Tour '26, Stage 6: Taking a Bow, a Stage & a Yellow Jersey

Wow, that was impressive!  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went on the attack with five more kilometers to climb up the Tourmalet.  He then rode alone for the next forty-five kilometers alone, increasing his lead on both the descent and the climb up to the finish in Gauarnie-Gedre.  He finished two minutes and thirty-eight seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, just shy of three minutes ahead of his own teammate Isaac Del Toro who with a group of seven many of whom are the other favorites for a high placing in the 113th Tour de France.  The last guy to finish the stage (there were a couple who climbed off during the stage) was over forty-five minutes behind Tadej's finishing time.  Fortunately for Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling) he was still inside of the time limit for the stage.  Now the question remains, will the Maillot Jaune changed shoulders any more throughout this Tour?  Unlikely.

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: "Taking a Bow, a Stage, & a Yellow Jersey TdF26-46" (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 6: Even the Devil Is a Fan

This is the second time I was able to see Didi Stenft (aka The Devil) at this Tour.  And it is the second day I've noticed that he was standing on something to get a better view of the race as it goes by.  Time was he would leap high in the air, but perhaps age is finally catching up to this wonderful fixture of the Tour de France.  After all, I have been painting him since I started painting the Grand Boucle back in 2012. Clearly, he is fourteen years older than when I first spied him on the side of the road leaping with the joy of the Tour.  He cheered enthusiastically as Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) flew by on his way to a very decisive stage victory.  Is it the move that will win him his fifth Tour de France?  Only time... and fifteen more stages will tell.

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: "Even the Devil Is a Fan TdF26-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 6: The Race for Third

With Tadej Pogacar up the road about to win the stage and Jonas Vingegaard in between this sextet was racing for third place on the stage.  They may also be racing for third place in the Tour de France as well.  Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was using his time trial prowess in hopes of pulling those two back.  He may have been riding for himself or, perhaps, for his teammate Florian Lipowitz.  Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) was riding in case they do catch Vingegaard.  Should they, he would be ready to bury himself for his team leader.  Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) were riding to minimize their disadvantage to Pogacar and Vingegaard.  Just out of frame is Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) who was the one who managed third on the stage, and now sits third on the general classification 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: "The Race for Third TdF26-44" (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 6: Not Giving Up

Having been dropped by the peloton on the way up Col du Tourmalet, Torstein Traeen (Uno X-Mobility) was seconds away from losing his Maillot Jaune as he sped down the other side of the mountain.  As he approached a hard left turn, he overlapped his teammate's rear wheel in went down head-over-heals.  He struggled to get back up, but eventual got to the upright and to the side of the road.  He was checked out by the doctors and was cleared to ride on.  No one wants to go out of the race while in the Maillot Jaune.  He took his time but did finally get back on the bike and rode on to the end of the stage escorted by the very teammate who he ran into before crashing.  He rolled across the finish almost a half-hour after the stage winner with his teammate Anders Johannessen.  Clearly, he won't start tomorrow in yellow. The question remains will he be able to start stage 7 at all?

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: "Not Giving Up TdF26-44" (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 6: By How Much?

Not long after the attacked, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went off on his own.  As he neared the summit of the Col du Tourmalet, he looked back to see just how much of a gap he had on his rivals back down the mountain.  Between the distance and the throngs of fans lining every inch of the road, he couldn't see any of his chasers.  At this point he had twenty seconds on Jonas Vingegaard and a minute on Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who has teamed up with Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA-CGM).  The title of this painting is the question of the Tour.  It seems clear that he will win the stage, and perhaps the Tour, the only question is by how many minutes by the time we all reach Paris? 

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: "By How Much? TdF26-43" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold, but there are digital on demand prints available.

 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 6: Creating Some Space

With another five kilometers to climb up the Tourmalet, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) up the pace with his teammate Tadej Pogacar on his wheel.  The two champions opened up a bit of a gap on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and the youngster Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM).  Pogacar has had his team on the front for the last fifty kilometers and now it was time to try and drop everyone else and go off the front.  Would the Dane be able to regain his composure and get back to his main rival's wheel?  I think you already know the answer.

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: "Creating Some Space TdF26-42" (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 6: Dangling

As the peloton climbed the fabled Tourmalet the Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Torstein Traeen (Uno X-Mobility) was dangling dangerously near the tail-end of the group.  You can see Anders Johannessen, looking back to check on his yellow clad teammate.  He wasn't the only one struggling he was on the wheels of Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-Quick Step) and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarche) and riding shoulder to shoulder with Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies).  While we were watching him at the back his Director Sportif, Thor Hushovd, he finally lost contact.  He does almost eight minutes or more on all of the favorites of the Tour, so he has some time to set matters to rights.

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: "Dangling TdF26-41" (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 6: Sprinting Over the Aspin

Having caught, and dropped, the lone attacker Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrian-Victorious) sprinted for the ten King of the Mountain points over the summit of the Col d'Aspin.  Martinez won the sprint by a tire width.  He was hoping to build points towards wearing the Maillot a Pois like he did when the Tour came over this same climb last year.  Should he manage to go over the next two climbs in first, he will accomplish that goal.  He didn't, but he now sits in third behind the two big names in contemporary cycling, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.  No shame in trailing those two.

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 Over the Aspin TdF26-40" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 6: Struggling on the Aspin

The King of the Mountains in his full polka-dot kit found the climb of the Col d'Aspin a bit too much.  As Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) continued to scale the Category 1 climb he could see the peloton beginning to slip away.  With the peloton the Maillot a Pois that he held for three days was also slipping away from his grasp.  The peloton was under the control of UAE Team Emirates and their pace was destroying the peloton on the way up the 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: "Struggling Up the Aspin TdF26-39" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 6: Not Really a Sprint

The stage started with just a two-man breakaway.  It was comprised of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Each were off the front for very different reasons.  Pedersen was there to collect the maximum number of sprint points in hopes of adding to his advantage in the competition for the Maillot Vert.  Yes, he has it now, but to carry it to Paris one has to grab points whenever possible.  Campenaerts was there if the break goes in order to be a satellite rider for his team leader Jonas Vingegaard.  A satellite rider is off the front to be an ally to his team leader late into the stage.  Unfortunately, the two were caught by the peloton prior to climbing the Cote de Mauvezin a category three climb prior to the two big Pyrenean mountains facing all of the Tour later in the stage.

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: "Not Really a Sprint TdF26-38" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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)

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Learn More About the Artist → 

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)

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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)

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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

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Tour '26, Stage 4: Hot as Hell

I'm always excited to spot Didi Stenft aka 'The Devil' out along the side of the road during the Tour de France.  It seemed appropriate to find the Devil on the hottest Tour stage in the 113-year history of the race.  I think the temperatures had even gotten to Didi.  Rather than his traditional, and impressive, high leaps into the air, he opted instead to stand atop something along the side of the road as the peloton sped by.  I did spy him during yesterday's stage, but he was so mashed in with fellow cycling fans that all I could see was his trident and the tips of his horns.  It is a bit odd to see him so early in the Tour, too.

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: "Hot as Hell TdF26-27" (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 '26, Stage 4: Maximum Points

Most of the marquee sprinters had managed to get into the large breakaway.  For the first time this Tour they were all able to sprint for maximum points at the intermediate sprint.  Again, it was Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) getting the better of both Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Mads Petersen (Lidl-Trek) at the line in Quillan.  Pedersen's third place moves him much closer to his target of wearing the Maillot Vert of the Green Jersey.  It is worth noting that all three of these guys have won the jersey in previous Tours.  Now that they have gotten what they hoped for out of the intermediate sprint, will they sit up and go back to the trailing peloton?  Only Pedersen pressed on in the breakaway, the other two went back in hopes of saving their energy for the sprint stage tomorrow.

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: "Maximum Points TdF26-26" (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: Adding to His Total

It was great to see Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros) back vying to reclaim his Maillot a Pois that he earned back in Stage 2.  He fell apart and cede the jersey to Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost).  He was able to out sprint Baudin's teammate Georg Steinhauser to get the maximum points atop the Col du Paradis.  The Bahrain-Victorious duo Robert Stannard and Vlad Van Mechelen were only able to watch the others earn points on the Category 3 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: "Adding to His Total TdF26-25" (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 '26, Stage 4: Down the Back

The story of today is the very large breakaway that got off the front of the peloton today.  At one point there were 34 men in the escape group representing all by five teams that started the Tour in Barcelona.  It was nice to see the tri-colore of the French Champion Romain Gregoire (Groupama FDJ-United).  He was hanging around the back of the group with his countryman Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos), the Czech Champion Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Nelson Oliviera (Movistar), and Michael Matthews (Jayco-Alula).  The group has built up just over five-and-a-half minutes on the peloton containing all of the race favorites.  It feels like the peloton is taking a big risk, but then the two guys that are currently in the virtual first and second places are not realistic threats to carry the Maillot Jaune all of the way to Paris.  Given that UAE Team Emirates chased down yesterday's breakaway (and got a lot of grief online about that) it remains to be seen if they will pull this group back.  Conversely, this many members of the break will make it difficult to reel them back in if they don't start chasing soon.

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 the Back TdF26-24" (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 '26, Stage 3: Flying to Victory!

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) used the short climb up to the summit at Les Angles to get the jump on the remaining peloton of race favorites.  He opened a small gap on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the Maillot Jaune looked back to see if anyone else was attacking.  That look back seemed to make him lose the wheel of the rainbow jersey, a mistake that left a two second gap between the two main rivals for the win in Paris.  And in so doing, not only did Pogacar win the stage, with the time bonus he drew equal in time with Vingegaard.  That means he will be the next to wear the coveted Maillot Jaune.  Behind, it was Vingegaard in second, followed by Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) in third and Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM). Everyone else keeps their positions in the General Classification.  However, Del Toro will be wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, Vingegaard will be wearing the Maillot Vert (he is second in that competition) as Pogacar will be in the Maillot Jaune.  Of course, Alex Baudin will be in the Maillot a Pois despite not being present at the finale of the stage.

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: "Flying to Victory TdF26-23" (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 → 

Tour '26, Stage 3: Who & When?

Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) were the last two teammates left to the two race favorites Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. They were separated by only six seconds, so an attack was sure to come as they neared the final kilometer of the stage. Brushing shoulders with the Maillot Jaune was the man starting the day wearing the Maillot Blanc, Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek).  On Pogacar's shoulder was the teammate of the French hopeful, Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon-CMA CGM) guiding Paul Seixas up to the leaders in hopes he could get a jump on the main rivals.  With just over a kilometer to go everyone knew the jump had to come soon.  Question is, who was going to go first?

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 & When? TdF26-22" (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 3: Shaking a Leg

I couldn't resist this painting for multiple reasons.  First, is that I am someone who suffers from leg cramps both on and off the bike, so I sympathized with Alex Baudin's (EF Education-EasyPost) pain.  Then it was the play on the phrase 'shake a leg' which usually means to hurry up.  And hurry up is certainly what Baudin needed to do as the peloton continued to draw even closer to his rear wheel.  He has spent at least eighty kilometers off in the breakaway and now with just seventeen kilometers to race the peloton was just twenty-three seconds behind him.  At one point he was the virtual leader on the road, but now he will have to content himself with claiming the third Maillot a Pois of 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: "Shaking a Leg TdF26-21" (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 →