Tour '26, Stage 8: Holding Off the Peloton

Liam Stock (Lotto-Intermarche) had been attacked on the climb of the Cote du Buissen de Cadovia.  He countered and dropped his attacker over the summit.  Once he was free of his erstwhile companions he decided to see if he could get the surprise on the sprint team led peloton.  At seventeen kilometers to race he still had a minute and twenty-one seconds on those behind.  Of course, those off the front tend to have quite a caravan of race official vehicles, his team car, and a neutral service car as well.  With over a minute to the chasers all these vehicles were still allowed to be behind the leader on the stage.  Once it drops below a minute, everyone except a neutral service moto and perhaps a TV moto are allowed in the gap.  

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: "Holding Off the Peloton TdF26-55" (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

Learn More About the Artist →  

Tour de France 23, Stage 7: All by Himself

The phrase 'suicide mission' was use to describe this attack by Simon Guglielmi (Arkea Samsic).  He went off the front from the very start of the stage, and original had two guys with him.  They soon realized the follow of trying to make a break away stick to the finish on a day designed for the sprinters.  Guglielmi decided to press on.  One never knows what might happen in the peloton, so it may work, but the odds are not in his favor.  

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-2023/3964220-37-297438/Painting/all-by-himself-tdf23-37.html  

Tour, Stage 6: Desperate to Get Back

Unlike Fulgsang, who had a flat tire with 40 kilometers to go, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) had his mishap within the final five kilometers.  He was outside of the magical three k mark, so any time lost would count against him.  He started his desperate chase back through the caravan of team cars shepherded by the American Chad Haga.  He soon dropped Haga and was picked up by other teammates in turn.  He ended the day losing over a minute and a half to the stage winner, but more importantly is now 30 seconds behind most of his GC rivals (he had started the day about 30 seconds ahead of them).  Daniel Martinez (EF Education First) was thankful for some truly fast wheels to jump on to at the end of a very long 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3186868-30-251072/PaintingDesperate-to-Get-Back--T18-30.html

Tour, Stage 2: Back Underway

The early stages of the Tour are always marked by crashes and confusion.  Yesterday saw some of the principles losing time against others.  One who lost time yesterday was Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) who hit the asphalt again today.  His teammate, Jack Bauer, quickly came to his aid, trying to get his team leader's bike sorted before the team car arrived.  Once the car was there, the team mechanic swapped bikes and gave Yates a push to get back underway.  There was still plenty of road for Yates to get back into the peloton, not losing any more time today.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3184893-9-251072/PaintingBack-Underway--T18-9.html

Tour, Stage 1: Getting to Work

The Tour is not only about the racers, but about all of the support work of the complete team.  One rider will pull on the final Maillot Jaune in Paris, but every member of the team will be responsible for that accomplishment in 23 days time.  It is stunning to watch the mechanics attempt to fix the bikes for riders as they drive along at nearly thirty miles per hour.  All I can think of is how much it would hurt to get a finger in the spokes.  Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) is getting a quick adjustment in the early stages of the first day of the Tour, it didn't work out.  He later opted to switch bikes and then catch back up to the peloton and the job at hand.  Hopefully, the mechanic will get to spend the rest of the stage inside of the team car.

This is the painting that you can watch being created on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g.  Unfortunately, I am still working out some kinks, so it is presented in three seperate videos.  I hope to have that resolved for tomorrow's painting.

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/Tour-de-France-2018/3184429-2-251072/PaintingGetting-to-Work--T18-2.html

Giro, Stage 10: Time for a Chat

With a lone attack up the road, and the peloton just riding tempo, Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) felt he had enough time to drop back and have a chat with his team director.  While he would be able to use the convoy of team cars to get back onto the tail of the peloton, he had his teammate Chad Haga to help with the effort.  Dumoulin knows that he has moved into second place overall.  Perhaps they were discussing if today was the day to put some time into the race leader, Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott).  Scott had already added three seconds to his lead over Dumoulin in the intermediate sprint, but might be able to be pulled back on the next climb.

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/3163019-44-249297/PaintingTime-for-a-Chat--G18-44.html