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 5: Definitely the Stage, Maybe Yellow

Clearly Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) had come alone to the line in Laruns, celebrating as he cross the line.  Now he had to wait to see just how much ground Jonas Vingegaard had gained on him from the summit of the final climb of the day.  Only when the leader of Jumbo-Visma came in 34 seconds later did Hindley know that he is now the leader of the Tour.  Thanks to the eight second time bonus at the top of the climb and another ten seconds for winning the stage, he has a forty-seven second lead over the defending champion of the Tour.  Pogacar now sits a minute and forty seconds back (fifty-three seconds behind his main rival.)  These placings set the stage for a very aggressive stage 6 tomorrow.  The Cat 1 climb to the finish line while only tighten the screws on all of the hopefuls.

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-2023/3963886-29-297438/Painting/definitely-the-stage-maybe-yellow-tdf23-29.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: Looking for Help

Working in the moment means I didn't realize this is the third title from this stage that starts with the word, "looking."  Oh well, so it goes.

At the base of the Col de Marie Blanque the duo of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and his shadow, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) were rejoined by an elite group of chasers.  Most importantly for Pogacar, his teammate in the Maillot Jaune, Adam Yates, was now here to help limit his losses to the fleeing Jonas Vingegaard.  Also riding for their own interests, that just so happened to coincide with those of the man in the Maillot Blance where the French Champion, Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) and his team leader David Gaudu, along with Yates' twin brother Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula), Carlos Rodriquez (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek).  Three of these guys have teammates up the road, so Kuss, Rodriguez, and Skjelmose all won't be aiding in the chase.

It should be noted that the last time Adam Yates held the Maillot Jaune for four days he lost it on the stage that included the Col de Marie Blanque.  Unfortunatley for the co-leader of UAE Team Emirates, history did repeat itself today.  Not the best day for his team.  Both of the Yates brothers and Pogacar dropped four places on the general classification, but at least Pogacar held onto his lead in the Maillot Blanc by 16 seconds.

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-2023/3963885-28-297438/Painting/looking-for-help-tdf23-28.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage : Dropping Some, Chasing Others

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) used the climb up the Col de Marie Blanque, his teammate Sepp Kuss, and his own abilities to drop most of the contenders in this Tour.  Most importantly, by the summit of the final climb of the day, he had put a minute into his main rival, Tadej Pogacar.  Now he had three or four guys yet to chase down in hopes of taking the stage.  In addition to stage honors, should he catch those ahead, he will pull on the Maillot Jaune of Tour leader.  There are other ways he can claim the Yellow Jersey without winning the stage, but that all depends on how the guy at the front of the race, Jai Hindley, finishes out the stage.

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-2023/3963884-27-297438/Painting/dropping-some-chasing-others-tdf23-27.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: Further Down the Mountain

Behind the actions playing out from the early break away and further down the Col de Marie Blanque, the two favorites for victory in Paris had rid themselves of most of the other contenders.  Along with shucking the contenders, Sepp Kuss's (Jumbo-Visma) efforts on the climb on behalf of his team leader (and defending Tour champion) Jonas Vingegaard also dropped all of Tadej Pogacar's (UAE Team Emirates) teammates.  Once the Maillot Blanc was isolated, it was time for the two Jumbo-Visma men to ratchet up the pace in hopes of gainning time on Vingegaard's main rival.  They all had another problem up the road in the form of Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe).

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-2023/3963883-26-297438/Painting/further-down-the-mountain-tdf23-26.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: Looking to See

It wasn't until I edit the photograph of this painting that I discovered that I never finished the title.  I think perhaps I couldn't decide just what Felix Gall (Ag2r-Citroen) was looking back to see.  He may have been trying to see who was going on the attack with him on the Col de Marie Blanque.  Or he could be trying to see if he and Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) had gotten a gap on the remnants of the large break away from the middle of the stage.  

Gall was hoping to add to his tally in what will be his new Maillot a Pois of best climber in this Tour.  He will have a strong ally in Hindley who is hoping to ride away from the favorites and into 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 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-2023/3963879-25-297438/Painting/looking-to-see-tdf23-25.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: Looking for the Summit

Felix Gall (Ag2r-Citroen) managed to drop all of his erstwhile break away companions to ride alone to the top of the first Haute Catagorie of the 2023 Tour.  As he neared the summit, the cloud cover grew dense making it near impossible to see the banner that marked the summit (and the points) of the Col de Soudet.  By going over the climb, he became the leader of the King of the Mountains competition.  With the now former leader back in the peloton and a Catagory 1 climb up the road, it was fairly certain that he will be pulling on the Maillot a Pois on the podium in Laruns.

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-2023/3963863-24-297438/Painting/looking-for-the-summit-tdf23-24.html 

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 5: All About the Points

The adage goes, "make hay while the sun shines" flor Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) it may be more likely, "Get points while the road is flat."  Today's stage is going to be all abou tthe HC climb up the Col de Soudet and the Cat 1 climb, the Col de Maria Blanque and that is not the terrain for a sprinter.  Playing the long game, he and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) used the intermediate sprint to pull closer to the lead of the sprinter's jersey held by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) before they would be dropped back to form the grupetto.  This move meant that Coquard climbed into second in the race for the Maillot Vert and Pedersen is now up to fourth.  

Coquard immediately dropped off the pace, but Pedersen continued with the early large break away as they started up the Col de Soudet.

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-2023/3963858-23-297438/Painting/all-about-points-tdf23-23.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 4: Half a Wheel!

It looked like Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) was going to get his first stage win of this year's Tour, but instead it was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) getting his second stage win in as many days.  Yesterday's second place finisher, Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) took third today.  It was Ewan in that place yesterday.  Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) did improve to fifth place today but that magical 35th Tour stage win continues to elude him.  It should be noted that the only stage that he won in the 2023 Giro d'Italia was the final stage, so don't count him out yet.  (I am mainly telling that to myself).  Tomorrow it is into the high mountains of the Pyrennes, so no sprinters will be vying for stage honors then!

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-2023/3963730-22-297438/Painting/half-a-wheel-tdf23-22.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