The Art of Cycling: stage 9 of the Tour

TDF, Stage 9: You've Done It, Mate!

Julien Jurdie, the Director Sportif of Ag2r-Citroen reached out of the team car to congratulate their man Ben O'Connor on his stage win. Yes, he still had 2.4 kilometer before it was a done deal, but no one was going to catch this Australian. Behind him, Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) had done enough to be come the new wearer of the Maillot a Pois. But even more surprising was the sprinter and Italian champion coming in third on an Alpine stage of the Tour de France. Can this Tour get anymore surprising? And then, yet again, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates, jump free of the chasing peloton to build an even larger lead in the general classification. Will anyone be able to unseat this Slovenian?

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/3821981-57-291436/Painting/youve-done-it-mate-tdf21-56.html

TDF, Stage 9: Going It Alone

As the stage neared its conclusion, it was the pair of Colombian's, Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) and Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) who seemed to be fighting it out for stage honors. By this point, Quintana had dropped off the pace. I don't know if the cold had finally got him, or he was now saving himself since he had already sewn up the lead in the King of the Mountains. Instead, it was the Australian, Ben O'Connor on the French team, Ag2r-Citroen who was dropping both of the climbers. Behind the guy in the infamous brown cycling shorts, Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) found this acceleration just one too many. Unfortunately for O'Connor, the Maillot Jaune was also on the attack further down the Montee de Tgnes.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3821980-56-291436/Painting/going-it-alone-tdf21-55.html

TDF, Stage 9: Do You Want This?"

It was a hard day to get one's clothing right. What with the chilly mountain descents and the constant variations in rain fall, the peloton spent a lot of time putting on layers and taking them back off again. One problem with that was what to do with a jacket once you didn't want to wear it anymore. When faced with that dilema, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) decided that the best option was to give it to the camera man. Question is, did the camera man (or woman) keep it for themselves, or did they return it to the team at the end of the stage. When I painted it this I was struck by the image first and foremost. However, had the jersey been past to another, it would have been the perfect image to illustrate that very idea. Because had Tadej Pogacar lost the Maillot Jaune today, it would have been by choice, not by weakness.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3821979-55-291436/Painting/do-you-want-this-tdf21-54.html

TDF, Stage 9: Virtually

Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) may have started stage nine over eight minutes off the lead of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), but at various times towards the end of the stage he actually was the virtual leader of the Tour de France. The Australian's debut Tour was going incredible well. He was vying for a stage win that might actually include taking the overall lead. Behind, it could be assumed that UAE Team Emirates was wanting to let the Maillot Jaune pass to someone they did not thing could possibly take the leader's jersey all the way to Paris. The forgot that Pogacar was a competitor through and through. He wasn't about to surrender without a fight.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3821978-54-291436/Painting/virtually-tdf21-53.html

TDF, Stage 9: What Are You Going to Do?

On the Haute Category Col du Pre, it was a locked battle for the lead in the King of the Mountains competition. Early in the stage, Michael Woods (Israel Start Up Nation) had become the virtual leader in the competion for the Maillot a Pois. On the previous climb, Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) had just nipped the Canadian for the maximum points atop the Col des Saisies. As the duo approached the summit of the Col du Pre, it seemed that one was asking the other what they were going to do. While the two battle it out, Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) and Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) did their best to keep the others in sight.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3821976-53-291436/Painting/what-are-you-going-to-do-tdf21-52.html