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)

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Battling for Yellow

After the final climb of the day, the course in Nice threw up a little surprise climb.  That is where Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) launched her final attack.  Just a several hundred meters to climb, Vollering finally cracked Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM).  Vollering was most eager to do to the Maillot Jaune what she had done to her to earn it.  It also seems that whoever wears the green bib number is unable to match the accelerations of others the next day.  So it was for the Niewiadoma today.  As she chased down to Nice, she as joined by Elisa Longo Borghini, but was unable to help her chase down Vollering to save her yellow jersey.  She now trails Vollering by eight seconds.  I should point out that when she won the Tour de France Femmes two years ago, she did so by a mere four seconds.  Sounds like we are setting up for a spectacular final stage in and around 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: "Battling for Yellow TdFF26-54" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Dropped

The peloton hit the final categorized climb of the day hard, very hard!  The goal was to shed any sprinters that were still in the group, but many others popped off the back as well.  I was a bit surprised to see that one of those dropped was Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) in her Maillot a Pois that shows she is the Queen of the Mountains.  It wasn't much of a climb, but after all she has done to earn the title, it was a bit too much.  Conversely, she doesn't have to dig that deep anymore, her lead in the competition is unsurmountable.  She is going over the Cote de Ginstiere on the wheels of Debora Silvestri (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) and Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly).  

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: "Dropped TdFF26-53" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Left Alone

Once Maeva Squiban had crashed, Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) had no choice but to try and hold off the closing peloton.  With ten kilometers to race she now only had thirty seconds on the motivated peloton behind.  Without anyone to help in the effort, her day long breakaway was certainly doomed.  While she didn't wreck, as far as the stage victory was concerned, she might as well have.  This is my first, and probably last attempt to paint the rather spectacular paint job on the trek bikes.  They have out done themselves to celebrate the company's fiftieth anniversary.

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: "Left Alone TdFF26-52" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Misfortune

While Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) were still holding onto an advantage that might make it to Nice ahead of the peloton, the penultimate descent of the day proved her undoing.  She over cooked a corner losing her front wheel and found herself sliding across the corner on her chest.  I am always surprised that riders opt to not wear gloves and I believe that decision may have been what made her unable to hold the bars once she got back on her bike.  After the initial fall, the adrenaline rush, the pain began to set in.  It was painful to just watch as she cried out in pain while being tended to by the medic on the back of the motorcycle.  It was painful enough that she cried out that she had had enough and swung away from the moto.  It appeared she was done for the day and the Tour, but no, she was just done with the stinging anticeptic.  She did finish the day about four minutes behind the peloton.  Hopefully, she will be able to start the final day of the Tour - and finish it.

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: "Misfortune TdFF26-51" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Not a Bad Set of Wheels

After goofing around with the cameraman and toasting her teammates with a small can of Coke, Alison Jackson (Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) sped pass Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) and crouched down to draft off of the Gendarmes' motorcycles.  I suspect she was just continuing her goofing which is part of her cycling persona.  It is the first day that the women have had even the slightest chance to relax a bit, but again, there will be some racing when we get closer to 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: "Not a Bad Set of Wheels TdFF26-50" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Arriere du Peloton

With a two-woman breakaway up the road by six minutes it seemed the peloton was taking the first part of the day a bit easy.  After one of the quartet of climbs of the day the peloton was looking at a long gradual descent along a river valley all of the way to Nice.  They do have to detours over the last two climbs today.  So, at the back of the peloton Reijanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) and Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly) seemed to enjoy the view and a bit of chat.  At least until they get a bit closer to 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: "Arriere du Peloton TdFF26-49" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Flying Over the Col

It was quite the costume that greeted the breakaway over the top of the Col de Toutes Aures.  I guess he is supposed to be an angel and antecedent to the Devil we are used to see along the mountain roads in the Alps.  Regardless, he was cheering the breakaway of Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek).  As they went over the summit that had built up a little over six minutes lead over the peloton. Would it be enough to hold off a peloton that is riding for their sprinters despite the couple of short climbs that face them as the ride into 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: "Flying Over the Col TdFF26-48" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 7: Her First Was Huge!

It is surprising that this is the first time Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) has won a stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  Don't get me wrong, she has won the race two years ago, but this is the first time she has won an individual stage.  She picked a big one to win, and she won it big.  She was a minute and sixteen seconds ahead of Demi Vollering at the summit and it was a further half of a minute to the erstwhile Maillot Jaune, Marlen Reusser.  I say erstwhile because of this ride, Kiewiadoma is the new leader of the Tour de France Femmes with just two more stages to race.  It isn't like they are easy stages either, and she only has fifteen seconds over Vollering who remains in second place both on the stage and the general classification.  It is clear to me that this race will go all of the way to the final kilometer on the coastline of 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: "Her First Was Huge! TdFF26-47" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 7: Joining Forces

With three more kilometers to climb, this the third group on the road that included Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) and her teammate Paula Blasi, Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) and Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM) have just about caught the two chasers up the road.  Their quarry, Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and the Maillot Jaune Marlen Reusser (Movistar) were losing time to the lone leader now a further kilometer up the road.  Blasi and Niedermaier were also competing for the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider currently on Niedermaier shoulders.  The two came to the summit together leaving the jersey where it was.

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: "Joining Forces TdFF26-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Learn More About the Artist →  

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 7: Her Goal Is in Sight

Somehow, I don't think I have grasped just how desolate the top of Mont Ventoux actually is.  It may have to do with fans being banned from the final five kilometers of the stage due to wildfire fears.  I'm not sure what could burn here, but I did notice firetrucks and firefighters at multiple points during the climb.  Regardless, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) had waited until her rivals had taken a break from their attacks to launch her own counter move.  She got free of the top two women in the general classification and quickly built a nice gap with the summit of Mont Ventoux now in eyesight.  With just under three and a half kilometers to ride, she had already secured the Maillot Jaune Virtuale.  Given the way she is riding, I am sure she will have the actual lead by the time she reaches that tower in the distance.

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: "Her Goal Is in Sight TdFF6-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Learn More About the Artist →  

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 7: The Leaders Are Leading Up Mont Ventoux

You may be able to tell, but I changed the title of this painting between the ink work and the color work adding "the leaders are" to what I had originally written.  Because with just over ten kilometers of climbing to go, it was just the top three on the general classification that were in the lead, alone.  Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez), the European Champion, had made the first attack that separated her, Marlen Reusser (Movistar) in the Maillot Jaune and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) from all of the other contenders in the Tour de France Femmes.  I do enjoy the young kid bedecked in his freebie polka dot t-shirt and hat passed out by the publicity caravan watching the Tour Femmes with their dad.

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 Leaders Are Leading Up Mont Ventoux TdFF26-44" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 7: Paying for Yesterday

Celia Gery (FDJ United-Suez), the French Champion, had a brilliant stage yesterday despite coming up short in the sprint in Rhone.  While she didn't get the stage, she was awarded the title of Most Combative Rider for stage 6.  She may have gone a bit too deep in that effort.  As the climb up Mont Ventoux began its bite, she wasn't able to hold onto the ever-reducing peloton with just over twelve kilometers to climb.  I know she wanted more, but she is riding the stage with the green bib number to celebrate her efforts during stage 5.

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: "Paying for Yesterday TdFF26-43" (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 7: We've Done Our Part

As the peloton approaches the base of the Mont Ventoux, the leaders' domestiques begin to pop off the front of the group with their jobs done.  So it was with Francesca Barale and her Movistar teammate Sara Martin. Barale reaches out and pats her teammate's back congratulating her on the work she has done for their team leader, Marlen Reusser, who started the day in the Maillot Jaune.  These two have done their part in making sure she will still be leading the Tour after the climb of Mont Ventoux.  A mere nineteen kilometers will reveal the fruit of their collaborative 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: "We've Done Our Part TdFF26-42" (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 7: Mont Ventoux Awaits

Since the course of the fifth edition of the Tour de France Femmes all eyes have been focused on the end of this stage.  It was proposed that women couldn't climb the big mountains that are in the men's Tour to which the current Maillot Jaune, Marlen Reusser, responded, "People were stupider then."  I am sure there are some in the peloton that weren't looking forward to the effort that would be required off them in roughly another ten kilometers.  But I think both the peloton, and all of us watching, were excited to see how the climb up to that research tower atop the Mont Ventoux was going to play out.

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: "Mont Ventoux Awaits TdFF26-41" (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 7: Tete de la Course

I do realize I used this title in the men's race, but these women are the front of this race.  In the leading group that has just over two minutes on the peloton with only forty-four kilometer to race are Mia Griffin (Picnic-PostNL), Romina Hinojosa (Lotto-Intermarche) and her team leader Sandrine Tas, along with Fiona Mangan (Mayene Monbana My Pie) and Amalie Dideriksen (Cofidis).  It is nice to see that two Irish women along with the first Mexican were out in front of the peloton on the Queen Stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  Of course, the sting is in the end of this stage, and Mont Ventoux will be a rather vicious sting at that.

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: "Tete de la Course TdFF26-40" (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 7: Making Their Own Luck

If you notice, these two, Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Sophie Von Berswordt (VolkerWessels) both have bib numbers that end in a seven.  If the bib number thirteen is bad luck then a bib number with a seven must bring good luck.  Perhaps they were testing the theory by going clear of the peloton in hopes of catching the leaders a minute or so up the road.  Spoiler, they did not.  But then, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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: "Making Their Own Luck TdFF26-39" (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 6: Coming Around Right

From being off the back on the penultimate climb of the day to out sprinting the leaders to claim the stage, Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) had a rather exceptional stage.  With her efforts she moved herself into the top ten just seventeen seconds behind the woman who finished second today, Cedrine Kerboal (EF Education-Oatly).  Not only did Puck Peiterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) increase her lead in the Queen of the Mountains competition, she finished third on the day, too.  Behind them, it was the local woman (and French Champion) Celia Gery (FDJ United-Suez) only managed fifth.  She was awarded the most combative rider of the day much to the delight of the fans.  Fifth went to Liane Lippert (Movistar).  I feel like she was conflicted on whether to ride for herself or to help pull her teammate and Maillot Jaune closer to these leaders.  The Yellow Jersey group came in half a minute after the winner, but it wasn't enough to affect the top of the general classification, since they were all together.

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: "Coming Around Right TdFF26-38" (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 →