Tour de France 23, Stage 18: Bagged Lunch

With the stage almost exactly half way through, the peloton all grabbed some musettes and began the task of having some lunch.  It is estimated that a rider will burn 6,000 calories in a single stage, so keeping themselves feed and hydrated is no small task.  The race designates a "Feed Zone" in every stage where the soigneurs will hold out the bags of drinks and food for their riders to grab as they ride pass.  With very, very few exceptions the Tour never stops (we did have such an occurrence mid week last week) so lunch is a bagged lunch on the go.  I never did get the names of the riders on the front here but the teams are Alpecin-Deceuninck, Jayco-Alula, and DSM-firmenich, all with sprinters still in the race.  Even now the peloton hasn't let the break away gain more than a minute and a half on them.  I feel sure that once lunch is over, those up front will be chased down.  However, there is still another 98 kilometers to race, so they may get left out there a bit longer.

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-2023/3966483-121-297438/Painting/bagged-lunch-tdf23-121.html

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Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: Checking the Damage

As she came off of Sector 12, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) looked back to see just how much damage her pace did over the cobblestones.  Still holding onto the Belgium’s wheel is Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM) and behind her a couple of the women of Trek-Segafredo.  As the riders come off of each section of pave, their soigneurs hold spare wheels aloof in case the stones weren’t kind to their riders wheels.  While neither of the women on the front of this group were French, the cycling fan on the side of waved the French tricolour for everyone riding by.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3944943-523-195767/Painting/checking-the-damage-prf23-3.html

Tour Down Under '23, Final Stage: No Time to Stop

The lead group had no time to stop and have a bite, the peloton wasn't giving them any leeway off the front.  Francis Bidard (Cofidis) grabbed a bottle from his soigneur who seems to have been trying to match his rider calorie for calorie.  Behind him Emils Liepins (Trek-Segafredo) held his bottle in his teeth while he looked to see what else was in his musette.  On his other shoulder Paul Lapiera (Ag2r-Citroen) worked on getting his food sorted.  To keep all of the riders fed in the this stage the soigneurs were able to position themselves just past the top of Mount Lofty since the peloton would ride by six times before the end of the race.

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-Down-Under/3929023-173-194179/Painting/no-time-to-stop-tdu23-27.html

Gent-Wevelgem Women '22: Way Over the Top

When I created this title I thought I was being very clever, now as I write this I don't know what I was thinking.  Perhaps I was referring to the crowds yelling as Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Furturoscope) tossed her bottle into the fans at the top of the Kimmelberg.  Or it could be the long line of soigneurs reaching to hand bottles to their riders.  But then most likely, it was that Grace Brown went over the top of the climb with a gap on the chasing peloton, and that is clearly the way she wanted to go over the top... get it?

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3875743-37-207546/Painting/way-over-the-top-gw22-10.html

TDF, Stage 10: Passing Out Lunch

I feel like it has been a long time since I have done a feed zone painting.  Then again, most of us feel like it has been a long time since we have done quite a few things that use to feel common place.  Given how long the stages are in the Tour de France, it is necessary to have a spot designated for the riders to grab lunch bags, known as musettes, from their soigneurs.  It can be most chaotic as riders grab (and sometimes drop bags).  The riders can oft times be off balance, or get the musette straps caught up in their wheels.  Today, everyone, including Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) got through safely and went on to enjoy their lunch while riding through Provence.  I'm not sure who the couple standing behind the soigneurs might be.  I'm guessing they are family to someone involved with one of the teams in the Tour.  They seemed to be on their best behaviour, something that cannot be said for many fans along the way.

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/2021-Tour-de-France/3822337-60-291436/Painting/passing-out-lunch-tdf21-59.html

TDF, Stage 7: Looking to Get Across

Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe) used the Signal d'Uchon to try and bridge across to the three leaders up the road.  As he rode past other teams' soigneurs we can just see Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education-Nippo) trying to ride across to the Austrian Champion.  While all of these guys were hoping for a stage win, it is a sure thing that they will be moving way up on the general classification when this stage is done.

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/2021-Tour-de-France/3821561-40-291436/Painting/looking-to-get-across-tdf21-39.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Over the Final Climb

 As the pair of Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) and Matteo Trentin (CCC) went over the top of the Kimmelberg for the final time they found themselves opening up a bit of a gap on the front group.  As the others reached for bottles, gels and whatever else from their soigneurs at the summit, Kung and Trentin saw their chance to push on with their advantage.  The back side of the Kimmelberg was extremely narrow with some tight turns so it was more advantageous to be in a small group then back in the peloton.  As you can see from the pair's legs and jersey, this was definitely a mud-fest race that was presenting its own challenges for the riders and their mechanics.  And again, the further back you are in the peloton, the muddier you get from the spray off the wheels of the other bikes.  Thirty four kilometers to the end might be a bit much for the duo, but this is a race for the daring.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect 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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718303-26-280747/Painting/over-the-final-climb-gw20-4.html

Fleche Wallonne: Catching the Last One

Joey Rosskopf (CCC) looked over his shoulder at the top of the Cote De Cherave only to find the chase group coming up behind.  Cesare Benedetti (Bora Hansgrohe) lead a group of roughly nine men onto the American's wheel.  The peloton wasn't much further behind.

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/Spring%20Classics%20/3322904-439-195767/Catching%20the%20Last%20One%20%20FW19-3.html

Paris Roubaix: Leading the Way

I can swear that this was the early break of the day, I joined the race at 169 kilometers left of the 250 plus on the day.  Mickael Delage (FDJ) and Jelle Wallays (Lotto Soudal) were one of many breaks on the day.  However like all of the others, they weren't able to get more than 40-50 seconds on the main peloton.  With the narrowed cobbled roads, the soigneurs position themselves along the pave sections (this is section 26 of a total of 29 sections) and pass bottles, food and (if needed) spare wheels because it can be a long time before a mechanic and team car are able to reach a rider in need.

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/Spring-Classics-/2947307-387-195767/PaintingLeading-the-Way-PR17-1.html

Doha 2016, Men's U23 Road Race: Looking for Their Men

It was a bit chaotic every time the peloton came whizzing through the feed zone.  It seems like the area wasn't long enough leaving every team right on top of one another.  As the urgency went up, and the laps ticked down, the speed at which soigneurs had to detect their riders and pass them what they needed decreased dramatically.  Sometimes with painful results.  Aside from seeing the time trials racing through the desert, this is the first image that truly said we are in the Middle East.  I was struck by the apparent comfort of the traditional Arabic clothing versus the bare skin of both the Canadian and Irish soigneurs.  I am sure both men were not happy with (nor had they ever experienced) such hot, dry air.  And then add standing in the sun on a hot roadway into the mix.

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/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2865103-46-227958/PaintingLooking%20for%20Their%20Men%20Doha46-Greig-Leach.html#.V__6UeArLIU

Tour of Britain, Stage 6: Grabbing Lunch, Literally

First a moment on my grammar soup box.  I am regularly annoyed by the use of the word, "literally" amongst others.  Particularly when the speaker is using the phrase to describe a figurative situation.  But here, Miguel Angel Benito is actually grabbing his lunch from the outstretch arm of his soigneur.  Along the course there is a designated feed zone where the teams will pass musettes with bottles, lunch and tasty treats piled inside.  The riders will then transfer these items to their pockets, bottle cages and, of course, their mouths, before getting back to the task at hand.  Ahead of Benito, Giovanni Visconte (Movistar) and Jasper Bovenhuis (An Post Chain Reaction) are looking for their soigneurs and their lunches.

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/2849628-65-189075/PaintingGrapping%20Lunch,%20Literally%20ToB39-Greig-Leach.html#.V9NxKZgrLIU

Tour, Stage 16: No Stopping to Eat

I know that this is not the first time I have painted the peloton passing through the feed zone so I won't bother with the caloric needs of the racers nor the contents of the musettes.  Some riders will wait till the end of the designated area, others at the beginning.  For now the lushly bearded Geoffrey Soupe (Cofidis) will keep riding, while riders for Tinkoff and BMC reach out for their lunch.  As you can see, the soigneurs will stand along the right hand side of the road holding the musettes aloft.  As their riders spot them, they reach out and grab the straps as they pedal pass.  From what I could see, lunch time was incident free today.

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%202016/2824987-113-224974/PaintingNo%20Stopping%20to%20Eat%20TdF11-Greig-Leach.html#.V40WTrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 3: No Stopping for Lunch

On the artistic side of the equation, I really enjoy the composition of this piece.  It reminds me of some of the ways that Degas cropped his horse racing paintings in the early days of Impressionism.

For cycling, this is when the riders go through the designated "Feed Zone" where their soigneurs pass them musettes filled with bidons, energy bars/gels and a tastey treat to keep them fueled and happy.  Paul Sherwen (former racer and current commentator for NBC Sports Network - among others) opined that given where they were racing, the treat must be a lovely French pastry.  The racers need to consume around five or six thousands calories on race day just to stay even with what they will burn out on course, so the feed zones are of the utmost importance.

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%202016/2818120-15-224974/PaintingNo%20Stopping%20for%20Lunch%20TdF15-Greig-Leach.html#.V3qu5rgrLIU

Ronde van Vlaanderen: The Perfect Pass

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL Jumbo) along with Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) managed to catch the five leaders on the road, the trio used the Oude Karnemelk to drop the erstwhile leaders (and Kwiatkowski as well).  At the summit of the climb many teams station soigneurs to pass out bottles or to have replacement wheels at the ready.  Sagan's man made a flawless pass to a very fast moving reigning World Champion.  At this point it was only Vanmarcke who could hold the darling of the peloton's wheel.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  Plus this painting and all of my cycling art is available at my website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, as the painting is an original work of art, it is first come first served.

Be sure to check out my most recent book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  It is available internationally through most online bookstores, and at www.artofcycling.bike.  Or you could ask your local bookstore to get it for you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2760169-304-195767/Painting.html#.VwGakvkrLIU

Tour Down Under: Just a Bit Dicey

In the Feed Zone, the soigneurs will line up along side the road ready to pass bottles and musettes to their riders.  The problems arise when each soigneur in turn stands just a little bit further into the road so that he can be seen by the team, naturally this makes the road narrower and narrower.  Finally, it is on the rider to get to the left side of the road to make the bottle pass safer.  That didn't happen for this IAM Cycling support personnel.  His rider forced him to make a dangerous pass and then jumped out of the way of the fast approaching riders from Drapac Professional Cycling and Astana.  You can see by the soigneurs stance that he was already figuring out how quickly he could jump back to his left.  Thanks to his awareness a rather nasty wreck was avoided.

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/2683079-96-194179/Painting.html#.VqU7A_krLIU

Tour Down Under: Taking the Team Over the Top

At the base of the first trip up Willunga Hill, the peloton caught up with (and quickly left behind) the early break away.  With the peloton all back together, Team BMC decided it was now time to push the pace and make it as hard for the other teams as possible.  As they reached the top of the climb, it was Danilo Wyss on the front follow by his teammates Rohan Dennis, Alessandro De Marchi and Richie Porte.  Porte is quite familiar with the climb, he has won the last two times the Tour Down Under has make this climb.  I am sure he and the team were planning on making it three in a row.

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/2682091-90-194179/Painting.html#.VqQD6vkrLIU

Tour Down Under: Lunch on the Fly

Naturally, the early break away (although this one didn't get away until after the first intermediate sprint) was the first to reach the feed zone.  The race organization will designate an area slightly over half way through the stage were the soigneurs can pass musettes of food and drink to their team riders.  The racers will consume over 2,000 calories while racing the relatively short 140ish kilometer stages of the Tour Down Under.  One of the dreaded mis-calculations is the bonk, when I rider doesn't take in enough food and figuratively runs out of gas at the end of the stage, just when he needs it the most.  Here, Patrick Shaw (UniSA-Australia) has just grabbed his lunch, while David Tanner (IAM Cycling) and Alexis Gougeard (AG2R) already have theirs.  Yes, you have seen Gougeard's name already, he was out in the first breakaway in the first stage of this year's Tour Down Under.

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/2679655-81-194179/Painting.html#.VqKIM_krLIU

Tour de France Stage 7: Grabbing a Bite

Luis Mate (Cofidis) reaches out to grab a musette from his soigneur while riding through the feed zone.  Mate was one of five riders to get into the early break.  Musettes are canvas bags that are handed over to the competitors at designated areas on the course.  Those racing in the Tour will burn around 6,000 calories in a typical stage so keeping themselves topped up is importance.  No rider wants to get to the end of the stage with nothing left in the tank.  Thank of the Feed Zone as a NASCAR pit stop, however in a bike race, nobody stops to refuel.  This is all done on the fly.

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 (www.richesonart.com).  They are a wonderful family run art supply company located in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting, and all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, this is an original watercolor, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2578902---210122/Painting.html#.VaASIflViko

Tour de France Stage 4: Where Were You?

An ill timed flat tire or other mechanical failure can ruin a rider's chances on a stage.  Sometimes it can even ruin the rider's aspirations for a high placed finish in the Tour all together.  Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) had just that happen to him on his second trip across the section of pave connecting Fontaine-au-Tertre and Quievy.  Apparently he couldn't find his soigneur and then the wheel change took longer than he would have liked.  It seems that he turned to give his helper a rather unkind ear full.  Later he had to change bikes, slamming the malfunctioning one as he waited for the team car to bring him another.  Pinot finished third last year, and felt sure that any chance of repeating his podium appearance just disappeared in the dust of Northern France.

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, www.richesonart.com.  This painting, and all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember it is an original painting, so don't delay, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2577816---210122/Painting.html#.VZyxh_lViko

Giro Stage 10: Who Wants Lunch?

It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a moving city to win a bike race.  One of the jobs of the soigneurs is to deliver lunch to a speeding peloton.  The method of passing out the musettes is akin to the old railroad mail car hooks.  The soigneurs will loosely hold a bag aloft, a racing member of their team will swing out of the peloton and grab the bag on the fly.  If it goes well, the cyclist will then sling the musette over one shoulder and route through the bags transferring the contents to their mouths and pockets.  If it goes wrong there can be food, crashed bikes and bleeding competitors all over the road.  After finishing transferring their lunch to where it is needed, the riders will toss their musettes to fans along the road.  They are a treasured souvenir of the Giro d'Italia (or any other race for that matter).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolor and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply business that has an incredible area of fine art and craft products.  The painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, not a print, so don't delay, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2556774---184157/Painting.html#.VVvMIflViko