Tour '26, Stage 1: Ready to Pounce

I'm not sure that I agree with the general public's choice of the dark jersey for Visma-Lease a Bike.  I had voted for the light-colored kit, but I am rarely on the winning side of most any voting.  However, it was Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) putting in one final pull for his team leader Jonas Vingegaard.  Despite having been dropped Davide Piganzoli clawed his way back to the duo.  He was able to give one last pull after Jorgenson swung off.  That may have been enough to get Vingegaard across the line with the best time by eight seconds over the Italian Champion, Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos).  With that stage win, Vingegaard will start tomorrow in the Maillot Jaune.  Maybe a bit soon to claim the jersey, but it will boost his confidence to have put time into his main rival (and all of the others) after just the first stage of the Tour. Wout Van Aert wasn't able to start the Tour and it was Piganzoli who was a last-minute replacement.  Clearly, he has already earned his spot on the squad.

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: "Ready to Pounce TdF26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 1: Losing Some Time

It was a bit of a surprise to see Tadej Pogacar's team, UAE Team Emirates, losing time against their main rivals.  As they went through the second time check led by the American Brandon McNulty, followed in turn by the Mexican Champion Isaac del Toro, the Austrian Champion Felix Grosschartner, and then Tadej Pogacar himself, they have already dropped fourteen seconds off of the best time.  It is Tim Wellens who has just swung off the front of the UAE line preparing to slot back into the line in hopes of being able to give it another turn in the wind.  Pogacar closed a little bit of time on the final climb ascending at the fastest pace from the final time check to the finish line.  That feat was enough to give him the first Maillot a Pois but dropped him into third place in the general classification. 

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: "Losing Some Time TdF26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 1: Finishing His First Tour Stage

Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) finishes his first stage of the Tour de France in his very young lifetime.  Seixas is the youngest rider to start the Tour since 1930 at not quite 20 years old.  He had the disadvantage of being on a team that is not known for its time trial prowess yet managed to finish just 39 seconds off of the time of the stage winner.  He now sits in tenth place, and fourth in the race for the White Jersey of the best young rider of this Tour de France.

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: "Finishing His First Tour Stage TdF26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 1: Two Champions, One Team

It was the last two guys from Netcompany-Ineos, that hit the bottom of the final climb.  Both are their nations' time trial champions, Tobias Foss for Norway and Filippo Ganna for Italy.  The two worked together until Foss could no longer hang with the three-time Italian champion.  Ganna went to the line on his own claiming the hot seat of stage leader in the process.  With eight more teams to finish it was not a sure thing that he would win the day in the end, but he laid down a tough challenge for those yet to make the final climb.  He didn't quite hold first, but finished second by a deficit of a mere eight seconds.

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: "Two Champions, One Team TdF26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 1: Looking for Their Leader

As Movistar hit the first of the two final climbs, their team leader Cian Uijtdebroeks wasn't able to hold the wheels of his teammates.  As his teammates realized they didn't have him with them, they looked back debating how long they should wait, or if he would recover in the final kilometers.  The Spanish champion Raul Garcia Pierna waited as Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda wondered what he should do.  It was decided to let Pablo Castrillo go on ahead to gain the best time possible for the team and the others would bring Uijtdebroeks to the line as fast as he could manage.  After all, it is only the first stage of the Tour, there is plenty of time to regain lost time knowing full well that most anything gain happen over the next twenty stages.

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: "Looking for Their Leader TdF26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 1: Launched by the Team

Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) had stayed on the back of the team's formation as they sped through the flat opening section of the course through the streets of Barcelona.  It seems that every team was saving their team leader or climber until the final 800 meters of the stage when the course rose up to the Stadium Olympic overlooking the city and the Mediterranean coastline.  Pidcock managed to claim the second-best time as he crossed the line of the opening stage of this Tour de France.  Admittedly, his team was the sixth team to start, so I doubt the second place will last until the end of 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: "Launched by the Team TdF26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

 

Tour '26, Stage 1: Leading Off the Tour

It is the opening stage of the Tour de France in Barcelona today!  The race starts with a team time trial under new rules for the first time in the Tour de France.  The team's time will be taken by the first team member to cross the line, and all of the riders will be given their actual finishing times. So while it is most important to work together, it is a micro version of what it is to race in the Tour.  The team will work to put their team leader in the best possible position at the end of the stage.  The first team to roll down the start ramp was Caja Rural-Seguros.  They are a wild card team licensed in Spain and have returned to the Tour after a nearly 50-year break. 

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: "Leading Off the Tour TdF26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

I Dissent - A solo exhibition of six paintings celebrating dissent, free-speech, and the First Admendment

 I have six important artworks in my new exhibition at Black Iris Social Club in Richmond, Virginia opening Friday, June 5th as part of First Fridays. I hope you can make it out this weekend. I would love to see you there!

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

See one cycling painting being created in real-time at The Art of Cycling: Watch the Creation of Just One of the Cycling Art Watercolors Being Created 

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) 

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

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)

Learn More About the Artist →