Tour '24, Final Stage: The Stage & the Tour!

It is normally and unusual sight to see a rider celebrating a victory as they cross the line in a time trial, but such was the ride of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) that he had more than enough time to enjoy the moment and win yet another stage.  He wins the stage by just over a minute and the Tour by nearly six minutes.  In the process he has won six stages, five of those in yellow.  Notably, he won the last three stages this year.  I think I heard that matches a record set some forty-five years ago.  But then I suspect that Pogacar will be setting new records for many years to come.  

Mark Cavendish knew this.  When he was congratulated by Pogacar when he won his 35th stage, Mark told him, "Don't you break it!" He then playfully tapped his face and held it a moment.  If Cavendish was a movie character in a mobster movie, that would be the pivotable threat of the plot.  Pogacar's tally is now 16 stages and he is still only 25.

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 Stage & the Tour! TdF24-142" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: Leaving No Doubt

Much was made about how the final climb up Mount Lofty and the end of the stage might play out.  Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) had started the day tied with Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenish-PostNL) and just a five second lead on Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers).  But as they sprinted for the line, Williams was able to get around Narvaez (and the rest of those looking to take either the stage or the jersey) to claim the stage, a ten second time bonus, and the 2024 Tour Down Under.  While Narvaez claimed second and a six second bonus it left him in second place overall.  Finishing the stage in third thus moving himself in third was a former wearer of the Ochre Jersey, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates).  Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished in fourth on the day, and fifth in the Tour.  Just peeping in behind this group was the man who started the finale attacks, Laurence Pithie (Groupaman-FDJ).

This is the finale of the Tour Down Under.  I will be back painting some of the Spring Classics and Monuments over the coming months.  But now it is on to finishing a cycling art commission and then preparing for an exhibition of my large scale figurative works at the end of March in Richmond, VA.

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-Down-Under/3996273-205-194179/Painting/leaving-no-doubt.-tdu23-28.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 20: One Stage, Two Victors

Led out by his teammate, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) opened up the sprint for the stage win.  Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) did get the inside line and opened up a gap on the Maillot Blanc with about 500 meters to to.  Then Pogacar found that burst of speed that has served him so well for so long.  And off he went to win the stage.  Vingegaard shook his head at the speed of his adversary and let him go.  Felix Gall (Ag2r-Citroen) got around the Maillot Jaune in the final meters to claim second on the stage.  While Pogacar gained six seconds on Vingegaard, but since he needed almost eight minutes it was more a morale boost than it was a time bonus.  So while Pogacar won the stage, it is Vingegaard who will win the Tour at the end of the day tomorrow.  All he has to do is finish the day somewhere near the rest of the peloton in Paris and he will win the Tour.  Pogacar will win the Maillot Blanc of best young rider. And today it was decided that Giulio Ciccone will win 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-2023/3966858-138-297438/Painting/one-stage-two-victors-tdf23-138.html

Tour '22, Stage 20: Even Faster

The title pretty much sums up this Tour de France for Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).  He started the day with a three minute buffer on his closest rival, Tadej Pogacar, and eight minutes on Geraint Thomas.  Each of them were on a great ride all posting early split times making it look like each was going faster than the other, and Vingegaard's teammate, Wout Van Aert.  However, Vingegaard was even faster at each check point along the course.  He only came up short to his own compatriot, Wout Van Aert.  His second place on the day just nineteen seconds behind the Maillot Vert, but ahead of those that he was also ahead of on the general classification.  Tomorrow he need only stay upright and the Tour is his!

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-2022/3895458-132-294403/Painting/even-faster-tdf22-133.html

Tour '22, Stage 18: The Stage, Another Jersey, & Probably the Tour

After multiple attempts by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) it was Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) finally dropping Pogacar and going alone to the top of the Hautacam.  As they started the climb, Wout Van Aert finally dropped back to help his leader.  As he joined his other teammate Sepp Kuss, Kuss swung off and Van Aert upped the pace yet again.  That was the pace that finally broke Pogacar.  Vingegaard put another minute and four seconds into the man in the Maillot Blanc, plus another four seconds in time bonuses.  I do think that will be more than enough to hold off the superior time trial artists, Pogacar and Geraint Thomas.  Chapeau, Jonas!  or should I say Tillykke!

Oh yes, I almost forgot, with the win atop the Hautacam Vingegaard also is the new leader in the King of the Mountains.  While technically, Simon Geschke is in second place now in the King of the Mountains competion he will be wearing the Maillot a Pois at the start tomorrow.  Obviously, the Yellow Jersey takes precidence over the Polka Dot one.

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-2022/3895209-121-294403/Painting/the-stage-another-jersey-and-probably-the-tour-tdf22-122.html

TDF, Stage 21: As a Team

Yes, it is Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who wins the Tour de France, but it could not have been done without the entire team.  And it isn't just the seven other guys on their bikes, but all of the nutritionist, trainers, maseurs, soigneurs, directors, and drivers.  So a nod to all of them and to Mikkel Berg, Rui Costa, Davide Formolo, Marc Hirschi, Vegard Stake Laengen, Rafal Majka, and the American Brandon McNulty.  Chapeau!

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/3824843-138-291436/Painting/as-a-team-tdf21-137.html

Prints are available, too!

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

Tour, Stage 20: Surmounting His Final Challenge!

 Since I have been painting the Tour, and the decades I've been watching and reading abou the Grand Bouclee, I don't remember the Maillot Jaune changing hands on the penultimate stage of the Tour.  Nor do I remember anyone holding the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot a Blanc and the Maillot a Pois as the race comes into Paris.  I believe that only Eddy Merckx has won three jerseys in a single Tour, those were the Yellow, Polka Dot and Green.  As far as I know he never won a best young rider's jersey. Yet, that is eactly what has happen in this moment of the painting, as Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) creasted the final climb, he was set to claim the stage, the Maillot Jaune, keep his Maillot Blanc, and his final climb also let him claim the Maillot a Pois!

Many of you may know that I have been finishing up painting the Tour from a hospital room.  On the 16th of September I donate a kidney in a paired exchange, which provided a kidney transplant for my wife.  While I was watch the time trial the nurses came and took my vitals and my heart rate was way high, 110bpm.  They left the room concerned, as was I, until I realized I was just really excited about Pogacar's time trial.

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-2020/3704479-137-282744/Painting/surmounting-his-final-challenge-tdf20-129.html