Tour Femmes '26, Stage 9: Two Stages, Two Tours!

Not only did Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) out climb the rest of the peloton over the final ascent of the Col d'Eze, she also out descended them!  In the final sixteen kilometers, she but over a minute into everyone else that she had started up the climb for the fourth time with.  For the second day in a row, she celebrated her stage victory on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.  This time she did it in the Maillot Jaune that she won yesterday.  With this victory she becomes the first woman to win to Tours de France Femmes.  Of course, had Kasia Niewiadoma been able to retake her jersey that she won atop Mont Ventoux, she would have been the first with that honor.  Chapeau to Vollering, to Puck Pieterse who is the Queen of the Mountains, Lorena Wiebes who has won the Maillot Vert that she held from the very first stage, and to Niewiadoma's teammate Antonia Niedermaier who won the Maillot Blanc as the best young rider.

This is the end of the men's and women's Tours, thus it is probably the end of my painting cycling for the year.  I may paint some of the UCI Road Cycling Championships in Montreal this fall.  But otherwise, I won't be back until January for the Tour Down Under.

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 Stages, Two Tours! TdFF26-64" (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 9: Deja Vu

Another stage into Nice, another stage with a tough climb near the end, and another stage where Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) drops Kasia Niewiadoma and rides off on her own.  The changes this time are she did it in the Maillot Jaune, she did it on a categorized climb, she did it despite everyone knowing she would, and she did it overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  As she rode along the false flat on the top of the col, she had already but eighteen seconds between herself and her primary rival for yellow.  Regardless of whether Niewiadoma comes back and wins or if Vollering's attack succeeds, we will have the first woman ever to win the Tour de France Femmes for the second time in about twelve kilometers time.

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: "Deja Vu TdFF26-63" (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 9: Trading Jabs

As they rode together up the Col d'Eze for the last time, both Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) each attacked the other, but neither had yet managed to drop the other either.  The title could just as easily refer to the fans on either side of this famous climb.  Although, I don't think I have ever seen this route up to the summit overlooking the sea and Nice before.  Naturally, just after I painted this, Vollering finally dropped Niewiadoma, thus putting to rest the rumors that it was dirty team tactics that had put Vollering into the Maillot Jaune.  After today's repetitive climbs, it was clear that her legs were the reason she was in yellow, and her mind is what is keeping her there.

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: "Trading Jabs TdFF26-62" (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 9: Winding Their Way Up

It was just nine women that came to the final ascent of Col d'Eze together... Well, there is one woman still off the front, but she is only about twenty seconds ahead.  This was the last time up, but the first time going this way.  It was a truly stunning climb of steep switch backs line with houses, villas, and apartment buildings all looking back towards the sea.  This is one of those climbs that I like to think I want to try but know I would hate myself about halfway up.  With the exception of the fans on the side of the road, it was just race vehicles and fans back behind the tiny peloton.

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: "Winding Their Way Up TdFF26-61" (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 9: Down the Col d'Eze Alone

Isabella Holgren (Lidl-Trek) had attacked the Maillot Jaune group on the third ascent of the Col d'Eze and got away.  She went over the top and started the rather frightening and very fast descent alone.  As she dropped off of the summit she built up a minute's gap on those she had left behind.  She does sit third in the race for the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider, but I doubt she will be able to pull back three minutes with just a final lap left to race.  Still, it is well worth the effort, both of her young rivals also have work to do for their team leaders so they could have to work for the team and not the white jersey dreams.

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: "Down Col d'Eze Alone TdFF26-60" (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 9: Escorting Their Leader

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) has had a rough end of the Tour de France Femmes this year.  Since losing her Maillot Jaune on the climb up to the summit of Mont Ventoux, she has been slowly losing time in the general classification.  Today, on her second descent of Col d'Eze she crashed on a corner coming out of one of the many tunnels on today's course.  She took some time getting back on her bike, but she did. She was with one of her teammates when she crashed but more joined her as they made their way back down into Nice.  She was escorted by back into town by Francesca Barale, Ana Vitoria Magalhaes, Liane Lippert and Paula Ostiz.  She could have easily climbed off her bike once back to the start/finish line, but no, she and her team did the two remaining laps together.  They all came in twenty-five minutes after the stage winner, but she certainly earned even more respect today.  And she paid respect to the Tour de France Femmes as well.

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: "Escorting Their Leader TdFF26-59" (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 9: Above the Sea

You know the song I am referencing with this title... and now it is stuck in your head, too.  On the second trip up the Col d'Eze it was the British Champion Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM) burying herself for her teammates Antonia Niedwrmaier (in the Maillot Blanc) and Kasia Niewiadoma.  On their wheels are Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) in the Maillot Jaune and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek).  Under the relentless pace set by Backstedt, many more were dropped from the ever-reducing peloton.  Her pace also meant that she and her teammates need not fear any attacks either.  The added bonus is that they got rid of one of Vollering's strongest teammates.  The flip side is that the British Champion's work meant she was gone at the summit, too.  With two more climbs up Col d'Eze, the last one even steeper, this stage is more about attrition than attacking moves... thus far.

I guess I should mention that the view of the Mediterranean Sea was stunning up here above 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: "Above the Sea TdFF26-58" (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 9: How Much?

As the peloton came through Nice to start the second of four laps, both Malwina Mul (Cofidis) and Paula Ortiz (Movistar) had managed to get off the front of the of the reduced group.  They each peeked to see if they were getting much of an advantage.  Racing through the downtown area it was Ostiz's turned to peer back to assess where the chasers were.  The peloton wasn't too concerned.  The first trip up Col d'Eze had dropped about have of the one hundred and twenty some women who had started the final stage.  It was safe to assume that these two would most likely suffer the same fate.

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: "How Much? TdFF26-57" (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 9: Are We Good?

I missed all of the controversy about a single turn on the final climb of stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes.  Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) had accused FDJ United-Suez of intentionally blocking her when their leader attacked on the final climb.  As I watched it, I felt that while it was unfortunate that she could respond to the attack, she had chosen the wrong line into the corner.  I put it down to frustration and fatigue.  At the start of today's final stage of the race both she and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) seemed to have a rather lengthy conversation.  While we won't know what was set, I like to think that they settled their differences and decided to let their legs do the talking.  In her post race interview... perhaps not.  Ahead of these two was Marlen Reusser (Movistar) who sits in third place and had lost her Maillot Jaune to Niewiadoma along with her teammate, Paula Ostiz.  Behind the top three of the Tour Femmes is Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal).  I wonder how much of the argument will fuel the racing today.

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: "Are We Good? TdFF26-56" (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 8: Nouveau Maillot Jaune

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) held off the chasing duet of Kasia Niewiadoma and Elise Longo Borghini down the final climb and onto the Avenue des Anglais on the coastline of Nice.  She finished seventeen seconds ahead of those she left behind at the summit which is enough to put her into the next Maillot Jaune.  With her time bonus over the other two, she now sits in yellow by eight seconds.  Twice the advantage that Niewiadoma had when she won the Tour de France Femmes two years ago.  Will Vollering be able to defend her jersey tomorrow or while the lead change hands yet again?  I feel I must point out that as of yet once someone has lost the Maillot Jaune they have not reclaimed it.  Will that change tomorrow? Will someone new claim the final yellow jersey, or will Vollering defend it successfully?

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: "Nouveau Maillot Jaune TdFF26-55" (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 →