Tour '24, Stage 10: Wheel Change

There seemed to be a rash of flat tires in the peloton today.  It could have been the showers that kept coming and going through the early part of the stage washing grit into the roadway.  The Maillot Vert on the shoulders of Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) stopped and held his bike up for his mechanic to swap rear wheels.  He seemed completely at ease, but then the peloton was in full cry and there was another 79 kilometers of racing before the sprint finale.  Girmay is the only man in the peloton who has already won two stages this year.  Obviously, while I am sure he wants more, and wants to keep the sprinters' jersey, the pressure is off for the Eritrean.

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. 

"Wheel Change TdF24-53" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 3: Getting Him Going

It isn't just the start riders that make a win at the Tour de France possible, it takes the entire team.  Not only the domestiques, but the mechanics, soigneurs, chefs, nutritionists, drivers and everyone else that makes a team function.  One of Jakobsen's leadout men, Andrea Bagioli (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) gets a quick wheel change and a push from the team car's mechanic to get him up and running.  With 31 kilometers until the end of the stage, Bagioli will certainly be able to get up to the front to do his part for his team's sprinter.

Watch as I create this painting in real time.  I talk about the Tour and how to create a compelling cycling watercolor with ink and paint.

Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and giving this post a thumbs up.  Plus I would love to hear your comments about this and the rest of my cycling art.

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-2022/3891871-14-294403/Painting/getting-him-going-tdf22-14.html

Liege Bastogne Liege '22: Pit Stop

With experience comes tranquility.  Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) couldn't have been calmer as he pulled out of the peloton to get a front wheel change.  Valverde is the oldest rider in the peloton with his 42nd birthday coming this week.  Watching the wheel change, I was reminded of the Indy 500 pit stop row complete with power tools being used to change his wheel.  I suspect that the fan holding the Colombian flag would have hoped to be this close to one of his countrymen in the race as opposed to this rather famous Spanish cyclists.  The Movistar team leader was easily able to chase back onto the peloton rather quickly due to a skilled wheel change by his mechanic.

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/Spring-Classics-/3881089-502-195767/Painting/pit-stop-lbl22-2.html

Paris Nice 2022: Bad Timing

Sitting in third overall just a few seconds out of second place and barely a minute off the lead, Daniel Felipe Matinez (Ineos-Grenadiers) was sitting pretty in the elite group off the front of the very diminished peloton.  Unfortunately at the bottom of the penultimate climb of Paris Nice he had a flat tire.  With no team cars around, he got a rear wheel change from the Shimano neutral service vehicle that was just behind the quintet leading the stage and the race.  It was a quick change, but it left him unable to vie for stage honors or any hopes for moving up the general classification.  He rode hard enough that the poorly timed puncture didn't knock him off the podium of Paris Nice as he ended the race third overall.

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/Paris-Nice/3872111-78-272742/Painting/bad-timing-pn22-41.html

TDF, Stage 17: Neutral Service

While I miss the bright yellow of the Mavic service vehicles, I would much rather ride Shimano components.  My first race bike, way back in the 70s had Simplex and Mavic parts, and the Shimano groupset I have now is so much better.  Unfortunately for Estaban Chaves (BikeExchange) he had a flat tire and the base of the final climb of the day, the Col du Portet.  Never a good time to have a mechanical, but it was even worse with his team car so far down the road.  That is the point of having neutral service.  They ride behind each group on the road (until there are just too many groups) ready to lend support to whomever may need it.  It was a quick change and Chaves was able to catch back onto the splintering peloton further up the climb.

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 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/3824068-109-291436/Painting/neutral-service-tdf21-108.html

Tour, Stage 5: Little Help

Bedecked in the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider, Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) had a quick wheel change on the side of the road.  To get him back up to speed, his mechanic gives him a running push after getting his bike ready to go.  Pogacar had not much worry about catching back up to the peloton, today, the whole race seemed to take the day off.  Although it should be said that their day off pace is a good five miles an hour faster than my best hard day.

Today was the first day I can remember that no one went off the front in hopes of breaking away from the group.  Don't worry, the racing got very serious once they reached about thirty kilometers to race.

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/Tour-de-France-2020/3690132-30-282744/Painting/little-help-tdf20-25.html

Tour, Stage 1: Not Ideal

Not only were the race conditions less than ideal, the stage wasn't going great for Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck Quick Step) either.  On the descent off the only categorized climb, his front wheel locked up.  He waited a long time for his team car, and once there the mechanic couldn't get the front wheel off either.  The better option after too much time had been spent was to give him his back up bike.  Something else must not have been right, because Alaphilippe, normally a great descender, had a terrible time negotiating the tricky corners off of the Cote de Rimiez.

I just recently got a new bike with disc brakes and was very surprised that they don't have quick release skewers.  That is why the mechanic as a cordless drill.  He needs to drive a hex head wrench to free the front wheel (or the back) to effect a wheel change.  At least Alaphilippe was able to rejoin, and to even help with the lead out at the end of the 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3683714-3-282744/Painting/not-ideal-tdf20-3.html

Liege Bastogne Liege: No Luck for the Irish

Clearly this title is a play on the expression, "the luck of the Irish."  Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) - an Irish racer - had his team doing all of the chasing in hopes of a dramatic finish on the day.  On the final climb he kept attacking to bridge across to the lone escapee, only to be pulled back by the rest of the select group.  To add insult to that injury, he had a poorly timed flat front tire that required help from the Mavic neutral service vehicle.  While the mechanic was quite fast, with just eight kilometers left, it was clear to Martin, that it wasn't going to be his day again.  At one point during the wheel change, you could see him pound his helmet in frustration (not at the mechanic) knowing that his team's hard work would come to naught.

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/Spring-Classics-/3151258-428-195767/PaintingNo-Luck-for-the-Irish--LBL18-8.html

Giro, Stage 7: On the Job

Race mechanics are tasked with a very difficult job.  Their mistakes can effect the results of their team, and naturally, their quality work can effect things as well.  One of the team mechanics will ride in the team car ready to jump out and change wheels, bikes or repair whatever is broken within seconds.  Here the CCC Sprandi Polkowice man is swapping the rear wheel of Felix Grosschartner.  Once the switch is made, he will help push Grosschartner to get him back up to speed and back into the peloton.

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/2965563-46-235247/PaintingOn-the-Job-G17-47.html

Tour, Stage 8: Getting Some Help

While flying down the back side of the Col de Val Louron Azet on a blistering hot day, Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL Jumbo) lost control of his bike on a sharp corner.  As we were able to see Kelderman and his bike on the road, it was obvious that his tire and come free from the rim.  Racers use tubular tires that are sewn around the inner tube and then glued onto the rim of the wheel.  In the heat some times that glue becomes too soft and the tire simply rolls of the rim in a hard corner.  I use to ride these kind of tires, but now the technology allow for very high pressure traditional clencher tires.  Fortunately, Kelderman's teammate, George Bennett was just behind.  Before the leader of Lotto Jumbo had even figured out what had happened, Bennett had stopped and began to remove his wheel to give to his team leader.  Luckily, no one else hit the ground due to his crash, amazing consider the pair were in the middle of the road on a hard corner of a Pyrenees decent.

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, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2821642-52-224974/PaintingGetting%20Some%20Help%20TdF52-Greig-Leach.html#.V4HnuLgrLIU

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Giving a Hand and a Wheel

There is a reason that there are teams in a bike race.  And each member of a team has a particular role to play.  Some like Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge) are the "protected riders" those that are designated to have the best chance to win the race for the team.  Others, like Keukeleire's teammate, Alexander Edmondson, are called domestiques, and are in the race to aid the goals of the protected riders on their team.  Keukeleire had a flat on the rough cobbled roads that are a feature of the Belgium races, and Edmondson realizing his man was in trouble, stopped, removed his own rear wheel and switched it onto his teammates bike.  This allowed Keukeleire to get back into the race much quicker (although it could have gone better had Edmondson not had so much trouble making the trade).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  Plus this painting is avialable through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to purchase your piece of this early spring semi-classic.  International shipping is available.

Then there is my new book of the 2015 Road World Championships entitled, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  Available world wide and at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2720259-253-195767/Painting.html#.VtMmsvkrLIU

Tour Down Under: Swapping Wheels

As a team rider, one has to be ready to aid your protected rider at all times.  Here Mathew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge) stops to give his man, Simon Gerrans, his back wheel in order to keep Gerrans in contention for the overall.  With the wheel, Gerrans saved the time it would have taken for his team car to get up to him with the replacement for his punctured rear tire.  Hayman then waited for the his mechanic and rode in with the follow caravan leaving Gerrans able to finish with the same time as the winner of the stage.

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/2673664-65-194179/Painting.html#.Vp6FGfkrLIU

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

Dauphine Stage 4: Popping His Wheel

Not to be confused with 'Popping a Wheelie', something that Peter Sagan (Cannondale) is known to do when cresting the Alpine climbs of the Tour de France, Chris Froome (Team Sky) his popping his wheel off of his fork as he waits for his mechanic to show up with another wheel.  The UCI has required that the forks have a recess to keep the wheel from falling out of the fork if the quick release is not properly tightened.  While this is common in bikes for the general public it slows down the time it takes to change a wheel because it requires a further adjustment of the quick release skewer.  Froome is decreasing the time it will take to change his wheel by pulling the it out before the mechanic arrives.  Ironically, the mechanic just brought a new bike (he may not have known what the problem was so he went for the solution that would solve any problem).  This is an original small 4"x6" watercolor and ink painting that is available to own through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase  this particular painting, follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Only $50 USD for this original piece of art from the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387296---199476/Painting.html#.U6JADM_D_IU

Tour Stage Sixteen: Almost Got It

The mechanic and his rider have to work in tandem to make a wheel change as fast as possible.  First, the rider should radio the team car and let them know what the problem is and which side of the road they are on, and they shouldn't stop until the car is near.  Once the mechanic is out of the car his cyclist is to be calm and hold the necessary end of the bike off of the ground keeping it as stable as possible.  It does help to have the chain at the low end of the cog as well.  There have been some disastrous wheel changes in this year's Tour, this, fortunately for Navardauskas, was not one of them.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get you piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183151---186227/Painting.html#.Ue9AG8_D_IU

Tour Stage Five: As Quick as Possible

The dreaded flat tire (or other mechanical misfortune) can erase any riders advantage he has worked so hard to gain on the road.  Sicard was in the break of the day when he flated his rear tire and was forced to chase back up to the group he had so recently been amongst.  As often happens, as soon as he got back on, one of the others attacked and Sicard was unable to match the acceleration having just spent so much energy catching the others.  The flat is fixed by a wheel change by the mechanic who has jumped out of the team car when the rider stops at the side of the road.  Usually the cyclist will get off the bike and hold it up in the air to ease the mechanics job (and to make the change as fast as possible).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through a quick visit to my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178283---186227/Painting.html#.UeH0S8vD_IU

Tour 2012: Cadel in Trouble

2012 found the riders dealing with something I have never seen before, while there have been protests, run in with fans, and accidents with following vehicles (2011), I have never known of an attack on the race.  Team BMC and Cadel Evans were behind the peloton when they suddenly had numerous flat tires, the team quickly assessed who had good tires and they started swapping wheels to get the team leader and his dedicated supporters up and running.  In all 15 riders and four of the caravan motorcycles had flats all from tacks that had been thrown on the course by someone or some people who were along the race course.  If it was their intention to help other riders, they were unaware of the code of the professional peloton.  Once the contenders were informed of the incident, they sat up and waited for Cadel and his team to catch back up.  Hopefully, there will be no repeat of this nonsense in 2013.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available through my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%20Watercolors/1991885-32-30-171269/Painting/Sports.html#.UcuXQ8vD_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Good to Go

Francais du Jour's team mechanic jumped out to make a quick change for his rider.  The quickest way to change a flat is to switch out the wheel.  The rider will have radioed the team car to let the mechanic know which wheel is flat and then stops on the side of the road and starts pulling the wheel with the flat off of the bike.  When the mechanic arrives with the replacement, he will finish pulling the wheel and then put on the new wheel while his rider holds the bike.  After his rider is good to go he will pick up the flat and then give his man a push to get rolling again.  This all should happen in about 15 seconds.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series it has been created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   They have a wonderful wide variety of quality art supplies based in the United States.  Also, this work is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162025---185083/Painting.html#.UbvA48_D_IU