Liege Bastogne Liege '26: Undeniable

It is becoming undeniable that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is the best of this generation of cyclists racing today.  He may soon out pace even Eddy Merckx.  Chapeau to the World Champion winning his fourth Liege Bastogne Liege by forty-five seconds over his erstwhile companion Paul Seixas and another full minute over Remco Evenepoel.  Add Jonas Vingegaard into the mix and it should be a very exciting 114th Tour de France should the young French Seixas be at the starting line in Barcelona.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Undeniable LBL26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Liege Bastogne Liege '26: Attacking for Third

With the miles running out, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) attacked what was left of the peloton with just ten kilometers to race.  His move was covered by Christian Scaroni (XDS-Astana).  It took a bit for Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) to respond having been on the front for a while now.  The group did come back together, but in the end it was Evenepoel that was able to sprint to claim the final step of the podium.  That was a nice reversal after getting dropped so soundly on the ascent of the Cote de la Redoute.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Attacking for Third LBL26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Liege Bastogne Liege '26: On His Own Now

It took until the final climb, but Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) finally dropped the last guy, Paul Seixas.  Free to fly, he kept opening up a large advantage on the chasing Frenchman along with the shreds of the peloton.  With roughly eight and a half kilometers to go, he had built up a forty-five second lead on Seixas and over another minute of what we might call the peloton.  Clearly, he was bound to win his fourth running of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.  Only one rider has won more, and he is currently ailing in hospital, Eddy Merckx. 

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.  

"On His Own Now LBL26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Liege Bastogne Liege '26: Over a Minute Now

These two kept adding to their advantage as they speed towards Liege.  At this point, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was on the front, but Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) was taking his share of pulls as the sped down the Cote des Forges.  With almost a minute and a half on the lone chaser, it was a little strange that the young Frenchman was helping the World Champion.  Was he going too deep, or was he racing to make sure no one bridged back up to them?  Or more likely, was the young man just so thrilled to be racing at this level, that excitement was getting the better of him?

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Over a Minute Now LBL26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Liege Bastogne Liege '26: The Only Two

As everyone expected Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) to attack on the Cote de la Redoute.  What wasn't expected (although I did) was that the only guy who could stay on the World Champion's wheel was the young Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM).  The two quickly opened up a twenty second gap on many of the best riders in the peloton.  With this move, will the duo go together to the line in Liege or will one drop the other in the remaning thirty kilometers?

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"The Only Two LBL26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Liege Bastogne Liege '26: The Expected Three

As the reduced peloton climbed the Col du Rosier with sixty-six kilometers to go the trio of favorites were keeping a very close eye on each other.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was led up the climb by his teammates with the teenage Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) stuck to the World Champion's wheel.  The faith in this trio's abilities will prove to be well founded, but more about that later.

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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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"The Expected Three LBL26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Liege-Bastogne-Liege '26: Not Much Longer

The last three from the early breakaway knew their time out front was about to come to an end.  Alexander Kamp (Uno X-Mobility) looks behind Hugo Houle (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Gijs Leemreize (Picnic-PostNL) hoping not to see the closing peloton.  With another eighty kilometers until getting back to Liege, the question now was will they be able to hold onto the others as they make the catch.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Not Much Longer LBL26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Fleche Wallonne '26: Jeune, Fort, et Francais

I apologize if the French is wrong in the title.  Translated, I hope it reads as "Young, Strong, and French".  Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) jumps free of the peloton claiming victory in Fleche Wallonne atop the Mur de Huy by three seconds over the rest of the peloton. With this win he becomes the youngest male cyclist to win at the tender age of nineteen! Behind him are Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) and Ben Tulett (Visma-Lease a Bike) respectively finishing out the podium.  Benoit Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates) claimed fourth finishing six seconds ahead of the rest of the field.  As Bob Rolle and Christian Vandevelde, "the hype is real" referring to the young Seixas.  Will he eventually be the guy to finally reclaim the Tour de France for the French?

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Jeune, Fort, et Francais FW26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Fleche Wallonne '26: Inside the Final Kilometer

With a mere 600 meters until the finale, all of the favorites were massed at the front of the peloton waiting for the right moment to launch their attacks.  The front line was composed of two not expected to be there, Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Ben Tulett (Visma-Lease a Bike) and the odds-on favorite Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM).  The next row, theoretically better positioned, were the Swiss champion Mauro Schmiel (Jayco-Alula), Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ-United) and Benoit Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates).  It was nice to see Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) leading up the remnants of those hoping to vie for the win at the summit of the Mur de Huy.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.  

"Inside the Final Kilometer FW26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Fleche Wallonne '26: Shades of Mont Ventoux

I admit that this title is a bit of a deep dive into pro-cycling history (and my paintings of the Tour de France).  I refer to when Chris Froome (riding for Sky - the team now known as Ineos-Grenadiers) crashed into a race moto near the finish of the climb of Mont Ventoux.  I was naturally reminded of and amused by this scene of Axel Laurance (Ineos-Grenadiers) running along with his bike in hopes that his team car will soon arrive before the peloton is too far ahead.  I should note that this time he took his bike with him unlike Froome so long ago.  Passing him (still on his bike) is Eduard Prades (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).  All of this was occuring under the watchful eye of one of the race commissares on the back of a motorcycle (the guy in the red jacket just ahead of the cyclists).

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Shades of Mont Ventoux FW26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)