Tour '26, Stage 5: A Clean Set of Wheels

I feel I may need to explain the title.  A clean set of wheels means that someone as such an advantage at the finale, that no one is anywhere near them, thus a clean set of wheels refers to no one in their slipstream or threatening to pass them.  That is just how strong of a sprint Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) was able to mount. He has now won his first Tour de France stage and in so doing got the first stage win for his French team as well.  Unable to match his burst of speed but still holding on for second was the guy who took the intermediate sprint, Max Kanter (XDS-Astana).  The final step of the podium in Pau went to Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) followed in turn by Huub Artz (Lotto-Intermarche).  Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) only managed to finish sixth, but did add some more points in his quest for the Maillot Vert.  I am not sure where the current wearer of the sprinter's jersey finished, but Mads Pedersen did hold on to his Green Jersey.  In fact, none of the leader's jerseys changed shoulders today.  I doubt that will be the case tomorrow as they race over the Tourmalet before ending atop Gauarnie-Gedre.

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 Clean Set of Wheels TdF26-37" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 5: Safe in the Peloton

Race commentators will refer to the "commentator's curse," meaning that as soon as they talk about the possibility of something going wrong, it often does.  I feel like this is my "artist curse."  Shortly after painting and titling this watercolor, there was a crash just outside of five kilometers to go that tied up all of those in this painting.  The location is important, if they were inside of five kilometers to go, they would have been given the same time as the finishing time of those they were with.  In this case, that means the time of the entire peloton.  As it happened, the Maillot Jaune of Torstein Traeen (Uno X-Mobility) along with his teammate Tobias Johannessen were able to catch back onto the tail of the peloton as they reached Pau.  In fact, everyone here including Edoardo Affini and his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates Matteo Jorgenson and Jonas Vingegaard along with Nils Politt and his UAE Team Emirates teammate Isaac Del Toro were all given the same time thus saving everyone's position in the general classification.  Naturally, that means the Traeen holds his Maillot Jaune for a second day, only Vingegaard has managed to keep yellow for more than one day thus far this Tour.

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: "Safe in the Peloton TdF26-36" (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 5: Filming the Counter Move

Just after the peloton sprinted to the summit of the only climb of the day, Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) went of the attack.  He was quickly joined by the Dane Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost).  Seeing the danger of the move, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) went with the two as a spoiler.  It is common for a teammate to join and attack and sit on as a discouragement for the effort.  Paret-Peintre was spoiling for his sprinter Tim Merlier.  Soudal-Quick Step wanted the whole peloton to come together into Pau for a mass sprint in hopes that Merlier would get the best of the other sprinters in this Tour.

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: "Filming the Counter Move TdF26-35" (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 5: Dry Run

With just one guy off the front and the peloton all together, the intermediate sprint was the chance for a dry run of the expected sprint finale in another 45 kilometers' time.  I was surprised to see Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) pop out to grab second place ahead of some of the marquee sprinters of the peloton.  He had a bike length or two on the Maillot Vert of Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling).  A little bit further back was the French sprinter Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) who seems to be hanging around near the front of the sprints, but not quite getting the right jump on the others.  I'm not quite sure what this says about the coming sprint in Pau, but I do know it should be an exciting one.

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: "Dry Run TdF26-34" (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 5: Soigneur

It is more than just the teammates, but the whole team organization that supports a rider's ambition throughout the Tour.  Not only can riders get water, food, and ice from their team car, but the soigneurs are dotted along the racecourse to pass bottles or musettes as the peloton zooms by.  It is a particular skill to both pass and to catch a bidon as you fly by at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.  Ewen Costiou (Groupama FDJ-United) did a perfect grab for the camera with another 52 kilometers to go to Pau.  

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: "Soigneur TdF26-33" (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 5: Enjoying the View

I assume that Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) had stopped for a "nature break."  But I like to image that he was so impressed with the fields of sunflowers that he took the time to stop and enjoyed the view.  The peloton wasn't going to hard, nor were there any climbs to worry about today.  Just ahead you can see someone from Visma-Lease a Bike visiting the team car for ice bags and water.  While it wasn't as hot as yesterday's stage, but it was still another hot sunny day in the south of 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: "Enjoying the View TdF26-32" (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 5: Going It Alone

I am quite sure Baptiste Veistoffer (Lotto-Intermarche) had hoped someone would come with him when he jumped out of the peloton at kilometer Zero.  Alas, no one did.  He had no real option but to press on after no one bridge up to him.  He has gone on a solo attack for a complete stage, and won, in a race before.  But this is the Tour de France and this stage was one for the sprinters.  I doubt they will let him pull that off today.  Spoiler: They didn't.  He was caught with about seventeen kilometers left to race, meaning he had ridden on his own for roughly a hundred miles.  Chapeau!

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: "Going It Alone TdF26-31" (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 4: Letting Yellow Go

After UAE Team Emirates chased down yesterday's breakaway and Tadej Pogacar claimed the stage and the Maillot Jaune, it was a little odd to see them let the breakaway get so far up the road today.  I know there were a lot of people complaining that they were being too greedy online, but I can't image they cared much about that.  However, the top ten on the general classification sat in the UAE led peloton all day as the gap grew out to fourteen minutes by the time they reached Foix.  The top ten all dropped down three places, but I guess they aren't worried too much about those now on the top steps of the podium over the long haul.  As they neared the 4K to go banner, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) sat on the wheel of his teammates with Brandon McNulty in front of him and Isaac Del Toro behind.  Both Del Toro and Pogacar gave away their White and Yellow jersey respectfully.  On Del Toro's shoulder is Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek).  It was his two teammates who took first and second on the stage.  The rest of his team was right behind him.  So far this Tour nothing is going as expected.  And that is a good thing!

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: "Letting Yellow Go TdF26-30" (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 → 

Tour '26, Stage 4: Winning the Stage & the Maillot Vert

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was able to hang with the breakaway from the large breakaway over the final two climbs of the day thus being able to sprint it out for the stage win in Foix.  It wasn't really in question that he would win the sprint as he was the only sprinter left out of the remaining ten.  Clearly, he won handedly as you can tell by this view of his victory salute.  His teammate, who had helped to bring him to the line, Quinn Simmons, took second on the stage just ahead of Pablo Castrillo (Movistar).  It would be another fourteen minutes before the erstwhile Maillot Jaune and the rest of the peloton got to this point in downtown Foix.  Tomorrow, Pedersen will start the sprint stage already in the sprinter's Green Jersey.  Chapeau!

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 the Stage & the Maillot Vert TdF26-29" (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 4: Who Is Where?

First, I admit that I take pleasure that the two Americans in this painting are both Quinns.  Silly, I know, but then so am I (at times).  Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) looks back to see where is rival to take the Maillot Jaune today is.  Both he and the Norwegian Torstein Traeen (Uno X-Mobility) have a very strong chance of being the next to pull on the Maillot Jaune with they reach Foix.  Quinn will have to gain thirty-three seconds on Traeen to have the honor of the Yellow Jersey.  Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) is looking back to make sure his team's sprinter Mads Pedersen is still in the group.  I am sure he would love to win the stage for himself, but he and another teammate are there for their sprinter to have the best chance at a stage win and claiming the Maillot Vert.  Mixing it with the Americans and the Norwegian are Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) along six other hopefuls.  I should point out here that Traeen did gain enough time to claim the Maillot Jaune with an almost eight-minute advantage over Tadej Pogacar.  Sean Quinn sits in second 28 seconds behind the Norwegian. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), also a member of the breakaway, rounds out the third step of the podium in Foix.

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: "Who Is Where? TdF26-28" (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 →