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.

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: "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.

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: "A Quick Salute TdF26-84" (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 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.

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: "Trying a Little Dig TdF26-83" (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 12: The Break Is Locked In

Just as in the previous sprint stages, the peloton never let the breakaway get much of an advantage.  As they rode along the side of one of the many canals crisscrossing the French countryside, they had the progress of the break pegged.  I went of the rather poor joke since the peloton was approaching one of the many locks along this canal.  It looks like the lock operator was throwing a Tour watch party since the race was going right by his front door.

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 Break Is Locked In TdF26-82" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold, but there are digital prints available at the link above.

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 12: Back Through the Cars

Not sure why the trio of Nicolas Vinokurov (XDS-Astana), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) were off the back, but the TV Moto was very interested in tracking Pedersen's progress back into the peloton.  He seems adept at dodging his way in and out of all of the team cars and other race vehicles that follow the peloton all around France (and a bit of Spain this year).  He had been alone, but as he got to the lead vehicle of the race commissare he joined by with the Champion of Qazaqatan as they all tagged on to the tail of the entire peloton save a sole breakaway guy.

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: "Back Through the Cars TdF26-81" (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 12: What Are We Thinking?

Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarche) was trying to discover what is fellow members of the breakaway were talking about.  The two up front, Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) seemed to be laying plans with sixty-three kilometers to race.  Ewen Costiou (Groupama FDJ-United) was eavesdropping hoping to find out whether they were going to attack, or just what they were up to.  I wonder whether the conversation was in Italian or French.  Although it does seem like the drop back language that most everyone knows is English.  With just thirty-eight seconds on the peloton, the decision that was reached was to sit up and wait for the peloton.  Well, at least that is what Caruso and Vercher did.  The other two Frenchmen, Veistroffer and Costiou pressed on with their efforts.

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: "What Are We Thinking? TdF26-80" (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 12: Alone, Again

Not to be deterred, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarche) went off the front alone in yet another sprint stage.  He went through the intermediate sprint in Saint Pourcain sur Sioule with only race vehicles for company.  The fans may have been a bit disappointed not to see a mad sprint for the line, but that came later when the peloton arrived sprinting for the remaining sprint points on offer.  With these breakaway efforts Veistroffer is now in 14th place in the hunt for the Maillot Vert.  He is a bit further back in 19th place in the race for the Maillot a Pois.  It is highly unlikely he will wear either at the finale in Paris.  I feel it is equally unlikely that he will still be off the front at the end of this stage in Chalon sur Saone 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: "Alone, Again TdF26-79" (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: 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)

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

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

Learn More About the Artist →