Tour de France 23, Stage 3: A Beautiful Day Out

Not only is the Tour a beautiful race to watch, it races through some truly beautiful places in the world.  Today the peloton wove its way in and out of the coastline of the Bay of Biscayne on its way to Bayonne.  I think that is Bayonne in the distance.  Given the pace of the day (a rather slow day) those in the peloton may have actually had a chance to take in some of the views.  Then again, given how stretched out the group is, they were hard at it on their way into this tunnel.  

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-2023/3963458-15-297438/Painting/a-beautiful-day-out-tdf23-15.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 3: Easiest Alone

Yesterday's stage winner, Victor Lafay (Cofidis) decided he would to what he could to stay in the Maillot Vert of points leader for at least one more stage.  With two guys still up the road, he attacked the peloton prior to the intermediate sprint in Deba to pick up as many points as possible.  Knowing that there would be a mass dash for both this sprint and the finale, I guess he thought I have a much better chance of winning from a group of one.  It turned out to be the right move.  He didn't factor in the finale coming in 64th, but held enough points to be tied with the stage winner (more about that later).  And that was enough for him to hold onto Green.

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.

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Tour de France 23, Stage 3: You Might Have a Problem

From the drop fo the flag that starts the stage Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) went on the attack in search of more points for his Maillot a Pois.  He was joined by only one other rider, Laurent Pichon (Arkea-Samsc).  As they were climbing the second climb of the day the Cote de Milloi, Powless pointed out that Pichon had a problem with his rear wheel.  It turned out that something was stuck to the tire and Pichon used his water bottle to knock it off.  There have been tacks thrown out onto the course for two stages thus far, fortunately they haven't cause any crashes yet.  It does help that most teams have sealents in their tires nowadays.

Least you think that Powless is being overly sporting, it is in his best interest to keep his break away companion with him.  Together it will be easier to hold off the peloton.  I doubt that Powless thought he would be allowed to be off the front this far into the stage, but as long as there isn't a hard chase he might as well keep adding to his KOM tally.

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-2023/3963441-13-297438/Painting/you-might-have-a-problem-tdf23-13.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 2: Fifteen Years!

I original wrote the title as "Sixteen Years!" because that was how long Phil Liggett said it had been since Cofidis had won a stage in the Tour de France.  As a French team, that is a terrible stat!  It is slightly better, it has been fifteen years (I reworked the title after photographing the painting). Victor Lafay (Cofidis) took full advantage of his outsider status, jumping from the back of the group with one kilometer to go.  Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had chased everyone else down, so he didn't jump right away perhaps because he was confident that Lafay didn't have the legs to hold them all off.  Clearly, Wout miscalculated.  After the finish he pounded his handlebars in frustration.  Taking third (again) was Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) but that meant even more bonus seconds on the day.  Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) did well to come back from his first attempt to finish fifth, and you can just make out Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) finishing in seventh over Lafay's right shoulder.  Tomorrow the race will cross back into France in a day seemingly tailor made for the sprinters.  Will Cav get the magical 35th stage win in 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-2023/3963336-12-297438/Painting/fifteen-years-tdf23-12.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 2: Taking a Peek

With a realitively small group of elite riders coming to the line together, those that weren't the best sprinters were trying to get a jump on the others.  First it was Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) pushing off the front on the descent.  Then, it was the Geman National Champion, Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) who opened up a bit of a gap on the Jumbo-Visma train lead by Wilco Kelderman and Tiesj Benoot.  On that duo's wheels was Biulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and the one everyone was watching, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).  Unfortunately, Buchmann was ultimately wheeled in by Wout himself.  He was the one who took on the task of chasing down every escapee.  Was that going to drain him for the finale?

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.

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Tour de France 23, Stage 2: Every Second Matters

Not one to miss a trick, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had the legs to catch the attacking Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) and to hold off Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) to claim the eight bonus seconds over the top of the Cote de Jaizkibel.  Clearly he wanted to push on down the other side of the climb, but he couldn't convince Vingegaard to go on the attack with him.  Each of them have gone too deep in previous Tours to be willing to spend to much energy in only the second day of twenty one days 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.

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Tour de France 23, Stage 2: Who's Around

The final climb of the day included an eight second time bonus for the first one over the top.  Plus it was pretty much a downhill run to the finish line 16 kilometers later in Saint Sebastien.  Never one to miss an opportunity, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), in his requiste Maillot Blanc, kept his head on a swivel checking out who was where.  He had his primary rival of the Tour, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) right in front of him, but needed to keep taps on Vingegaard's teammate, Wout Van Aert and the ever aggressive, Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step).  He must have felt the Frenchman on his shoulder since he snapped his head in his direction as soon as the leader of Soudal-Quick Step moved up beside him.  However, to gain those bonus seconds they all still needed to pull back just over a minute on the lone fiugre in 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.

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Tour de France 23, Stage 2: Never Really Alone

Not the the French fans stay home, but the Basque fans seemed to be three deep along every kilometer particularly on every climb over the first to stages of the 2023 Tour.  By the time Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) got to the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote de Gurutze, he had dropped his erstwhile break away companions.  While he may have been alone off the front of the peloton (by almost two minutes) he was hardly alone out on the climb.  Much has been made of the respect that the fans have been giving the riders, and I agree that none have truly endangered the peloton with foolish selfies and crazed running or flare burning, but I sure don't want that many people yelling in my face.

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-2023/3963327-8-297438/Painting/never-really-alone-tdf23-8.html 

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 2: A Job to Do

With the Maillot Jaune on one of your teammates, it is your job to set the pace for the whole peloton, oft time all stage long.  While Tadej Pogacar is his team leader, his teammate Adam Yates is the one clad all in yellow at the back of the UAE Team Emirates line.  MIkkel Bjerg and Vegard Stake Laengen swapped turns on the front in the long slow chase of the rather strong three man break up the road.  Marc Soler was the man right in front of Pogacar clad now in the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  At this point they were still over four minutes behind the Maillot a Pois of Neilson Powless with another 64 kilometers left to race to Saint Sebastien.  Has UAE misjudged the effort?

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-2023/3963310-7-297438/Painting/a-job-to-do-tdf23-7.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 2: More to Be Had

Sporting the Polka Dot jersey of the King of the Mountains, the American Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) managed to jump across to Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) who had started the early break away.  The duo was soon joined by Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step).  Powless was there in hopes of adding to his lead in the KOM competition and the others seemed to be riding for a stage victory.  As they approached the summit of the first climb of the day, the Col d'Udana. they had built up an almost five minute lead on the following peloton.  Powless put in a successful dig to get over this climb first, but the others didn't give him much fight.  In fact they let him claim maximum points over the first four climbs of the day.

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-2023/3963306-6-297438/Painting/more-to-be-had-tdf23-6.html