The Art of Cycling

Friday, July 17, 2026

Tour '26: Stage 13: Just Enough Road

While you can see the eight former companions of the leading duo, it wasn't as close as it seemed. Both Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) and Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana) had slowed down, each trying to force the other to the front as they rode in the final kilometer of the stage. Schmid said in a post-race interview that he was trying to get Tejada to jump first as the chasers closed in. It worked. Tejada opened up the sprint looking like he would get the stage. He faded in the final meters, and Schmid was able to get the victory. As he crossed the line, he first pulled up his front wheel then smashed it down in a celebration of his win. Not a move I remember seeing before. Closest thing would be Peter Sagan's wheelies as he went over mountain top summits while in the groupetto. Behind, Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) was able to outsprint the others for a well-deserved third place on 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Just Enough Road TdF26-92" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 13: Not Closing

Despite their best efforts these eight guys were gaining on the two former companions now twenty-one seconds up the road. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) usually was most skilled at chasing down breaks, it is kind of his job on the UAE team. His teammate the American Brandon McNulty was hoping that Wellens would spend the energy that allowed him to go for the stage victory. Behind Wellens is Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) who is followed by his countryman Clement Braz Alfonso (Groupama FDJ-United). The rest of the group was comprised of the man to be named the most combative rider of the day, Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula), Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos) and Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). I suspect these eight will be vying for the final step of the podium in Belfort. Regardless, Pidcock has moved way up the general classification into fourth place now. He turned out to be the one to beat the others across the line to claim third on the stage.

Purchase this painting here: "Not Closing TdF26-91" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26: Stage 13: Capturing the Move

The race is filmed by a minimum of four TV Motos and at least two camera sporting helicopters. Throw in the stationary cameras at the intermediate sprint and the finish, there is quite a good chance of capturing all of the main action of any stage of the Tour de France. I always enjoy when one cameraman catches another at work. So it was with this Moto filming what looks to be the winning move off the front of the break by Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) and Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana). The pair had opened up just nine seconds on their erstwhile companions as they raced the final fifteen kilometers into Belfort. They were helped by Schmid's teammate, Luke Plapp discouraging the chase behind.

Purchase this painting here: "Capturing the Move TdF26-90" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 13: Over the Summit

I learned today that the Ballon d'Alsace was the first mountain ever climbed in the Tour de France. It was introduced to the Grand Boucle back in 1905. We just missed celebrating the 120th anniversary of this climb by a year. I doubt that was foremost in the mind of Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) as he led the breakaway over the summit of the Category One climb. Pidcock is known as an incredible descender so he may have wanted to be the first to start down the other side of the mountain. He was followed in turn by Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula) and Plapp's teammate Mauro Schmid. The next two over the summit were the two Frenchmen Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos). As they crested the Ballon, the peloton was back down the mountain almost eight-and-a-half minutes behind. At this point Pidcock has moved into second place virtually. I suspect that the peloton will start chasing under the impetuous of those teams whose leaders are losing their places in the general classification.

Purchase this painting here: "Over the Summit TdF26-89" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 13: The Next to Go

With the peloton out of the equation, the breakaway set about trying to shed the dead weight on the climb of the Ballon d'Alsace. After multiple attacks, each counter by another, all of the sprinters and many of the domestiques were already off the back. As they neared the summit, Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula) was the next to have a go. He got clear of Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) whom no one else seemed willing to help in the chase. Pidcock was marked by Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineso), Maim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), and the other four guys left off the front of the splintering breakaway.

Purchase this painting here: "The Next to Go TdF26-88" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 13: Why He Chased

It was debated whether Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) would have anything left in his legs after the long chase down of the breakaway. While he didn't win the intermediate sprint in Melisey, he did just manage to nip pass Biniam Girmay (NSN Pro Cycling) to take second with the maximum points going to Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Pedersen needed to be up here to gain as many points as possible since Philipsen is closing in on the lead in the race for the Maillot Vert. Pedersen's second goes a long way to keeping him in green. Philipsen's successful intermediate sprint moves him to second in the sprinters' competition. He has done well in the intermediate sprints, but Philipsen has yet to put together a sprint for a stage win this Tour. It is unlikely that he, or any of the pure sprinters, will have another chance to win a stage with the possible exception of the final stage into Paris.

Purchase this painting here: "Why He Chased TdF26-87" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 13: He Chased Them Down

Somehow, Mads Pedersen nor any of his Lidl-Trek teammates made the very large breakaway today. He helped to form another break of about 26 riders, and with was mainly his effort, the two groups came together before the intermediate sprint. The sprint came late in this the longest Tour de France stage this year, so he had plenty of time to set things to rights. He chased because is primary rival for the Maillot Vert was in that front group. Downside, he pulled his other rival along with him. Once merging to the two groups, he rode up to the front to see just who was were. He found Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) in his new British Champion's Jersey, along with Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar) on the front of the now very, very large escape. With fifty-six guys in the front, it wasn't much smaller than the peloton that was now just shy of seven minutes back down the road. I think it is safe to say, that today will be a day for the breakaway.

Purchase this painting here: "He Chased Them Down TdF26-86" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Thursday, July 16, 2026

Tour '26, Stage 12: His Third

Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) came from a ways back to take out his third stage of this Tour de France. Despite a crash not far from the front of the peloton, none of the marquee sprinters were involved in the mayhem. Although, the first to go down was the sprinter for Caja Rural-Seguros, Fernando Gaviria. The general classification riders were caught behind but all will be awarded the same time since the crash happened within the final five kilometers. Merlier outsprinted Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) who was second followed by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Philipsen had a perfect lead-out but just doesn't have the punch to hold of the Belgium sprinter. Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) was fourth. A little further back you can spy Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). While I am sure Mads would have preferred to have done better, he did well enough in ninth to maintain a solid lead in the race for the Maillot Vert. With no more pure sprint stages in the Tour (now that the final stage into Paris includes the climb up Montmartre), it seems that as long as he is able to stay in the race, the Green Jersey will be his.

Purchase this painting here: "His Third TdF26-85" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 12: A Quick Salute

While off the front of the peloton Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) reached out to high-five a fan with an American flag on the side of the road. As the fan turned to cheer on the USA Champion, it was cleared to me that the fan was Quinn's dad. How cool is it to be in the Tour, off the front of the peloton, and actually find your dad in the crowd at the side of the road. Of course, Quinn may have known where he would be and went on the attack just so they could have this moment. I remember when a French rider stopped in a time trial to greet his young son and wife. The ASO (the group that organizes the Tour) fined him for conducted that reflects poorly on the sport. And absurd ruling, but will they feel the same about this? I guess Quinn and his dad are safe since he didn't stop.

Purchase this painting here: "A Quick Salute TdF26-84" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 12: Trying a Little Dig

With the peloton all together, it was time for others to try and escape the grasp of the peloton. Or perhaps Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) was doing what he could to shed some of the other sprinters on behalf of his sprinter Mads Pedersen. The attack by the Champion of the USA came on the last categorized climb of the day, the Cote de Montagny les Buxy. He was covered by Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-Quick Step). Vervaeke was riding in defense of his very successful sprinter, Tim Merlier. I love the way the peloton seems to be peering over the rise in the roadway as they climb.

Purchase this painting here: "Trying a Little Dig TdF26-83" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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