Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: The Perfect Ending

Well, it was a perfect ending for all of the work that Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and her team had put in all day long.  She came into Belleville en Beaujolais with Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar).  It was Niewiadoma who got the jump on the other two, but faded as Vollering and Reusser chased her down.  They both came around the Polish star with only fifty meters to the line.  In the end it was Vollering in her European Champion's jersey who raised her arms in victory.  Just behind her were Reusser who we can see and Niewiadoma whom we can not.  The three are now the top three in the general classification, with Reusser holding her Maillot Jaune, Vollering in second and Niewiadoma holding the third step of the podium.  There is just over a minute between the three but the first two are only twelve seconds apart.

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 Perfect Ending TdFF26-32" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Leading Up the Brouilly

Mont Brouilly was the final climb of the day, the final out of eight categorized climbs!  It proved to be the climb that changed the general classification in unexpected ways.  As they climbed, it was Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) that kept attacking the others hoping to go alone to the finish and into the Maillot Jaune.  But each attacked was matched by Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM).  Not quite as quick to respond was Marlen Reusser (Movistar) in the Yellow Jersey.  She did manage to get back on every time, however.  Isabella Homgren (Lidl-Trek) was hanging tough until the descent down the other side of the climb.  She was close to claiming the Maillot Blanc, but that went to Niewiadoma's teammate Antonia Niedermaier.  It was just Vollering, Reusser, and Niewiadoma that came together to sprint it out for the stage in Belleville en Beaujolais.  

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 Up the Brouilly TdFF26-31" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Looking to Help

After spending the whole stage in the front group, Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) was called back to help her team leaders, one in the Maillot Blanc, to get back up to the front group.  Both Paula Blasi and Elisa Longo Borghini had been dropped by the peloton on the penultimate climb of the day.  In hope of keeping Blasi in white, she left her other teammate up front and slowed up looking for her teammates.  She did her job pulling them, but they never regained the front of the race.  Blasi lost her title of best young rider in the Tour, and Squiban ended up losing five minutes on those she had been with.  The bright note, the teammate she left up front, Domininka Wlodarczyk, finished fourth and moved into fifth on the general classification.  By helping her teammates, her team moved back into the lead of the Team 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: "Looking to Help TdFF26-30" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: Pass the Bidon

Just after turning onto the narrow road that signaled the start of the climb up through the vineyards towards the summit of the Col de Durbize, Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) reached for a bidon.  She had the team car of Visma-Lease a Bike squeeze pass her.  Once it went by, she reached out her arm like a track star in a relay race waiting for the baton.  Her Director Sportif held out the bottle and sped up to place the bottle into the palm of her outstretched hand.  She then took off up the climb to rejoin the peloton lead by the Maillot Jaune.

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: "Pass the Bidon TdFF26-29" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Every Climb!

Over the top of the Cote de Pruzily, it was Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) taking the maximum Queen of the Mountain points, again.  That makes six climbs out of six where she claimed the max points on offer.  She started the day in the Maillot a Pois of best climber, but she has spent seventy-six kilometers proving it today.  I am afraid I cursed her with this title, after this climb, she didn't figure in the points over the remaining two climbs of the fifth stage of the fifth Tour de France Femmes.  She was followed over the climb by the reigning UCI Women's Road Race Champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly).  With four more stages to race her twenty-three-point advantage won't be enough to hold the Polka Dots on the end of the final day in Nice.

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: "Every Climb! TdFF26-28" (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 →   

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: Chasing the Tail

With seventy-eight kilometers to race, the peloton stretched out into a long single-file line as it started up yet another climb.  As she crossed a small bridge (I always know the descent is over once I cross a bridge) Nadia Gontova (Liv-Alula-Jayco) struggled to hold onto the tail of the speeding peloton.  I had thought of a dog chasing its tail, but I didn't want to go there with the title.  I wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand me nor my admiration for these amazing athletes.  Sometimes, I know when to keep my thoughts to myself - oops, I guess not always.

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: "Chasing the Tail TdFF26-27" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Unchallenged

Despite one rider being up the road, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) was unchallenged for the remaining sprint points available in Monsols.  Just as Mads Pedersen had done in the men's Tour, she got herself over the opening climbs of the day with the peloton just so she could grab these sprint points.  She had her teammate, Elena Cecchini on her wheel just to make sure no one tried to come around her.  On their wheels were Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and the Women's World Champion Magdeleine Valliers (EF Education-Oatly).  I think this is the first time I have had the opportunity to paint her since she claim the title in Rwanda last fall.  The rainbow stripes look good on her!

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: "Unchallenged TdFF26-26" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Hoarding Polka Dots

As the peloton neared the summit of the Cote de Saint Christophe Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) jumped free to claim the maximum Queen of the Mountain points at the summit.  This makes the third out of three climbs in this stage that she was the first over the top.  While she is already Queen, she clearly wants to put her hold on the Maillot a Pois out of reach for anyone else.  In other words, she is hoarding all of the points available today.  It looks like no one in this group has much interest in trying to deny her her quest.

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: "Hoarding Polka Dots TdFF26-25" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: Speeding into Dijon

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) was making an incredibly fast descent back into Dijon chasing her chance for the stage, and to be the next wearer of the Maillot Jaune.  She was the second to last woman to start the time trial so she had the time splits she needed to better.  She finished the stage in third, which was enough to move her into second place in the general classification just fourteen seconds off the lead.  With the time splits in the top ten means that everyone will have to race every stage rather than waiting to the big mountain top finish up Mont Ventoux on Friday.

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: "Speeding into Dijon TdFF26-24" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: Sprinting for Seconds

As Marlen Reusser (Movistar) came up the finishing straight she came up out of the saddle to sprint to the line in hopes of taking the stage in the discipline that she is the World Champion of.  It worked she finished just four seconds ahead of the woman who had been in the hot seat for most of the day, Leike Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike).  But she did more than win the stage, she is the new Maillot Jaune, the leader of the Tour de France Femmes.  And that she holds by fourteen seconds over the woman she out rode by seventeen 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: "Sprinting for Seconds TdFF26-23" (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 →