Tour '24, Stage 17: Chasing Just One Guy

Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) had tried several times to get into the early breakaway, but the heads of state weren't having it.  After the sprint point, first a small group got up the road and then a much larger one went after them.  Apparently, the top riders in the general classification were happy with who went up the road, so they kind of sat up.  This Yates managed to get into the big group.  From there he was able to jump across to the four-man earlier break, and then drop them almost as quickly.  Alas, he couldn't hold the wheel of Richard Carapaz as he went by.  As the duo neared the top of the Col du Noyer he trailed the Ecuadorian by ten seconds with just twelve more kilometers to race.  

Spoiler:  He never caught Carapaz, but then, no one caught him either.  He did move up one spot in the GC but still sits just over 28 minutes off of the Maillot Jaune.

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.

"Chasing Just One Guy TdF24-106" (Original art by Greig Leach)

He 

Tour '24, Stage 17: The Looming Voiture Balai

The Voiture Balai (in the USA it is called the broom wagon) is the last vehicle on the road.  It's there to pick up the guys who can't finish the stage, either by their own decision or by being so far outside the time limit that he will not be able to stay in the race.  Not long after I painted this, the former Irish Champion, Sam Bennett (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) pulled of the road and climbed into his silent stalker.  Another sprinter leaves the Tour.

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.

"The Looming Voiture Balai TdF24-101" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: Off on His Own

Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) took advantage of the general regrouping after the intermediate sprint.  After the lead-out trains and sprinters sit up waiting for the peloton to catch back up, there is a chance for some opportunist to slip away.  I'm sure he wanted some others to join him in the effort, but no one got across the gap.  He did have a teammate try, but the teams of the sprinters weren't about to let a pair of teammates try and steal their thunder.  So, he was stuck out there on his own.  He did build up just shy of three minutes, before the peloton set about reeling him back in once they got to twenty kilometers to go.  

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. 

"Off on His Own TdF24-96" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: Finding His Soigneur

Visma-Lease a Bike hit today's stage with a plan!  They went out from the start with the intention of making the race hard.  They were hoping to dislodge as many of their rivals' teammates as possible and then let their leader Jonas Vingegaard attack them all up the final climb of the day.  As they rode up the penultimate climb, the Col d'Agnes, he swung out from behind the wheel of Wilco Kelderman to grab a bidon and some nutrition from his team helper (Soigneur) on the side of the road.  The tactic seemed to be working, although they were also sacrificing some of their own team as well.   Still another sixty kilometers will tell if the plan worked.  Regardless, with Vingegaard sitting two minutes outside of the Maillot Jaune, they were going to have to be bold should they want to win their third Tour de France in a row.

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.

"Finding His Soigneur TdF24-88" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 15: Looking for the Others

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) had missed the breakaway when it formed back at the beginning of the stage and had to sprint across to join up with the escapees.  Then with 63 kilometers to go, he found himself on his own chasing down the leaders when the break split apart.  I'm not real clear on why it split, but several guys didn't see the move go, and then didn't really want to pull any of the others back to those that got away.  Carapaz had to catch them napping again and use his climbing legs to leave those behind to go find those ahead on his own.  I have no idea what the fan filming and running along side covered in a pink suit is supposed to be.  That outfit does beat the all to frequent Borat "bathing suits" however.  I did decide to paint this for the story it tells, but also because it was too tempting to capture a rider in pink being filmed by a fan all bedecked in pink 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Looking for the Others TdF24-87" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 6: Wanting His jersey Back

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) had lost his lead in the King of the Mountains competition yesterday, mainly because after mutliple attempts to be in the successful break away, he missed the one that went.  Today, he missed the one that stuck again, but was able to bridge up to the original fifteen escapees with four other riders.  Once in the group, he went right on the offensive on the first Cat 3 climb of the day.  Today he had his rookie in the tour teammate, James Shaw, to help him get to the summit of the Cote de Capvern first.  It helped that Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) and Asgreen's teammate, Julian Alaphilippe had other objectives for the stage.  So over he went this climb first, but that won't be enough to regain the Maillot a Pois.

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-2023/3964039-30-297438/Painting/wanting-his-jersey-back-tdf23-30.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 4: Is this Going to Work?

I am quite sure that Benoit Cosnefroy (Ag2r-Citroen) knew well the answer to the title of this painting.  Yet, he seemed to be asking it of his countryman Anthony Delaplace (Arkea-Samsic) just the same.  The pair had slipped off the front of the peloton just after the sprinters finished the intermediate sprint.  To their chagrin no one else came along in the effort.  So it is almost certainly doomed given the clearly designed stage for the sprinters.  I am sure with the mountains looming tomorrow, the fast guys weren't going to let their chance to shine slip away.  And if you are wondering, they were back in the peloton about 30 kilometers later never having gotten more than a minute ahead of the peloton.

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-2023/3963723-21-297438/Painting/is-this-going-to-work-tdf23-22.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 4: Time to Chat

The combination of a stage for the sprinters and no one going in the early break away made for a very leisurely stage, at least for the first 140 kilometers.  They were riding so slow at times that even I could have held onto the tail of the peloton for about 50 kilometers.  Then, I am quite sure my legs would have blown. The pace gave many in the peloton time to check in with former teammates and old friends.  It was nice to see the cameraman catch this moment between Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) and Julian Alaphilippe (Lotto-Quick Step).  Both guys are former World Champions on the road, although Alaphilippe held that title for two years in a row.  And both have had their problems with the director sportif of the team now known as Lotto-Quick Step.

And yes, this is the painting the Phil Liggett talked about on air during NBC's broadcast of Stage 4 of the Tour de France.

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-2023/3963704-19-297438/Painting/time-to-chat-tdf23-19.html

 

Tour '22, Stage 20: Going Out Hot

The aconversation amongst the commentators was that Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had gone out way too hard at the start of the final time trial of the Tour.  Van Aert knew more what he was about than they did.  He had a double purpose with this ride, he was hoping to repeat his feat of winning the final time trial last year, and he was doing recon for his team leader.  I think he figured if he pushed himself a full speed, he would be able to report where all of the dangers lie.  He may have been doing the latter but he succeed in achieving the former.  Now, can he repeat the win on the Champs of Elysees from last year again 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 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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895457-131-294403/Painting/going-out-hot-tdf22-132.html

Tour '22, Stage 5: A Reversal of Fortune

Both Wout Van Aert and his team Jumbo-Visma were flying high for the first four stages of this Tour.  Today that all came apart.  After having a mechanical Van Aert was working his way back through the peloton when he ran up on the rear wheel of his teammate Steven Kruijswijk.  Down they both went.  The two main GC contenders for their team, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic both lost time across the cobbles mainly due to flat tires and crashes.  Oddly, Van Aert held onto yellow, but the others lost a half minute and two and a half minutes respectfully.  Plus the team lost their first place in the team competition, but by only one second to Ineos-Grenadiers.  That should set up a wild stage finale on the uphill climb to the finish.

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-2022/3892389-23-294403/Painting/a-reversal-of-fortune-tdf22-23.html

TDF, Stage 21: The First to Congratulate Him

I had not seen a clear view of the finish line when I painted this (so yes, this was painted before the sprint for the line).  I was touched by Andre Greipel (Israel Start Up Nation) congratulations of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) on his surprising victory on the Champs Elysees.  I also enjoyed that Greipel was reach to hug the Belgium Champion while Van Aert thought he should reach for the German Sprinter's hand.  I have had that moment of familiarity confusion and I am sure you have had it to.  I just like that it goes up to famous bike riders too.  I wanted to make sure to paint Greipel on his last day of racing the Tour as he announced his retirement at the start of the stage.  I'll miss the "Gorilla" and I will miss painting the Tour everyday.  But then while Greipel won't be back next year, I will.

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/3824861-145-291436/Painting/the-first-to-congratulate-him-tdf21-144.html

TDF, Stage 21: Wow, That Wasn't Expected

To be fair, I didn't expected it.  I doubt that Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-Quick Step) expected to finish third on the Champs Elysees either.  I love Cav, and the race that he has had this Tour, but I am not disappointed that my cycling hero's record will stand for at least one more year.  One of the NBC Sports broadcasters had pick Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) for the win today while everyone else had gone for Cav.  At first I thought that was Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) looking in, but no, it is his lead out man Luka Mezgec who took second on the stage.  I was very pleased to see Andre Greipel (Israel Start Up Nation) who claimed fifth on the stage.  I had hoped he would surprise everyone and win yet another career stage on the Champs Elysees.  He had started the day by announcing that he was retiring at the end of the season, and it would be great to see him go out in style.  I can see Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) in this image, but he did show up in the top ten finishers.  Without Matthews winning the stage, and Cav taking third, it means that there will be no change in the leader of the sprint competition.  Chapeau, Mark!  And chapeau to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) for taking all of the other jerseys in the 2021 Tour de France.

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/3824860-144-291436/Painting/wow-that-wasnt-expected-tdf21-143.html

TDF, Stage 21: Out of the Final Corner

 As the peloton rolled around the final corner of the Tour de France, it seemed that Deceuninck-Quick Step's lead out train had been washed away for the first time throughout the entire Tour.  Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-Quick Step) latched onto the rear wheel of Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma).  Van Aerts still had his lead out man as they prepared for the final dash to the line.  I wasn't quite sure who that is in the dark blue beside Van Aerts, nor who is coming up behind in either the red or the pink kit.  At this point they were hitting speeds of 50 miles per hour.  In about 400 meters we will know who will win the final stage, and if that win will mean a new record for total career stage wins in the Tour.

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/3824859-143-291436/Painting/out-of-the-final-corner-tdf21-142.html

TDF, Stage 21: Leading the Way Up the Champs Elysees

The trio of escapees still had twenty seconds on the peloton.  I can't imagine that Deceuninck-Quick Step, the team of Mark Cavendish, was going to let anyone stay away thus spoiling Mark's chances of breaking the record of stage wins in the Tour.  Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) has been holding off the peloton for longer than expected earlier in the Tour, and when he teams up with Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe)and a strong time trialist like Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-Nippo) they weren't going to make it easy to pull them back.  It is a long drap up to the l'Arc Triomphe on Champs Elysees partiuclarly after 20 days of racing, and just another 12 kilometers left in this final stage.  Still, they seem up to the challenge at hand (or under wheel).

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/3824857-142-291436/Painting/leading-them-up-the-champs-elysees-tdf21-141.html

TDF, Stage 21: Their Work Is Never Done

Unfortunately, my pen does not have spell check, nor does it catch bad grammar.  Clearly, I meant 'their' not 'there.'  Somehow I got to the last stage of the Tour without a single painting of a daredevil mechanic leaning way too far out of a team car to effect a bike repair on the fly.  Anthony Perez (Cofidis) had a plastic bag stuck in his rear derailleur hanger which was bound to interfere with shifting if not completely lock up the rear wheel.  With the peloton going full gas, there wasn't enough time to stop for a repair or bike change, so out the window it was.  It worked and Perez was able to quickly catch back onto the rear of the peloton.  And the mechanic still had all of his fingers.  It really does take a full team to compete successfully in the Tour.

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/3824856-141-291436/Painting/their-work-is-never-done-tdf21-140.html

TDF, Stage 21: A Perfect Rehearsal

I've talk about the superstitions in the theatre community about rehearsals.  Today may turn out to be the reverse.  With the relocation of the finish line another 300 meters further up the Champs Elysees, Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-Quick Step), who has won four times before on the Champs Elysees, and his team need to rehearse their sprint leadout to the new point.  They got it perfect in the intermediate sprint with Cav taking the best of the rest from the peloton.  There were still three guys up the road.  His leadout man took second keeping Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) from gaining any points in the race for the Maillot Vert.  Now, Cavendish will have to not score any points at all for Matthews to have any chance of taking the Maillot Vert off of the Manx Missle.  He hasn't bested him yet, so I have no reason to suspect that it will happen in four more laps.

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/3824853-140-291436/Painting/a-perfect-rehearsal-tdf21-139.html

 

TDF, Stage 21: And Now, We Race!

With all of the tradition having been honored, it was time to race.  After the champagne toasts, the winner's team photos, the handshakes, the mugging for the cameras, and the procession onto the Champs Elysees led by the team of the Maillot Juane, it is time to get back to the business of a bike race.  The moment that the yellow jersey crossed the line for the first of eight laps, the attacks began.  This trio of Harry Sweeny (Lotto Soudal), Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-Nippo) and someone from Bora-Hansgrohe got a bit of seperation as the peloton flew back down the Champs Elysees away from the l'Arc de Triomphe.  As Phil Liggett said, "That might be the biggest flag I've ever seen."  Normally, their would be a fly over by the French airforce, but they arrived just a bit late.  I'll leave the interpretation of that fact to others...

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/3824849-139-291436/Painting/and-now-we-race-tdf21-138.html

TDF, Stage 20: Losing the Day, Winning the Tour

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had plenty of time in hand, but I am sure he would have loved to win yet another stage in this Tour.  He has already won the first time trial way back on stage 5 in the first week of the 2021 Tour de France.  Then he won both mountain top finishes in the Pyrennes, and those wins were back to back.  So while he only finshed 8th today, and he conceded thirty seconds to Jonas Vingegaard, he still comes out of the day with a very comfortable lead.  It is traditional not to attack the Maillot Jaune on the final day of the Tour, but even if someone does so, he has five minutes on everyone else.  It is near impossible to take five minutes on a flat stage if the peloton doesn't want you to.  All he has to do is stay upright and somewhere near the winner of the stage and he will have won his second Tour de France in a row.  He will also win the Maillot a Pois and the Maillot Blanc.  All he left for others is the Maillot Vert, which will just about certainly go to Mark Cavendish.  Hopefully, Cav will also surpass Eddy Merckx's record of total stage wins in the Tour de France.  Check back tomorrow to see if history is made.

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/3824672-136-291436/Painting/losing-the-day-winning-the-tour-tdf21-135.html

TDF, Stage 20: More Than Enough

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) started the day just six seconds ahead of Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) in third place.  He had placed third in the first time trial so he hit the road with confidence that he would finish the day still in third.  He had the extra advantge of starting his time trial two minutes behind Carapaz.  This afforded him the opportunity to know what he had already done.  By the second time check he was already running thirty seconds faster than Carapaz when all he had to do was not lose more than five seconds.  In fact, he was out riding the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar.  Unfortunately for Vingegaard the Slovenian had a five and a half minute lead on him.  It should be noted that Vingegaard is only second in the Maillot Blanc competition of best young rider in the Tour.  It is on loan from Pogacar while he rides around France in yellow.

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/3824669-135-291436/Painting/more-than-enough-tdf21-134.html

TDF, Stage 20: "Out of the Gate"

Deck out from head to toe (well, his socks are white) Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) rolled out of the start gate to defend his lead in the 2021 Tour in the final competitive stage of the Grand Bouclee.  It was this stage in last year's edition that he over took the Yellow Jersey of Primoz Roglic.  Today he is already in Yellow and he started with over five minutes on the guy in second place.  It would take a serious problem for him not to end the day in the lead.  With the stage onto the Champs Elysees mainly ceremonial - until it is time to sprint for the win - it is almost impossible that he won't be the winner of the Tour for a second year in a row.

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/3824657-134-291436/Painting/out-of-the-gate-tdf21-133.html