The Art of Cycling: 2025 Tour de France

Showing posts with label 2025 Tour de France. Show all posts

Sunday, August 31, 2025

All of My 2025 Tour de France Watercolors

Here is your chance to see all of my paintings of the 2025 Tour de France in sequential order including those that have already sold. Many are still available at my website, www.greigleach.com. All of the work shown is 4"x6" either vertical or horizontal. They are all created live during the race with ink and watercolors. You can watch one from each stage being created in real time over on my YouTube channel @artofcyclingGreig. The art that is still available sells for $99 including shipping within the USA. International shipping is available for an additional fee.

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 8: Take Mine and Go!

Nienke Vinke (Picnic-PostNL) had a scare as the peloton rode across the valley floor before the final climb of the day. Her team car was way back down the road when she got a flat tire. Fortunately (and strategically) her teammate the American Megan Jastrab was right there. The pair acted quickly with Jastrab giving her by to the Maillot Blanc and giving her a push to get going. Jastrab then waited for the team car and got her spare bike. Seemingly twenty minutes later, the Picnic-PostNL car was able to get up to the youngster and get her onto her own spare bike. It was all worth the effort rather than lose time, the current best young rider was able to increase her advantage to over eight minutes today, due in part to her teammates quick thinking... and some excellent legs 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.

"Take Mine and Go! TdFF25-48" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Monday, July 28, 2025

Tour '25, Stage 21: In the Bag

I spent quite a bit of time being frustrated with the race cameramen today. They missed so many visuals, particularly as the peloton rode through the Louvre and at both the intermediate sprint and the finish of the stage. There wasn't a good image of Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) winning solo on the Champs Elysees. He has won there before, but that was a tradition mass sprint on dry roads. Today, he was set up by his teammates and attacked on the final climb up to Montmartre dropping all of his breakaway companions including the Maillot Jaune - Tadej Pogacar! He flew down the other side to win the stage by nineteen seconds somehow managing to stay upright on the rain-soaked roads of downtown Paris. Pogacar came home for fourth on the stage, but he had already won the Tour. He made the race just that much more exciting by actually racing to win the final stage of the 112th Tour de France. By the way, Van Aert's teammate, Matteo Jorgenson came in fifth twenty-six seconds later.

This is my final painting of the Tour de France. But I am still painting the Tour de France Femmes. They will be racing for seven more stages so be sure to check back for all of the Women's ProTour cycling excitement and artwork.

"In the Bag TdF25-144" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Tour '25, Stage 21: On Top of Montmartre

It was exciting to watch real racing on the final stage of the Tour this year. The race took in the same circuit used in the 2024 Paris Olympics road race, the same Olympics that forced the Tour to finish in Nice last year. After four laps of the tradition Champs Elysees circuit, the race went up to the top of Monmartre, back down the other side before riding around the l'Arc de Triomphe again. They made three of these laps to end on the Champs Elysees. This Tour marks the 50th time the Tour has ended in the shadow of Napolean's triumphal arch. Since it was sure to rain on the cobblestones of Paris, the decision was made to take the final time on the final Champs circuit before the race went up the narrow streets behind the Moulin Rouge. So there was no reason for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) to be off the front but for the simple reason he wanted to win the stage. On the first time up to the artist enclave, he was chased by Davide Ballerini (XDS-Astana), and the Visma-Lease a Bike duet of Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert. The Visma guys were the only teammates to make the split once over the top of the climb. That was partly due to help of their teammate Victor Campenaerts. That set them up to use Matteo as the attacker and Wout as the follower. This is an important detail to how the stage turned out.

"On Top of Montmartre TdF25-143" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Tour '25, Stage 21: An American in Paris

I confess, I couldn't resist. Once Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) attacked after helping his sprinter take the final intermediate sprint all I had to do was wait for him to come back down the other side of the Champs Elysees. I realize that the previous painting was very similar, but come on, the title was just sitting there. Simmons has either been on the front of the peloton or off the front seemingly every stage of this Tour de France, so why wouldn't he attack in Paris. At the end of the race NBC cameras caught him proposing to his girlfriend. Judging by her leaping into his arms, I would say the answer was yes.

"An American in Paris TdF25-142" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Tour '25, Stage 21: Leading on the Champs Elysees

I have painted Magnus Cort (Uno X-Mobility) in previous Tours de France; in fact he owns one of my paintings of him. All Tour I have been looking for him, and here on the final stage he pops up attacking the peloton on the drop back down from the l'Arc de Triomphe. Given what is going to happen with the new course for the finale of the Tour, this attempted breakaway will most likely not bear fruit. At least not the fruit Cort is hoping for. It did finally enable me to paint this Dane racing in the Tour de France.

"Leading on the Champs Elysees TdF25-141" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Tour '25, Stage 21: It Takes a Team

Yes, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won his fourth Tour de France, but it takes a team, even the one guy who didn't make it to Paris, Joao Almeida who called it quits during Stage 9 succumbing to his injuries from an earlier crash. The rest of UAE posed together in the traditional linked arms before having to dodge more road furniture. Along with Pogacar, it was Adam Yates, Marc Soler, Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Tim Wellens, and Jhonathan Narvaez worked together to make the dream become a reality. The team celebrated the win by rolling out splashes of yellow on their jerseys, yellow bar tape, and yellow socks. The two wearing national champion's jerseys added a yellow band to their sleaves instead. Admittedly, you can't see those here. I didn't see any champagne toast at the start today. Everyone was unsure how the stage would play out, so best stick with the program until the last guy rolls across the line on the Champs Elysees.

"It Takes a Team TdF25-140" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Tour '25, Stage 21: The Giants of the Tour

Since no one knew how the stage was going to play out, all of the photo-ops were taken during the neutral start before they reached Kilometer Zero. More than just posing for the cameras, I think that the top three of the Tour actually enjoyed chatting in the sun before they reached Paris and the rain. The podium goes Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) wins both the Maillot Jaune and the Maillot a Pois currently on loan to Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike). The Dane takes second for the second year in a row after winning the two years before that. Pogacar was second both of those times. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) won the Maillot Blanc of best young rider and took the third step of the podium. It should be noted that it was Lipowitz's first Tour. He only learned that he would be racing the Tour in early June. The plan was for him to get some experience for the years to come.

"The Giants of the Tour TdF25-139" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Tour '25, Stage 20: No Need to Sprint!

Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had plenty of time to celebrate on his way to winning his first Tour de France stage. He has won several stages in both of the other grand tours, but not here in France. Groves was brought as an insurance policy should what happened to their main sprinter Jasper Philipsen happened. Then the stage winning shifted to his other famous teammateMathieu Van Der Poel, who had to leave the Tour with pneumonia. I'm sure the team thought that was it for stage wins... until today! Groves is seen as a sprinter, but he decided to not leave it to a risky sprint in the rain. So off he went on his own, and that is how he won the third stage for his team, and he was the third one on the team to win a stage as well.

"No Need to Sprint! TdF25-138" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 20: Alone with 5K to Go

Not wanting to leave it to a sprint, Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) timed his attack on his two breakaway companions perfectly. As he went, they looked each to the other to do the chase. That was all the hesitation that the Australian needed to fly to the finish alone. As he went under the 5K banner, he had forty-seven seconds on the lone chaser and a minute and ten seconds to a group of eight more. Given how he is going I doubt anyone will see him until the podium presentations in Pontarlier. The peloton containing all of the leaders' jerseys was over six minutes back down the soggy road playing it safe.

"Alone with 5K to Go TdF25-137" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 20: Who's Still Here?

After a treacherous wet corner that took out two and delayed a third of his breakaway companions, Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) looks back to see who is still with him. Along with him, Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Frank Van Dem Brock (Picnic-PostNL) stayed upright. While everyone did get back up to finish the stage, their time in the front group was over. I was really worried that the Movistar rider wasn't going to be able to continue, but he did finish the stage. It would suck to have gotten this close to Paris and have to leave before seeing the Champs Elysees!

"Who's Still Here? TdF25-136" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 20: Bunny Hop

With his teammate Ben Healy save in his position in the general classification it was Harry Sweeny's (EF Education-EasyPost) turn to go out searching for a stage win. He had managed to get into the early break, but like others, he got frustrated with the lack of some of the members of the escape group. The best way for him to deal with that was to go off on his own. With another 38 kilometers to race in the rain, he had built up fifty-four seconds on his former companions. The peloton was over five-and-a-half minutes further back. As he came out of a roundabout he couldn't quite turn sharp enough to avoid a traffic island. Rather than risk sliding out, he bunny-hopped the curb and kept riding. Many have hit the deck in the on and off showers that have plagued the peloton all day. He was eventually caught and then spit out the back of the reduced group.

"Bunny Hop TdF25-135" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 20: Airbourne

The Devil almost missed the breakaway going pass him. He was performing his signature leap in the air for the press photographer and was more focused on getting back up in the air like he did of yore, than watching for the racers. I was surprised that no one in the break seemed to bay Didi Stenft any mind. Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) was on the tail of the bunch (for now) that was being led by Ivan Romeo (Movistar). In the middle of the eleven-man group you can spy the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike). Although Jordan Jegat had tried and failed to get away, he did pull out a much stronger and more manageable group to ride to a hopeful stage victory. One small problem, Ben Healy is seventeen seconds up the road on his own.

"Airbourne TdF25-134" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 20: Moving Forward

Unhappy with the pace of the breakaway on the Cote de Thesy Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) went off the front. I don't think he was after the King of the Mountain points nor a seventy-three kilometer solo chase for a stage win. I think, instead that he was hoping to draw out the stronger riders of the large breakaway. Plus, the peloton seems disinterested in chasing, so he has a chance to move up to the top ten in the general classification on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France. For a Frenchman, that is a huge opportunity.

"Moving Forward TdF25-133" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Friday, July 25, 2025

Tour '25, Stage 19: An Unbelievable Finish

For the second time in this Tour de France, Thymen Arensman (Ineos-Grenadiers) covered his face in disbelief as he won a mountain top finish in the rain. He did it in the Pyrenees with Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) chasing him all of the way up the climb. The first time he had been in the early breakaway and just manage to be the last member of the early break that wasn't caught by the Tadej. Today, he actually attacked the group with the yellow jersey on the way up the final climb. When he went, Tadej and Jonas looked at each other and neither went after the tall Dutchman. Behind him, almost catching him in the last fifty meters, was Vingegaard just getting the better of Pogacar. Just in the distance you can see the white jersey of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who lost the leading two in the last kilometer of the stage. Those three represent the top three of this Tour. Most likely the podium is now set. Likewise, the jersey seemed to be set, too. Pogacar has both Yellow and Polka Dots. Lipowitz has the White, and way, way, way down the mountain Jonathan Milan has the Green Jersey. The mountains are now done, and there are just two more stages to race including Paris.

Tomorrow starts the Tour de France Femmes and I will be painting them every stage, every day, too.

"An Unbelievable Finish TdF25-102" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 19: The Top Four of the Tour

As the top four places of this Tour de France go under the four kilometer to go banner, they have just one guy yet to catch on their way to the final Alpine summit of the race. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had tried to drop everyone in hopes of winning one more stage in his Maillot Jaune. This time he couldn't get rid of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) who is wearing Tadej's Maillot a Pois. On Vingegaard's wheel is the man in fourth overall, Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL). He is being closely watched by Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who is in the Maillot Blanc of best young rider. He just as twenty-one seconds on Onley in both the GC and the race for the White Jersey.

"The Top Four of the Tour TdF25-131" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 19: Shelter from the Devil

I don't think I have ever seen Didi Stenft (aka 'The Devil') hold anything besides his trident before, but then the final climb has been rather raining most of the day. I imagine that the publicity caravan handed that umbrella to him several hours earlier. I was playing around with the idea for the title and then this variation of sheltering from the devil occurred to me. I found it amusing, I hope you do, too. These five were chasing just one man up the road by a half of a minute. Felix Gall (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) was setting the pace in hopes of moving up the general classification. Everyone else was watching their nearest competitors in a defensive slosh up to La Plagne. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was closely watched by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), one in the Maillot Jaune and the other in the Maillot a Pois. Behind it was a battle for the final possession of the Maillot Blanc of best young rider. The jersey is currently on the shoulders of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who is also third on the GC. He has a twenty-one second advantage over the man in front of him in both the GC and the Maillot Blanc, Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL). The fact that these two young guys are stuck to the wheels of the best two riders in modern cycling speaks of great battles yet to come.

"Shelter from the Devil TdF25-130" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 19: On to the Final Mountain

This is the last mountain stage of this Tour and the peloton of the elite are just now hitting the final climb in the Alps. Well, actually, the final HC climb of this years' Tour de France. Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) looks back to make sure his team leader, Tadej Pogacar is still on his wheel. He is. Right on the wheel of the Maillot Jaune is Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan from Pogacar. Vingegaard has little hope of pulling back over four minutes to move into first, conversely, he has little worry that anyone will pull back over four minutes on him either. The final step of the podium is a different matter altogether. Massing behind are Aurelien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) riding for his team leader, Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost). The stage ends at the top of this climb up La Plagne, so the final podium will be much clearer at the top in about eighteen kilometers.

"On to the Final Mountain TdF25-129" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has now sold!

Tour '25, Stage 19: You Wouldn't Dare

Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) looks back at Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) as they approach the summit of the Cormet de Roselend. He seems to say, "You wouldn't dare!" as he sprints for the maximum points on offer. He got there relatively unchallenged by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) nor Paret-Peintre. Had he not been docked KOM points for a way too sticky bottle yesterday, he would now be back even on points with the race leader, Tadej Pogacar. It did help that neither of his two breakaway companions were interested in the Maillot a Pois. They were racing for stage honors instead.

"You Wouldn't Dare TdF25-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 19: From the Back of the Moto

I have truly enjoyed Christian Vande Velde's commentary from the back of the motorcycle from the middle of the race. I have been looking for the right image to catch him with my paintbrush and feel pretty good about this one. He and his driver had pulled over to watch the leaders as they were climbing up to the summit of the Cormet de Roselend. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) had managed to get over the first climb first in his quest to reclaim his Maillot a Pois. He was joined in the effort by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step). Both of them were after a stage win. Perhaps, Roglic was also looking to reclaim the title of team leader back from his young teammate Florian Lipowitz. I admit I don't understand why he is being allowed to do this (he may not be). Lipowitz sits in third place and is wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, but he only has fourteen seconds on his nearest rival for both honors.

"From the Back of the Moto TdF25-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)