/Painting/any-part-will-do-beijing-2022.html

Tour, Stage 16: Another Photo Finish

It is stunning to thing that after racing 209 kilometers, the winner of the race is a matter of two or three centimeters, maybe less.  While everyone hoped that the day would go to Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) who lives in Bern and is racing his final Tour de France, no gifts are giving in professional cycling.  Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) who was still looking for his first stage when in this Tour de France was just beaten by Peter Sagan's (Tinkoff) bike throw to the line.  This is Sagan's third stage victory matching his Tour debute in 2012.  Cancellara managed a sixth place, but you can only see his shoulder in this painting (again I am limited by what the broadcasts provide).  John Degenkolb (Etixx-Quickstep) grabbed fourth proving his return to form after the horrific training accident this spring.  Micheal Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) held on for fifth although I am sure he would have preferred to repeat his earlier stage victory.  Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) had hoped to take the stage for his South African team on this, Nelson Mandela Day.  Unfortunately ninth on the stage was the best he could manage.  The cobbled climb at just two kilometers left to go proved too much for many sprinters (and others).  Sagan, however, won his Rainbow Jersey on a pair of cobbled climbs in Richmond, Virginia, both steeper than today's finale.

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.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2825140-117-224974/PaintingAnother%20Photo%20Finish%20TdF118-Greig-Leach.html#.V40n-rgrLIU

Tour, Stage 3: Photo Finish in Angers

Both Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) pumped their fist in a rather tepid victory salute.  Neither was very sure if they had won the stage or not.  It took five minutes for the photo finish to be decided, finally going Cavendish's way by roughly an inch.  Cav's victory (and Peter Sagan coming in fourth) meant that he is now the outright leader in the Maillot Vert competition.  Greipel is left still looking for his first stage victory, but then so are quite a few other sprinters, like Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha).  Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) may have split the one-two of the photo finishers, but he was third behind them to the line.  Showing himself to be a rising star, Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) managed the final slot of the top five on the stage into Angers.

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%202016/2818189-20-224974/PaintingPhoto%20Finish%20in%20Angers%20TdF20-Greig-Leach.html#.V3q7HrgrLIU

Tour Down Under: Photo Finish

With experience comes skill.  Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) and Rohan Dennis (BMC) were able to catch the escapees on the descent.  A descent that reached speads in excess of 105 kilometers per hour.  The duo fought all of the way to the line.  So close was their finish that it had to go to the photo finished where it was learned that it was Gerrnas who came from behind to beat last year's winner at the line.  With Gerrans win and the bonus seconds, he will be taking the Ochre Jersey back for the home team.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and is 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2678358-80-194179/Painting.html#.VqHLjfkrLIU

Tour Stage 7: Too Close to Call

The final throw for the line between Matteo Trentin (OPQS) and the Green Jersey clad Peter Sagan (Cannondale) was way to close to call.  The announcers first said it went to Trentin, backed up by race radio, then changed their minds, and said it was Sagan who took the stage, again backed up by race radio.  Trentin was convinced that he didn't get the win and reached out an patted Sagan's back in congratulations.  The TV showed the photo finish and I couldn't tell who had it either.  The final decision was to give the stage to Trentin leaving Sagan still looking for his first stage of the 101st Tour de France.  He can console himself with the fact that he increased his lead in the points competition.  He is already looking like he can wear the Jersey all of the way to Paris.  Remember he is also leading in the White Jersey, too.  He just can't wear two at once.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com. This painting, and all of my work of the 2014 Tour de France, will appear in a soon to be self published, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy and to discover how 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 particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2401020---199992/Painting.html

Dauphine Stage 3: The Throw for the Line

The final sprint between Kris Boeckmans (Lotto-Belisol) and Nikias Arnot (Giant Shimano) was so close that I nor the commentators could figure out who had taken the stage.  The only clue was Boeckmans pounding his handlebars after crossing the line.  It wasn't until the photo finish was shown that it was apparent that Arnot had managed to just hold off the charging Belguim.  I do mean just, the photo showed the margin of victory was the width (technically the height) of a racing tire.  Giant Shimano also picked up third on the stage, and FDJ could only manage seventh for Arnaud Demare.  Perhaps they had put too much energy into the chase to have the legs for the lead out at the end.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Do hurry, the is only $50 USD and I ship anywhere in the world for roughly $2 USD.  Good luck.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387280---199476/Painting.html#.U6I7rs_D_IU

Tour Stage Three: Throwing At the LIne

The peloton had managed to sweep up every attempt to get away, from Rolland to Chavanel's second late attack in a row, so it was up to the sprinters to make it happen for the stage.  It was up to Bakelants to make sure no gaps opened between him and the first across the line.  This one was so close that neither Peter Sagan nor Simon Gerrains knew who had crossed the line first.  It was a photo finish that showed Gerrains had thrown his bike across the line just ahead of Peter and it was Rojas for Moviestar bringing up third.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your piece of the 100th Tour de France.  Hurry, the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251298509703