Tour '24, Final Stage: Mark's Last Trip Around

I am not afraid to admit that I thought that Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) would pull out of the Tour prior to the Pyrenees since he had already won the mythical thirty-fifth stage.  With no more sprint stages in which to ply his trade and add to his total number of Tour stage wins, I couldn't quite see the point.  I missed the all important one, Cav respects the Tour, the sacrifices of his team, and of his family.  There was no way he was going to pull out unless his body wouldn't let him continue.  He already had my respect, but this shows the caliber of the man both on and off the bike.  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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.  

"Mark's Last Trip Around TdF24-134" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Mutual Respect

Sometimes it isn't the victory salute that is often staged for the gaggle of press photographers at the line, but the interaction after the effort.  Having dropped Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final 500 meters of the stage, the first person Tadej Vingegaard (UAE Team Emirates) wanted to see was Vingegaard.  This is the fifth year the two have battled it out in the Tour de France.  The first two went to Pogacar, the next two to Vingegaard.  Now the pendulum has swung back to Pogacar.  He will win the Tour tomorrow barring any serious catastrophy.  While I said some cross things about Pogacar yesterday, today he has rekindled my respect, mainly for the respect he showed his main rivals today.  And the incredibly fast attack he launched in the closing meters of the final road stage of the Tour.  Please, don't let us find out anything was untoward with his race!

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.  

"Mutual Respect TdF24-133" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Recovery

I should explain the title of this piece.  All three of these guys have a story of recovery. For the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has recovered from the disappointment of coming in second place in the last two Tours de France to come and stamp his authority on this Tour.  Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is coming back from a life-threatening crash just three months ago.  In fact, this Tour is the first time he has been in a race since that awful day.  Additionally, he had a horrible day losing time, and collapsing in tears into the arms of his partner at the end of Stage 19.  Today he bounced back able to attack on the final climb.  And finally, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) crashed out of stage one of the 2023 Tour.  While he did wear the third Maillot Jaune in this Tour, he suffered in the first day in the Alps, losing the jersey and any real chance of ever getting it back.  He was weak through most of the second week of the Tour but came back strong.  He won his first stage of the Tour in the high mountains and has now won the Maillot a Pois.  Up until the two leaders came up from behind, it was looking like he might win this stage as well.  With just two kilometers to race it was still anyone of these three guys' 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Recovery TdF24-132" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Long Expected

It came as no surprise when Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) attacked the last pieces of the peloton on the final climb of the day.  He had had his whole team on the front all day pushing the pace, so he was clearly planning something.  Yesterday, he was able to gain some time back on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and was hoping he could gain even more today.  He had seen a weakness that he thought would still be there today, but when he went Vingegaard was immediately on his wheel.  Just as close was the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  It didn't take long for Evenepoel to realize he wasn't going to get the gap he hoped for.  In fact, not long after this he was dropped by the two behind him when Vingegaard launched his own attack.

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. 

"Long Expected TdF24-131" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: One Last Act

Mikel Landa (Soudal-Quick Step) looked on enviously as Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) passed a bottle over to his team leader, Jonas Vingegaard.  Tratnik had been in the early break in hopes that Vingegaard would be able to attack and bridge up to the former Slovenian champion.  Instead, the defending champion of the Tour sat in behind those closest to him in the general classification with his loyal super-domestique, the American Matteo Jorgenson, sitting ready to help when necessary.  As this group chased down the break and Tratnik was dropping back as his legs gave out, the least he could do was pass some fresh bottles to his teammate as a last act of helpfulness.  Just peeking around the shoulders of Jorgensen is the Maillot Jaune on the back of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).

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. 

"One Last Act TdF24-130" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Up the Final Climb

Not only is the chalkboard being used to let the riders know the time gaps a bit archaic, the breakaway didn't even seem to pay it any mind, despite the board, the riders and the motorcycle all being bright yellow.  This quintet was all that was left of the breakaway with just twelve kilometers to the top of the climb, and the end of the road stages of this Tour de France.  Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike) was just taking over the pacing from Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  The others were all working in turn in hopes to be able to vie for stage honors before the GC men caught them up.  Joining in the efforts of the two on the front were Enric Mas (Movistar), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and the heavily bandaged Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) as they scaled the Col de la Couillole.

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. 

"Up the Final Climb TdF24-129" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: The Next Victim

I try not to be negative in my titles, but facts are facts.  Despite being in the early move of the day, Kevin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ) found the breakaway's pace up the Col de la Couillole just a bit too much.  This is the final climb of four in the final road stage of this Tour de France.  Geniets is the national champion of Luxembourg.  That is why he has a different jersey than the rest of his team.  I do prefer this over Groupama-FDJ's current racing kit.  He did manage to finish the stage nineteenth of the day.  So, while he dropped off the pace, he did finish way up over the majority of those still in the Tour.

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 Next Victim TdF24-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: The King of the Mountains

By going over the Col de la Colmaine first Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) secured the Maillot a Pois for himself, his team, and the first for his homeland of Ecuador.  His point total is such that he doesn't need to score anymore points, and even if the man in second in this competition, Tadej Pogacar, scores all of the remaining points available through Sunday, the title is his.  Behind him, Enric Mas (Movistar) prepares to join Carapaz in a super-fast descent off of the mountain.  They have another 37 kilometers to race with the hopes of holding off the peloton of the top riders of this Tour.

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 King of the Mountains TdF24-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: You Wouldn't Dare!

As the break reached the top of the top of the Col de Turini, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) looked back seemingly daring anyone to try and take "his" King of the Mountain points.  Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) looked like he was going to challenge the Maillot a Pois on behalf of his teammate who sits in second in the race for polka dots.  Watching the two men was Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike).  His team leader sits third in the race for this title, but is too far back to worry about it any longer.  Most of this group was more interested in the stage win seventy-three kilometers from now.  Not to say that wasn't Carapaz's goal too.

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. 

"You Wouldn't Dare! TdF24-126" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: Chasing Up the Mountain

The theme for Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) is to miss the move when it goes, and then to chase it down.  Fortunately for him, he has consistently been able to chase across this final week of the Tour.  I'm sure Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) wasn't upset to have such a good wheel to follow up the Col de Turini.  The two had about another twenty seconds to catch the three men up the road.  Carapaz was definitely on a mission to make sure his lead in the King of the Mountains competition would be unassailable by the end of the stage.

I did learn today that while EF Education-EasyPost has worn the Miallot a Pois before, they have never won the King of the Mountain title in their history at the Tour de France.  Bardet was hoping to strike gold again and win another stage in this Tour.  He has no chance of taking yellow with the win like he did in stage one, but going out with a road stage win on the final day of road racing in his Tour career would be grand.

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. 

"Chasing Up the Mountain TdF24-125" (Original art by Greig Leach)