Tour Femmes '26, Stage 2: This Time in Yellow

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) had burnt through her team just to have the chance to sprint for another stage victory in Geneva.  Normally, she has a lead-out team, but they spent themselves chasing down the lone leader, Riejanne Markus.  They didn't catch her until the final kilometer of the stage.  That actually played into Wiebes hands.  As the peloton move to the left to get around the much slowing rider from Lidl-Trek, Wiebes took the opening to wind up her sprint catching the other hopeful sprinters looking the wrong way.  Once she was up to speed, there was no one who was going to catch her!  She took the stage by three or more bike lengths, making it two wins in a row.  But this time it was even sweeter winning in the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  She increases her lead to fourteen seconds for the yellow jersey and now has a commanding lead in the green jersey competition of the sprinters.  When the mountains start, she may not hold onto yellow, but she will certainly retain her lead in the Maillot Vert.

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: "This Time in Yellow TdFF26-12" (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 2: Still on Her Own

I think even the gendarme on the side of the road was surprised to see Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) fly by still off the front of the peloton with just six kilometers to race.  At this point, she still had over a half of a minute on the sprinters' teams led mainly by SD Worx-Protime.  They were burning through riders trying to close the gap to this sole escapee.  They did succeed, finally, inside of the final kilometer.  It was a long shot that really challenged the team of the yellow jersey.  So close!

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: "Still on Her Own TdFF26-11" (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 2: Calm and Controlled

With twenty-eight kilometers until the finish in Geneva, SD Worx-Protime had control on the front of the peloton as they chased the lone woman up the road.  At this point Lorena Wiebes in her Maillot Jaune following the wheels of her teammates including Micha Bredewold and Nienke Vinke, felt comfortable in her team's ability to reel in Riejanne Markus.  Tucked in behind the work of the team of the yellow jersey were Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and her teammate Amanda Spratt.  Those two weren't going to help in the chase since Markus was on Lidl-Trek, too.  It wasn't until they hadn't gotten any closer in the next fifteen kilometers that the team began to lose the coolness and feared they may not have things under control after 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: "Calm and Controlled TdFF26-10" (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 2: Almost a Minute

Once the peloton had come back together it was Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) who jumped free of the group.  She went clear and quickly had a minute's advantage.  She was so focused on her effort she didn't even glance at the LCL emblazoned timekeeper's chalkboard stopped on the side of the road.  She had another thirty-four kilometers to try and hold off a peloton led by the sprinters' teams looking for a stage win in Geneva.

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: "Almost a Minute TdFF26-9" (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 2: Climbing through the Vineyard

After a sharp turned off of the main road, this wall rose up in front of the peloton lined by grapevines and cycling fans all of the way up the ten percent average climb.  The trio from St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 of Heidi Franz, Caroline Wreszin, and Alicia Gonzalez fought to stay on the wheels of the women in front of them.  The hope for everyone was to be able to quickly reform the peloton once over this vicious little ascent.  They all did, for now.

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: "Climbing through the Vineyards TdFF26-8" (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 2: Building an Advantage

This quintet took some time to get away from the peloton which seemed in little mood to let anyone escape today.  It was nice to see the Ukrainian champion, Yulia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) off the front along with Anouska Koster (Uno X-Mobility), Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Ema Comte (Cofidis) and Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health).  They have managed to build a bit over two minutes on the peloton, but they weren't allowed much more.  After the long chase from yesterday, the peloton decided to keep these ladies inside of three minutes before catching them on one of the final categorized climbs of the day.  Koster came close to becoming the new queen of the mountains save for one moment's inattention on the third climb of the day.

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: "Building an Advantage TdFF26-7" (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 1: The First in Yellow

It was Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) raising her arms in victory atop the final climb of the day in Lusanne.  Her victory in the opening stage means she will pull on the first Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France Femmes.  Behind her are Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) - who will wear the Maillot Vert on loan from Wiebes - and then the European Champion, Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) taking third.  

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 First in Yellow TdF26-6" (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 1: She Will Still Be Queen

Despite being outsprinted to the top of the Cote de Vullieres by Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Entreprise) will be the first Queen of the Mountains of the fifth Tour de France Femmes.  She had gone over the first two climbs of the day first, so with this second place she has a lead that no one can overtake today.  Shortly after the climb, she sat up and drifted back to the chasing peloton.  She finished the day almost six minutes behind the winner of the stage, but it matters little since she will start the day tomorrow in the Maillot a Pois of the best climber thus far in this Tour de France Femmes.  Noskova sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition after one stage completed.

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: "She Will Still Be Queen TdFF26-5" (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 1: Poursuivante

With forty-three kilometers until they were all back in Lusanne, Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) was slowly chasing down the four women up the road.  She has about another minute-and-a-half before she joins the quartet with only the Shimano Neutral Service moto to keep her company.  It took her a while, but she did finally join up with the leaders.  With her strength, will they have more hope of keeping away from the peloton until the finale.

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: "Poursuivante TdFF26-4" (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 1: Not Much Interest

The title is a bit misleading, there were thousands of fans along the side of the road, and at the intermediate sprint point in Villenuve.  What I am referring to is that the peloton didn't have much interest in competing for the remaining sprint points on offer.  When Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) jumped free of the group, no one went after her.  That may have been a mistake, she could well be on a campaign to win the Maillot Vert of the best sprinter and this was a chance to earn points towards that goal.  The finale has a rather steep climb in the final two kilometers, probably not her best chance to earn points in the sprint for stage honors.

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 Much Interest TdFF26-3" (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 1: Down into the Valley

The course out through the countryside around Lusanne, Switzerland was just breathtakingly beautiful.  I doubt the quartet of Idora Eraso (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi), Nikola Noskova (Cofidis), Maud Rijnbeek (VolkerWessels), and Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Enterprise) had much time to soak in the vistas as they built their advantage over the peloton.  With eighty-five kilometers yet to race, they have built up and a lead of almost five minutes on the confident peloton.  They were claiming all of the Queen of the Mountain points out on course, and managed to suck up the sprint points as well.  Would they be able to hold off the peloton up the final rise to the finish?

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 into the Vallery TdFF26-2" (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 1: Minor Adjustments

At the end of the men's Tour de France, I realized that I had neither seen nor painted a mechanic hanging out of the car adjusting something on their rider's equipment.  Today in the early kilometers of the Tour de France Femmes, I saw the EF Education-Oatly mechanic leaning out to of the window to fix Cedrine Kerboal's race radio.  That is when I learned through Anthony McCrossan that it is no longer permitted for safety reasons.  That is a rule I can agree with, but apparently, not EF's mechanic nor Director Sportif.  I guess they won't mind paying the fine they are sure to face either.  It did save time, and Kerboal was swiftly back into the 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: "Minor Adjustments TdFF26-1" (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 →