Paris Nice 23, Stage 2: Wicked Fast

I’ve got to thank Bob Roll for the title of this painting.  He was so impressed with the sprint of Mads Petersen (Trek-Segafredo) that he referred to the Dane as being ‘wicked fast.’  It is normally a Boston area colloquialism, so it was a bit odd coming from the former racer from Colorado.  Pedersen’s stage win and its bonus seconds puts the former world champion into the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  Just out of the frame is Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) finished second, with Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) finishing out the podium and Daniel McLay (Arkea-Samsic) claiming fourth in Fountainbleu.  Tomorrow it will be a team time trial, so it is highly possible that Trek-Segafredo will keep their guy 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 and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938346-87-272742/Painting/wicked-fast.-pn23-5.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 2: Sprinting for Seconds

Never one to miss a trick, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) saw the chance to take some seconds out of his main rivals as the peloton came to the intermediate sprint in one big pack.  He jumped clear and was chased all the way to the sprint point by Michael Matthew’s (Jayco-Alula) and Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma).  Given Matthew’s sprinting chops, it was all the more impressive that the GC man Pogacar was able to get the full six second bonus.  Van Hoydonck was there to try to prevent his team leader losing seconds to the leader of UAE Team Emirates.  I can only assume Matthew’s was after the sprint points jersey of Paris Nice.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938341-86-272742/Painting/sprinting-for-seconds.-pn23-4.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 2: The Tip of the Tail

Today’s stage looked nearly pancake flat.  The organizers and most of the riders had hoped that the winds would come and blow the race into broken shards of echelons.  Fortunately for those like Thibaut Guernalec (Arkea Samsic) who had crashed in the opening stage yesterday, the winds didn’t blow up.  While he was struggling to hold onto the last wheel of the peloton, he along with the rider from Uno-X and Mauro Schmid (Soudal-Quickstep) it was a lot easier to stay in contact without the wind blowing across the fields and into the riders of Paris Nice.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938324-85-272742/Painting/the-tip-of-the-tail.-pn23-3.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 2: Back Up and Going

As the peloton whipped through yet another small town on their way to Fountainbleu they were surprised by a bunch of traffic islands on the back side of a blind corner.  Most made their way through the obstacles without trouble.  Alas, for Pierre Latour (Total Energies) that wasn’t his fate.  The French leader of the French team spent some time stunned on the ground.  He was able to get back up after being checked by the medical staff.  So his team put him on his spare bike and got him back under way.  He had a long hard chase aided by his teammates to rejoined the peloton.  He got there, and hopefully, wasn’t too seriously bang up from the fall.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938319-84-272742/Painting/back-up-and-going.-pn23-2.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 2: “I Know They Are Coming”

Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X) had gone off on his own early into today’s stage.  While it was definitely a long shot that he would be able to pull off a surprise stage win, he had already done enough to be the next wearer of the Maillot a Pois of best climber in the race.  He has one more category 3 climb left before the stage finishes in Fountainbleu.  Should he hold off the closing peloton until the top of that climb he can hold the lead in the King of the Mountains competition until the high mountains that come this weekend.

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938295-83-272742/Painting/i-know-they-are-coming.-pn23-1.html

Strade Bianche Donne 23: Between Teammates

We were all curious if the SD Worx teammates would decide who was going to win the day between themselves, by team order, or if they would race each other as all cycling buddies do.  It was close and perhaps it could have been Lotte Kopecky’s second victory in a row had she timed her bike through a bit better.  As I watched the over head shot, I could see that Demi Vollering had one or two pedal strokes more than her teammate once she had thrown her bike at the line.  After the finish they didn’t seem to want to speak to each other, but by the time they got to the podium, they were all smiles and hugs.  

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3938130-60-207546/Painting/between-teammates.-sb23-7.html

Strade Bianche Donne 23: Catching Their Prey

Within the final 600 meters of the race the SD Worx duo of Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering  were able to catch Kristen Faulkner (Jayco-Alula).  The two caught the lone American of the 15% gradient up to the old city of Sienna (or Siena if you want to use the English name).  I assume Faulkner was moving to the right to allow the duo to pass, but she ended up putting Vollering up against the barriers.  Vollering had to pause and then get back up to speed on probably the steepest climb of the day.  It had to be heart breaking of Faulkner to see the multi-colored jerseys join her so close to the finish.  She can take some comfort in know that she still would stand on the podium no matter what happens in the remaining meters.  The greatly reduced peloton was another two minutes behind this trio.  Now, will Vollering ride to give Kopecky her second victory of Strade Bianche Donne in a row?  Or would they simply see who had the better legs of the team on 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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3938118-59-207546/Painting/catching-their-prey.-sb23-6.html

Strade Bianche Donne 23: Two Chasing One

Once Demi Vollering’s (SD Worx) teammate, Lotte Kopecky was able to escape the grip of the peloton, she waited so the two could work together to catch the last woman up the road.  I hope they had a few moments to enjoy the incredible scenery on their way back into Siena.  With ten kilometers left to go they still had to make up 47 seconds.  The formula of the peloton being able to pull back a minute per 10 kilometers made it seem like the SD Worx duo had a chance to compete for the win.  However two women does not a peloton make.

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/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3938113-58-207546/Painting/two-chasing-one.-sb23-5.html

Strade Bianche Donne 23: Surprises Around Every Corner

 This may well become the image of this year’s Spring Classics.  As Demi Vollering (SD Worx) went off the front in search of the lone leader on the road, a horse broke free and got out onto the race course.  Vollering was first warning the TV moto of the danger, but then got a bit frustrated that the horse was slowing down her chase of the American Kristen Faulkner (Jayco-Alula).  The horse was clearly spooked by all of the commotion from the racers, the race motors and the helicopters.  I was a bit worry when the poor horse slid out on a corner.  It did get back up thus allowing Vollering to get back on with the chase.  Since painting this, it was nice to see her post on social media expressing her concern for the welfare of her four legged breakaway companion.  Given what happened at the end of the race, she could well afford to be generous in her compassion (not that she wouldn’t have been regardless).

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/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3938108-57-207546/Painting/surprises-around-every-corner.-sb23-4.html

Strade Bianche Donne 23: A Tough Wheel to Follow

 Using the toughest section of gravel on the entire Strade Bianche Donne course, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) dug deep to drop the rest of the peloton in pursuit of another victory in the Rainbow Jersey.  Though struggling, Cecilia Utopia Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) was able to hold onto the wheel of the world champion.  The group was cheered on by hundreds of fans along the side of the road, each hoping to catch a glimpse of their woman doing well.  By now, these ladies were just over a minute an a half behind the sole rider up the road.

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/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3938058-56-207546/Painting/a-tough-wheel-to-follow.-sb23-3.html