Tour Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: A Bit Shaky

Resplendent in yellow, Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno X-Mobility) is a bit unsteady as she prepares to start her time trial.  It was a good metaphor for her day in the Maillot Jaune.  She started with over two minutes on the women nearest her on the general classification.  Alas, she finished the day over three minutes behind the stage winner, and the woman who will wear this jersey tomorrow.  Still, she remains in the top four just under a minute behind the others.  While I am sure she would have preferred to stay in yellow she is still within striking distance to take it back.  Conversely, I doubt the peloton will dare to let her get away from them again.

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: "A Bit Shaky TdFF26-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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TDF, Stage 20: Concentration

Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma) had laser focus as he waited to be counted down at his start of the second time trial of the this Tour de France.  I admit that part of my desire to paint this was the guy counting down the competitors in the start house.  After two weeks of looking a amazingly fit young men riding thousands of miles on their bikes, it was a little jarring to see this pot belly sagging over this belted khakis.  I have heard for years about how all of the French are so fit, and it is only the Americans who are fat.  This guy and many I have spied on the side of the road belie that narrative.  Wout's focus must have worked.  He finished his ride with the best time.  And it was a time that stood through the rest of the peloton who was yet to ride.  He won this time trial, a mountain stage, and came in second on a flat sprint stage (just barely beat out by Mark Cavendish).  What can't he do on a bike?

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/2021-Tour-de-France/3824556-133-291436/Painting/concentration-tdf21-132.html

Tour, Stage 20: Points to Fight For

 I think it is rather unusual that there is actually a chance to score KOM points on an indidivual time trial, but this has been an unusual Tour for many, many reasons.  We might as well add KOM points as yet another stop on this crazy train ride.  Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) had taken the Maillot a Pois on stage 18 while is teammate claimed the stage win, a decision they made to share the spoils of victory.  Today he is just 2 points ahead of the man in second place, and in the Maillot Blanc, so his ride will not be for stage honors, just to be the fastest from the bottom to the top of the final climb.  Alas, he was not. Sorry for this image being out of focus, but I am shooting this work (along with creating it) in a make shift studio while I am in the hospital recovering from kidney donation.  I may try to replace it once I get home.

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/Tour-de-France-2020/3704426-132-282744/Painting/points-to-fight-for-tdf20-124.html

Tour, Stage 13: Out of the Gate

One of the first of the start of the race favorites to roll down the start ramp was Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First), The Colombian has been having a quiet Tour up until today.  He got around the course in thirty five and a half minutes, putting him near the top of the leader board at the line in Pau.  His efforts did help move him up the general classification, but not far enough for his liking.

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.

Be sure to check out my daily videos on You Tube.  If you enjoy what you see on the channel, please subscribe.  I need to get over a hundred subscribers so I can name the channel, "Art of Cycling"

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202019/3362557-70-263530/Out%20of%20the%20Gate%20%20TDF19-70.html

Tour, Stage 20: What Can He Do?

The short answer to the question in this title, quite a lot.  Chris Froome (Sky) had dropped to fourth place yesterday in the final mountain stage of this Tour de France.  He was about nineteen seconds behind Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL Jumbo) who had won yesterday's stage.  He was another sixteen seconds out of second place held by Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).  The race leader, Geraint Thomas, was a teammate and friend who currently held more than two minutes on Dumoulin.  Spoiler alert, Froome just missed out on the stage victory, and moved himself firmly back into third place.  Unfortunately for Froome, Dumoulin took the stage, and a whole second from the former four time winner of the Tour de France.

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-2018/3195916-109-251072/PaintingWhat-Can-He-Do?--T18-108.html

Olympics 2018: Starting It Off

The American, Lindsey Vonn, was the first women to take the the Super-G course, an unenviable position.  She naturally posted the first best time, but managed to hold that ranking for some time.  Alas, she finished the day tied for sixth place.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available by emailing me at greigsart@gmail.com.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  It is $75 plus shipping.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Giro, Stage 10: Ready to Go

Tejay van Garderen (BMC) was held upright as he awaited his time to start in Folgino.  He had a rough day in the mountains on Sunday and was looking to today's time trial to set matters right.  Van Garderen is excellent against the clock and certainly possesses the ablity to put himself  back into contention.  The question is, does he have the will?  Or the form?

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2967453-67-235247/PaintingReady-to-Go-G17-.html

Doha 2016, U23 Men's ITT: Rolling Away

The races in Doha were not exactly lined with thousands of fans along the sides of the road today.  To be fair, time trials are not the most exciting things to watch from the side of the road, particularly when it is around a 100 degrees F.  That didn't stop the riders from putting their all into the race of truth today.  Eriks Tom Gavars (Latvia) was another of the early riders to take to the course.  The race order was determined by the rider's ranking with lower ranked riders going first, and the defending World Champion going last.  Some riders did choose to go earlier in the day hoping for better race conditions mainly in regards to the heat out on course.

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/2863811-18-227958/PaintingRolling%20Away%20Doha18-Greig-Leach.html#.V_x3P-ArLIU

Paris Nice Final Stage: Down the Ramp

Each time trialer is held upright as he waits for the official to count down his (or her) start.  The racers will roll down the ramp and onto the course getting into their aerodynamic tuck as quickly as possible.  Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) has quite a bit to ride for today, he is hoping to get onto the podium at the end of the day, but a roughly twenty minute all out effort of climbing looms in the way of the goal.  Thomas was one of those who crash on the final descent into Nice on the final road stage of the race, hopefully he is not too sore to put in a good ride today.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting, along with all of my art of the 72nd Paris Nice, 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.  If you are enjoying reading about bike races with the accompanying artwork please be sure to check out my recently published, Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually every online bookseller around the world.  Just google the title to find out where you can get your copy while avoiding international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2525970---195767/Painting.html#.VQXIEI7F-xU

Tour Stage 20: Bon Chance, Mon Ami

With the riders starting at three minute intervals on the top end of the General Classification, they have some time behind the start gate to talk with each other.  All have spent time getting warmed up, timing their muscles optimum performance point to their start time, some will wear a game face keeping to themselves others are much more open.  Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R) sitting just 2 seconds behind his countryman, Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), reached out to the young man in the Maillot Blanche (covered by an ice vest) to wish him well in the coming test.  The two were confident that they would both end the day on the podium for the ride into Paris, it was just a question of who would be in second and who would be in third.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  It will be part of the soon to be self published complete collection of my paintings and writings of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become part of bringing this race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some great rewards for those who choose to pledge their support starting for as little as $5 USD.  Everyone who backs the project will have their name in print on the Special Thanks page of "Book de Tour".  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't you want a copy of the book?  Of course you do!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408552---199992/Painting.html#.U9QXpsvD_IU

Tour Stage 20: Ready to Roll

Having waited twenty days to show why he is the World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin (OPQS) was ready to roll down the start ramp in Bergerac.  Called the 'Race of Truth' because it is the efforts of the guy on the bike alone, without drafting, teammates or any place to hide from the wind, that determines how well they do in the stage.  Martin was not very high up on the General Classification, but with this being his discipline, he would only be happy with a stage win.  He has won the last two individual time trials in the Tour de France, and is wearing the Rainbow Time Trialist Jersey for the third year in a row.  This Tour he has also won an open road stage, a first for him, using his time trialing abilities to hold off the chasing peloton.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes by Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is available through my artist website and will be included in my complete collection of paintings of the 101st Tour de France that are soon to be self published in my, "Book de Tour."  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy, or to discover how to become part of bringing this fabulous race to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour.  There are some exciting and excellent rewards for those of you who choose to pledge your support on Kickstarter, with rewards starting for as little as $5 USD.  Everyone who supports the project will have their name printed on the Special Thanks page of the book, regardless of the pledge amount.  If you would like to purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't you want a copy of "Book de Tour" as well?  Sure you do!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2408544-151-144-199992/Painting/Sports.html#.U9QM_MvD_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 12: Waiting for the Count Down

Each rider starts his race against the clock already clipped into the pedals hoping to hit the streets as fast as possible.  While waiting to be counted down to go time, Ivan Basso (Cannondale) his held upright by a race official as the MC and the cameraman get a good look before sending the Italian on his way.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting please follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the art on offer.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2368279---198213/Painting.html#.U37Sac_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Stage 5: Out of the Gate

TeJay rode out of the gate at the base of the Vail mountain climb hoping to redeem his last ride up this course in the US Pro Challenge resplendent in his recently acquired Yellow Jersey.  He started knowing that Andrew Talansky had set a new course record of 25:05, 40 seconds faster than the record held by Levi Leipheimer.  He was comforted knowing that the man closes to him on GC was his own teammate, Mathias Frank and that he had 40 seconds over Tom Danielson.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a brief three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251325199578

Dauphine Stage Four: Ready to Roll

Tony Martin is the current Time Trial World Champion, wearing the rainbow jersey with the giant stop watch on the chest.  The time trial is a race against the clock, often called the race of truth because of the rider's efforts are his alone.  There is no teammate to help break the wind, just the individual strength and endurance of the rider.  Martin proved today, why he is the World Champion in the discipline, wining by nearly a minute over the next fastest rider.  This is an original watercolor and ink watercolor and like all of the pieces in this series was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com  In addition this work is available for purchase through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161475---185083/Painting.html#.Ubpxx8_D_IU