Tour '26, Stage 11: Never Doubt

In his post-race interview, stage winner Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) confessed that he wasn't confident about being able to win a Tour de France stage, but in Nevers, he overcame that doubt.  He took the stage in a longer than usual sprint ahead of Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) - he is still looking for that Tour stage win this year - and Milan Fretin (Cofidis).  It must have been that much more special to know that he had the best sprint after racing the fastest Tour de France stage ever.  Uno X-Mobility are having an exceptional Tour.  They now have a stage victory, and they have held the Maillot Jaune for two days.  Most teams cannot boast of either.

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: "Never Doubt TdF26-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Flat Out

I had back issues and went to the ER today, I was worried that the medicine I was given would affect the way I painted.  If it did, I think it improve it.  This may be one of my most favorites of the fourteen years I have been painting the Tour.  Somehow even after a hundred miles at the fastest pace of any Tour stage in history, the sprinters were able to ramp it up just that much faster.  At just a hundred meters, Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) was on the front with Pascal Ackerman (Jayco-Alula), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros), Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling), Milan Fretin (Cofidis) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were all hoping that they could get around the Norwegian to claim the stage in Nevers.  Warenskjold has finished second in two stages thus far, was this going to be the one that he got right?  Or was Philipsen finally going to get that elusive stage in this Tour. He has one ten stages in his career, but not yet in the 113th Tour.  Girmay is still looking for his first win in two years.

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: "Flat Out TdF26-77" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Rolling Through

As the four-man breakaway hit a rise in the road, Julian Alaphilippe dropped off the back, not having the legs to hang with the other three.  Without the one they thought would most likely beat them in the sprint, the trio of Nelson Oliviera (Moivstar), Mathias Le Berre (TotalEnergies), and Anthon Charmig (Uno X-Mobility) continued to work together, each sharing their pulls on the front.  Surprisingly, they actually increased their advantage over the peloton despite this being the fastest stage in the history of the Tour de France.  The record was set way back in 1999.  The 113th Tour keeps setting new records daily.  I'm going to guess that this is the most riders to start an eleventh stage of the Tour as well.  Having sped up, it was still unlikely the sprinters and their teams were going to let them stay off the front by the time they reach Nevers.  At this point they still had twenty-one kilometers to go and only had an advantage of forty-five seconds.  Clearly, not enough to claim 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Rolling Through TdF26-76" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Nature Break

The question you never really wanted to know the answer to, "How does the peloton deal with the 'call of nature' during a one-hundred-mile stage?"  Usually, the TV camera men (or women - although I do thing they are all men) swing away from any riders relieving themself on the side of the road.  If the race is really on, they will pee as they roll along.  Out of courteousness, they will get out of the peloton so as not to spray those behind them.  Despite the speed of today's stage, Alex Kirsch (Cofidis) pulled over to the side of the road.  As he took care of business, the following caravan of team cars rolled pass.  He will be able to use the draft the cars provide as he works his way back up to the tail of the peloton.  I can't help but sing "Pink Cadillac" every time I see EF Education's team car.  Yes, they were clever enough to get Cadillac to be the car sponsor for the team, after all, the team color is pink.  It was just too good of a fit for all involved.

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: "Nature Break TdF26-75" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Big Names in the Break

Well, maybe two of them are big names, in fact I have never heard of the other two before today.  The title is a play on the low angle shot from the back of the TV Moto. Leading this breakaway is the French favorite Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling).  Perhaps the main reason he is out there is because he is racing near where he grew up.  Swinging off the front is the other name of the peloton, Nelson Oliviera (Movistar) who is in his tenth (I think) Tour.  Behind is Anthon Charmig (Uno X-Mobility) and then Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies) both of whom are new to me.  The quartet have built up almost a minute-and-a-half on the peloton.  However, those behind never let them have more of an advantage than that.  I suspect no one wanted to have a hard chase given the on going heat.  They did get a break with a few showers at the start of 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: "Big Names in the Break TdF26-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Launching Off the Front

It was a bit of a surprise to see Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) going on the offensive just ten kilometers into the stage.  Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) saw the opportunity (or perhaps the danger) in the moved and quickly jumped on to the former World Champion's wheel.  Both are on the teams of two of the best sprinters in the peloton.  With the day ear marked as s day for a sprint finale, these two being off the front would mean their teammates wouldn't be expected to chase down a break should they be able to stay away.  Of course, the peloton wasn't having it, and they were soon back in the fold.

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: "Launching Off the Front TdF26-73" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Winning Alone

So the French will have to wait another year for one of their countrymen to win the stage on Bastille Day.  Today, it went to a Slovenian by the name of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). He jumped cleared of the lone breakaway riders at the summit of the previous climb and then rode the final fourteen kilometers on his own.  That does seem to be his style.  More importantly he increased his lead over the rest of the field by thirty seconds or more.  It is beginning to be confirmed that he will wear the Maillot Jaune all of the way to Paris.  There are still eleven stages yet to race, and anything can happen, but he can be defensive for the rest of the Tour and make it near impossible for anyone to gain three-and-a-half minutes or more on this super Slovenia cyclist.  No bow to the crowd for this stage, just a "oh snap" gesture after point skyward and to his team's name on his kit.

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: "Winning Alone TdF26-72" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Off He Goes

Despite having a minute's advantage on the way up the Col de Pertus, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) was caught before the summit of the climb by a flying Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). The Maillot Jaune must have been 'sandbagging' the peloton, or he was holding back to help his teammate Isaac Del Toro.  Once he went, Del Toro popped off the back of the group losing time and his Maillot Blanc.  Back in the peloton Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) was hanging tough taking third on the stage (not bad for a Frenchman on Bastille Day).  It was Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who had been dropped fighting back to take second.  Sadly, Jonas Vingegaard finished the day in fourth ceding another minute to Pogacar.

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: "Anticipating TdF26-70" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Anticipating

On the last Category One climb of the day, Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates dropped off the front of the reduced peloton.  It led us all to wonder if he was having a rough day.  It was three years ago here that he fell apart and Jonas Vingegaard went on to win the stage (and the Tour). That history may be why Davide Piganzoli (Visma-Lease a Bike) went to the front with Vingegaard on his wheel.  Both Remeco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and his teammate (team rival) pulled up alongside Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Isaac Del Toro, his teammate wearing the Miallot Blanc. Mixing in with the leaders on the Col du Pertus was Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek).  All were anticipating an attack from the other.  Is Tadej actually cracking or is he taking a play out of Lance Armstrongs playbook and feinting his condition before going on the attack.  The peloton will know soon since we are just two-and-a-half kilometers from the summit.   Remember, there is one guy a minute up the road, 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Anticipating TdF26-70" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Flying Down the Other Side

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) jumped out of the peloton on the way up the Puy Mary.  He built up a minute on the group of favorites as he went over the top of the climb at the Pas de Peyol.  Carapaz continued to add to his advantage in the rather scary descent down the other side of the volcano.  Would he be able to take this advantage to the finale in just twenty-six kilometers?  It really depends on what happens between the main GC rivals now a minute behind the former Colombian champion,  

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: "The Last Guy TdF26-68" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist →